Australia and New Zealand's scientific research and cable networks have tied the knot to provide New Zealand scientists and researchers with access to ultra high-speed international connectivity as well as the general internet.
The ground-breaking partnership links AARNet (Australia’s Academic and Research Network) with REANNZ (Research and Education Network New Zealand) and Southern Cross Cable Networks.
AARNet CEO, Chris Hancock, said strengthening the relationship between the scientific research communities of New Zealand and Australia will accelerate the research collaboration between both countries and open up new opportunities for scientists and researchers.
“We have been working towards this partnership with REANNZ and Southern Cross for some time now, and it’s a great exemplar of international research and education network collaboration delivering the benefits of scale to support our region’s participation in global research initiatives,” he said.
The partnership means New Zealand scientists and researchers will, for the first time, have capacity for Big Data transport between New Zealand and the rest of the world.
This will allow New Zealand science and research to be at the leading edge of global research and have the same capabilities, and be on par with their trans-Tasman peers,” according to REANNZ CEO, Steve Cotter.
“Our members now have the basic tools they have been lacking to submit proposals to conduct global research projects. The scope of projects that will benefit is exciting, including climate research, radio astronomy, participation in the international Square Kilometre Array project, medicine, genomics, National Science Challenges, and more.”
Southern Cross Cable Networks (SCCN) through its sponsorship of the Australian Research and Education Community in Australia, (SXTransPORT), has been providing high-speed international capacity between Australia and the US since 2003.
Now upgraded to 40 Gbps, SXTransPORT will enable New Zealand researchers to access unique scientific instruments and to collaborate with their international counterparts at the same very high speeds.
Southern Cross CEO Anthony Briscoe said, “Southern Cross is delighted to now be able to connect New Zealand’s scientific and research community to its exciting SXTransPORT sponsorship and was looking forward to assured success in New Zealand, just as it has been in Australia.
