Canadian Optical Net Takes "Giant Step in Internet History"
Canada is poised to take delivery of a powerful new network resource--CA(x)net 3, the world's first national optical Internet.
John Manley, the Industry Canada Minister, announced a collaborative partnership between CANARIE (Canadian Network for the Advancement of Research, Industry and Education) and a Bell Canada-led private sector consortium to develop the resource.
Based on new fibre optic-based technology and Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing, the greatly expanded bandwidth that CA(x)net 3 will provide is expected to revolutionize the way Canadian industry, government, and researchers collaborate and conduct high-speed research and information exchange, the firms said.
Significant funding for the project derives from $55 million allocated in the 1998 federal budget for CANARIE to deploy a national optical network as a key element of Industry Canada's Connecting Canadians agenda.
"This giant step in Internet history is a wonderful example of what can happen when Canada's public and high technology private sectors direct their joint skills and experience towards a common goal," said John MacDonald, Chairman and CEO of Bell Canada.