November 18, 2004

‘Dark Fiber’ expands research networking

Connection enhances Chicago’s status as central exchange for networking in higher ed, research

Uninterrupted connection to research organizations and facilities worldwide for Northwestern and 11 partner universities will be enabled by the new Chicago Fiber Ring, a high-speed optical network consisting of three connected rings of “dark fiber” in Chicago.

The Chicago Fiber Ring will connect 12 of the 13 Committee on Institutional Cooperation (CIC) member schools to the nationwide optical facility belonging to the National LambdaRail consortium of research universities and technology companies seeking to provide its members with state-of-the-art, high-speed data transfer. CIC Chief Information Officers purchased the Fiber Ring to substantially enhance their networking capabilities.

“Dark fiber” refers to a fiber-optic cable network or infrastructure that is in place but unused. The purchase of dark fiber by CIC schools costs about $13.2 million less than if each school had purchased a smaller, but similar network on its own. A key intersection point for this fiber will be the StarLight facility, an advanced network exchange funded by the National Science Foundation and located on Northwestern’s Chicago campus.

“This fiber will give us exceptional access to facilities, services, and resources not otherwise possible, and allow us to participate in many science, engineering, and education projects, including national and international large-scale research projects,” said Joe Mambretti, director of the International Center for Advanced Internet Research (iCAIR), a branch of Northwestern University Information Technology. “With capabilities far beyond current capabilities, this new resource enhances Chicago’s reputation as a central exchange for advanced networking for higher education and research.”