1. IMTN and managed data network services Technical Conference on the WIS (Seoul, 6-8 November 2006) Hiroyuki ICHIJO (Japan Meteorological Agency

2. MTN configuration Region IIRegion VI Region I Region V Region IV Region III The Main Telecommunication Network (MTN) interconnects 6 Regional Meteorological Telecommunication Networks (RMTNs) as a core of the GTS. The MTN consists of 18 MTN Centres and 25 connections.

3. Strategies to improve the GTS Strengthen the overall GTS capabilities with cost-effectiveness and technical trends Migration to TCP/IP Use of cost-effective network services Strategies Leased circuits Legacy protocols Traditional GTS Improved GTS Internet like applications Saving implementation costs and human resources allowing latitude in selecting a network service Expanding bandwidth Flexible connectivity Saving recurrent cost

4. Layer separation approach to the improved GTS Message Switching Message Switching Server/client File transfer Application layer Transport layer Frame Relay IP-VPN Transmission protocol layer Use of network services Migration to TCP/IP Adding applications Legacy protocol TCP/IP

5. Concepts of IMTN The CBS, at its 1998 extra-ordinary session, stressed that the MTN shall be reviewed fundamentally to meet evolving data exchange requirements of WMO Programmes other than the WWW. The IMTN project has been promoting the reform of the MTN capability as a genuine network since its commencement in 1999. The CBS, at its 1998 extra-ordinary session, stressed that the MTN shall be reviewed fundamentally to meet evolving data exchange requirements of WMO Programmes other than the WWW. The IMTN project has been promoting the reform of the MTN capability as a genuine network since its commencement in 1999. Reform concepts are: Reform concepts are: (1) to provide capability and flexibility to meet new and future requirements by using technical innovation; (2) to seek cost-effectiveness with appropriate reliability and security; (3) to challenge establishment of a collaborative contractual framework; (4) to keep up with an appropriate pace for implementation, i.e. early implementation leads early benefits. early implementation leads early benefits. A point of implementation strategy is the evolution A point of implementation strategy is the evolution from bilateral physical circuits from bilateral physical circuits to logical connections through seamless network cloud. to logical connections through seamless network cloud.

6. Status of the IMTN project The current IMTN is structured with two clouds of Frame Relay network services. 17 of 25 MTN circuits are in operation on the Clouds. 12 of 18 MTN centers participate in the Clouds. Exeter Sofia Melbourne Buenos Aires Tokyo Beijing Nairobi Washington Cloud I Jeddah Prague Toulouse Dakar Algiers Offenbach Brasilia Cairo New Delhi Moscow Cloud II

7. Details of Cloud I 1.5Mbps 256kbps Primary PVC BoM Backup PVC Access circuit 1.5Mbps 256kbps Exeter Melbourne Disaster Recovery Site Brisbane Tokyo Washington 768k 32k 16k 64k 32k CIR in each direction [bps] 32k 16k 16k 16k 16k 4k 4k BT Frame Relay Logical connections (PVC: Permanent Virtual Circuit) through BT Frame Relay network Configuration of asymmetric bandwidths by CIR (Committed Information Rate) for unbalanced traffic conditions Arrangement of backup re-routing with a dynamic routing protocol (BGP-4)

8. Unbalanced traffic and asymmetric CIRs (Cloud I) 1076 Mbytes/day 40% of CIR 25 Mbytes/day 55% of CIR Each pays for its local access circuit and an incoming CIR CIR=32kbps CIR=768kbps Tokyo Washington 1.5Mbps FR

9. Backup Re-routing (Cloud I) Cloud I Washington Melbourne Tokyo Link failure BGP-4 Traffic on normal condition BGP-4 Bypass traffic for backup

10. Details of Cloud II PVCs through OBS (Orange Business Service, former EQUANT) Frame Relay network under expansion of the European contract Centralized network monitoring by ECMWF & Consumer Premise Equipment (CPE, Cisco Router) managed by OBS Configuration of asymmetric bandwidths by CIR Cloud II By OBS Moscow 32k 16k 8k 8k 48k 96k 16k 8k 32k 48k 384k 64k 16k 8k New Delhi Jeddah 64kbps 512kbps 256kbps 128 kbps 64kbps 1024 kbps 2048 kbps 512kbps 256kbps Sofia Prague Exeter Toulouse Offenbach Tokyo Beijing 128k 64k CPE

11. Collaborative contract (Cloud II) Network service provider (OBS) Master Contract Customer representative (ECMWF) Regional network in Europe Regional network in Europe (RMDCN in Region VI) (RMDCN in Region VI) Accession Agreement Accession Agreement Accession Agreement Networkmonitoring IMTN Cloud II Accession Agreement Accession Agreement Accession Agreement Helpdesk ContractExpansion

12. Benefits of IMTN The implementation of the IMTN brings various benefits: (1) further reliability stable operation for real-time data exchange stable operation for real-time data exchange (2) better performance in throughput exchange of large volume of data such as satellite data/products exchange of large volume of data such as satellite data/products (3) manageable link parameters efficient configuration to meet traffic conditions efficient configuration to meet traffic conditions (4) flexibility and scalability easy compliance with evolving requirements easy compliance with evolving requirements (5) cost-effectiveness saving recurrent costs saving recurrent costs

13. Market trends of global managed data network services Migration from leased circuit, ATM and Frame Relay services to MPLS/IP-VPN (Multi Protocol Label Switching/IP-Virtual Private Network) is remarkable. Layer 2 switching VPN is one of next-generation WAN services but premature in market. Retail scale of global WAN services Estimation

14. Market share of Tier-1 global network operators Market leaders : Equant (OBS at present), AT&T and BT/BT Infonet Their strategies: Extending service coverage by establishing new MPLS PoPs (Points of Presence) Bilateral partnerships with national and regional telecom carriers for MPLS interoperability outside of their footprints Fast-growth markets : Asia and Eastern Europe Global WAN service share (2 nd quarter of 2005)

15. MPLS/IP-VPN Providers PEs and Core Routers based on MPLS have Label Tables and switch IP packets forward according to the Tables. CE : Customer Edge RouterVPN : Virtual Private Network PE : Provider Edge RouterMPLS : Multi Protocol Label Switching Closed IP network by a provider CE PE CE PE CE IP IP Label Core Router PE IP VPN group VPN group MPLS/IP-VPN is one of most promising WAN services.

16. Future of IMTN For further improvement, For further improvement, migration from Frame Relay to MPLS/IP-VPN is planned. MPLS/IP-VPN service provides: flexibility of mesh connectivity among GISCs additional bandwidth. Study of possibility of consolidation of two Clouds Frame Relay MPLS/IP-VPN Early 2007 Frame Relay MPLS/IP-VPN End of 2007 Cloud I Cloud II Coordination GTSIMTN WIS core network The IMTN would function as a WIS core network linking a small number of GISCs together.