CERNET: Education Informatization with OTN

The China Education and Research Network (CERNET) is a national academic computer network. It is funded by the state, managed by the State Ministry of Education, and operated by Tsinghua University in collaboration with other universities. CERTNET is China’s largest nonprofit interconnected network that serves the educational and scientific research organizations. In 1996, CERNET was recognized by the State Council as one of the four backbone networks in China. In the 12th Five Year Plan, the State Ministry of Education detailed the upgrading of the existing education computer networks and the development of an education informatization platform. CERTNET is a next-generation education network that will become the foundation of education informatization. The Asian Education Network is the first cloud-based education platform in China. It integrates the internet, telecommunications networks, and radio and television networks.

 

Project Background

CERNET Phase III is an important part of the public service system in the Higher Education 211 Project and is being jointly completed by Chinese universities. The objective of the project is to make CERNET into an advanced national education infrastructure by improving its technologies and services, expanding coverage and capacity, improving access in the backbone network, and improving the performance of core nodes. Objectives also include building a reliable network OAM and security system, improving the information resource service system of key disciplines, and helping strengthen key disciplines in universities throughout China.

ZTE’s 100G solution was rigorously tested by the CERNET project team and was found to be better than solutions offered by competitors. The solution provides excellent transmission, strong access capability, and extraordinary interconnection. ZTE’s 100G solution has back-to-back OSNR that is 0.5 dB lower than the industry average, and increases transmission distance by 10% without the need for electric relays. Moreover, the solution supports both 100G and 10G transmission and smooth upgrade from 10G to 100G.

 

Fierce Competition

Huawei and Alcatel-Lucent jointly completed CERNET Phases I and II, and previous experience on these projects helped them with further opportunities. To secure market share, Huawei and Alcatel-Lucent also bid for CERNET Phase III. Early on, they determined customer demand and expectations for CERNET. They also suggested technical indexes in the hope of shutting other vendors out. ZTE also talked extensively with customers to determine their real needs and to better understand the true positions of other bidders.

 

Tailored Solution

CERNET Phase III involves construction of a large network with a lot of end-to-end service scheduling, large-capacity access at the core nodes, and increased traffic cross-connection capacity. The needs necessitate the construction of an OTN.

The new network should 

●    accommodate growing service needs and be easily scalable

●    be future-proof yet still make use of current equipment rooms

●    have full-service access capabilities

●    have fast and efficient protection mechanisms

●    allow for flexible network management and maintenance.

ZTE took all these considerations into account and figured out a perfect solution for the CERNET network construction. The solution

●    takes into account space, power supply, and other limitations of existing equipment rooms so that the network can be optimally expanded and upgraded

●    uses multiple protection mechanisms to guarantee network and service security

●    provides open protocols and abundant client interfaces so that the network can support STM-N (N = 1, 4, 16, 64), GE, and 10GE services, all of which are expected in a typical regional backbone network

●    a reasonable wavelength plan in which the shortest wavelengths are used to transport existing services and construction cost is minimized

●    provides a simple, clear NMS interface so that the network can be easily maintained. This saves money, improves efficiency, and speeds up launch of new services.

 

Advanced Devices

A cost-effective solution requires reliable, advanced devices. ZTE’s ZXONE 8000 series devices guarantee safe, efficient, energy-efficient network operation. These devices support

●    ODUk electrical-layer cross connection. This implies ODU0/1/2/2e/3/3e2/4 multi-granularity, non-blocking cross connection and overhead detection (with capacity reaching one terabyte).

●    optical-layer wavelength cross connection. This is needed to meet existing and future scheduling needs for services of different types and granularities.

●    various access modes. These modes include STM-N, GE/10GE, DVB, ESCON and FC.

●    multiple service protection modes. A cross-connection unit uses state-of-the-art cubic protection to ensure normal network operation, even if two such units are damaged at the same time.

●    bearing of large-granularity services when there is shortage of optical fiber resources. This greatly reduces network construction costs and shortens the project cycle.

●    energy-efficient product designs. This helps decrease overall energy consumption in the OTN. Fewer boards and parts make maintenance much easier and cheaper.

 

Customer Benefits

ZTE won the bid for CERNET Phase III. ZTE will provide a coherent 100G solution and ZXONE 8000 series OTN products to build the backbone bearer network. This network will cover a distance of more than 10,000 km and will cover major cities in China, including Beijing, Shenyang, Dalian, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Xi’an, Wuhan, and Chongqing. ZXONE 8000 series products are customized for the CERTNET Phase III project and provide outstanding performance. With ZXONE 8000 products, CERNET will bear services in a way that satisfies customer expectations. ZTE is expected to further its cooperation with the CERTNET team and make even greater contributions in the future.