2/97 21 January 1997
AARNet is currently an internetwork of Regional Networks (one in each State and Territory) connected to each other and internationally, and was established by the AVCC in 1990 as a means of linking universities and other research institutions electronically.
Chair of the AARNet Board of Management, Professor Deane Terrell, said the new network arrangement would see AARNet's Regional Network Organisations (RNOs) in Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, the ACT, Tasmania and the Northern Territory interconnected by high capacity dedicated links.
"The metropolitan universities and CSIRO divisions within each of these RNOs are already connected to each other by high capacity microwave links and the interconnection of the RNOs will allow this capacity to be exploited nationally," Professor Terrell said.
"The new national network will be capable of carrying voice and video as well as data, and the AVCC is developing a contract with Optus for the provision of this network.
"The decision was made after extensive evaluation of the responses provided by Optus and Telstra to a Request for Proposal issued earlier in the year."
Professor Terrell said the new network infrastructure would provide the opportunity to implement national traffic management strategies, including the establishment of national caches and mirror sites, thus reducing the demand for and cost of international connections.
"The infrastructure will provide for the cost effective interconnection of interstate libraries and supercomputing facilities.
"National video conferencing and tele-teaching will be viable, cost-effective options and the network will be able to support the deployment of the products now appearing form the Research Data Networks Cooperative Research Centre."