WaveCo goes the extra distance

The Internet2 research organisation has announced the immediate availability of dedicated optical wavelengths in addition to dark fibre assets for its members.

The service, called WaveCo, will provide members with access to light paths beyond the Internet2 network footprint.

Internet2 will work with its carrier, Level 3 Communications, to provision circuits for regional networks and other Internet2 members needing to extend their connectivity anywhere the Level 3 optical network reaches.

Level 3 is presently stepping up its coverage in Tier 2 and Tier 3 markets, which means that regional research and education networks using the WaveCo service may be able to reach sites they could not six months ago, particularly in metropolitan areas.

"The resources afforded by WaveCo and FiberCo allow regional networks and other Internet2 participants to control strategic assets of their networking," said Steve Cotter, director of network services at Internet2.

The Internet2 FiberCo dark fibre service provides the research and education community with the ability to cost-effectively purchase dedicated dark fibre on a nationwide scale.

FiberCo and WaveCo aim to allow Internet2 members to economically own and use the essential building blocks of advanced networking infrastructure.

"Today scientists, doctors and researchers throughout the world increasingly require reliable and flexible network facilities to collaborate and share bandwidth-intensive resources," said Cotter.