[FYI] Global interoperability of broadband networks

["Axel H. Horns" <axel.horns@fitug.de>]

CORDIS RTD-NEWS/c European Communities, 1998 

 Record Control Number : 11816 
                             Date : 1998-12-16 


Category : Programme implementation

General Information : 

Fundraising to achieve a global broadband network infrastructure for
research, application development, testing and demonstrations has been
advocated as the prime objective of the Global Interoperability of
Broadband Networks Forum. 

The Steering Committee of the GIBN, a G8 initiative, met in Vienna on
4 December 1998 to discuss ways of mustering political enthusiasm and
support for the interconnection of broadband networks and
international collaboration. Delegates agreed they should work towards
bringing together government authorities and technical advisers
interested in convincing policy makers to fund international broadband
connectivity for research. The group also expressed their interest in
negotiating cost sharing arrangements, and negotiating larger and
cheaper broadband selectivity from suppliers. Equally, it was agreed
that promoting the development and testing of intercontinental
broadband applications to meet the expectations of a global
information society must also be a priority. 

GIBN was set up as a collaboration to support societal initiatives
ranging from commerce to culture, research to recreation, and economic
development to education. The fundamental objective of GIBN is to
provide a means for developing and testing trans-national applications
that will support the promise of a Global Information Society. The
European Commission hopes that this will be achieved by improving the
general level of interconnectivity between existing and planned high
speed networks and testbeds. 

The meeting followed a GIBN workshop where the latest developments in
broadband research networks and testbeds were reviewed, provoking a
serious discussion on the challenges of global interconnectivity and
interoperability. 

The main topics addressed at the workshop looked towards the future of
Global Broadband Networks in the year 2000, and at wireless and
satellite communications. This included a vision of optical
communications for the Internet in space and the lessons learned from
the satellite projects.

Data Source Provider : GIBN Web Site:
http://www.infowin.org/ACTS/ANALYSYS/GENERAL/GIBN/ and personal
communication from Directorate General XIII.

Document Reference : URL:
http://www.infowin.org/ACTS/ANALYSYS/GENERAL/GIBN/

Programme Acronym : FRAMEWORK 4C; ACTS

Subject Index Codes : Telecommunications; Innovation, Technology
Transfer

Contact Person : 

For further information, please contact: 
European Commission DG XIII 
Mirielle Vanhee 
Tel. +32-2-2991994