Discussions concerning 40/100 Gb/s and emerging developments in optical networks for ultra long haul communications within existing infrastructures

There are key building blocks and foundational technologies necessary to achieve 21st century Research and Education networking. The characteristics of high capacity single channel, accommodation for large data flows in bursty or at unpredictable times, ultra fast multi domain provisioning, low and constant latency throughput needed by e-science researchers across the globe are not easily achieved. Speeds beyond 10Gb/s are available from leading vendors. 40G solutions are now widely available, 100G is an emerging “early adopter” technology available from a few leading vendors. But what are the foundations from these currently available technological building blocks necessary for higher still capacities and what are the data flows in the R&E community that need them?