1. 4.10.2012 Page 1© 2012 ASREN, GmbH, All Rights ReservedInternet 2 Meeting - Philadelphia, USA Salem Al-Agtash, Ph.D. ASREN/ German Jordanian University - Jordan Internet 2 Meeting – Philadelphia, 4.10.2012 alagtash@ASRENOrg.net From Philadelphia to Philadelphia

2. 4.10.2012 Page 2© 2012 ASREN, GmbH, All Rights ReservedInternet 2 Meeting - Philadelphia, USA Outline  ASREN Overview  Status of Arab e-infrastructures and connectivity  Towards developing regional connectivity  Future perspectives

3. 4.10.2012 Page 3© 2012 ASREN, GmbH, All Rights ReservedInternet 2 Meeting - Philadelphia, USA  EUMEDCONNECT, 2004 --> [1], [2], [3]  PAN Arab Network, 2005  Rome Declaration 2006 - CAMREN  NAP, the Network Access Points 2007  ASREN, 2010  EUMED - Brussels, March  League of Arab States – Cairo, Dec.  ASREN GmbH - Dusseldorf, June 2011  Abu-Ghazaleh & Consulting GmbH  Jordan University Network  Moroccan CNRST  Sudan REN  Somal REN Arab States Research and Education Network

4. 4.10.2012 Page 4© 2012 ASREN, GmbH, All Rights ReservedInternet 2 Meeting - Philadelphia, USA Key drivers  Regional research currently lags significantly  A regional network of collaboration is unrealized  Research portfolio in the region is dynamic and is showing a growing volume of excellence  With increasing research growth, there is a potential for more scientific activities  Resources are enormous and potential for achievement and innovation is vast.  Development of human capital and enhanced research infrastructure are critical to enabling a further growth

5. 4.10.2012 Page 5© 2012 ASREN, GmbH, All Rights ReservedInternet 2 Meeting - Philadelphia, USA Status in the Arab region

6. 4.10.2012 Page 6© 2012 ASREN, GmbH, All Rights ReservedInternet 2 Meeting - Philadelphia, USA The EUMEDCONNECT  R&E network project 2004 -2014 (3 phases), 14M Euro of EC funding  The only regional R&E Network in the Arab Region  NRENs in Algeria (ARN), Egypt (EUN), Tunisia (CCK), Jordan (JUNET), Morocco (MARWAN), Palestine (PALNET) and Syria (HIAST) were connected to its European counterpart GÉANT  Served more than 2 million users in around 700 institutions

7. 4.10.2012 Page 7© 2012 ASREN, GmbH, All Rights ReservedInternet 2 Meeting - Philadelphia, USA Ankab ut Interconnecting Arab States National R&E Networks  Regional connectivity of Arab NREN’s towards a better future growth and prosperity  Initial interconnectivity model Internet ASREN DANTE/ London Géant Internet2 Palestin e PALEN Other NREN Algeria - ARN Morocco CNRS

8. 4.10.2012 Page 8© 2012 ASREN, GmbH, All Rights ReservedInternet 2 Meeting - Philadelphia, USA RCN/ JADI cable systems

9. 4.10.2012 Page 9© 2012 ASREN, GmbH, All Rights ReservedInternet 2 Meeting - Philadelphia, USA SEA-ME-WE 4 cable system

10. 4.10.2012 Page 10© 2012 ASREN, GmbH, All Rights ReservedInternet 2 Meeting - Philadelphia, USA  With activation of various affordable cable systems (e.g. RDC, JADI, TGN-Gulf, IMEWE, SMW-4, etc. )  Capacity prices would fall, then  More and more Arab NREN’s will connect with each other and become a hub between continents  Governments enforce low Tariffs and subsidize for the Last mile connection to local NRENs Hopes

11. 4.10.2012 Page 11© 2012 ASREN, GmbH, All Rights ReservedInternet 2 Meeting - Philadelphia, USA Interconnecting Regional RENs Internet Géant, Internet2 and RENs worldwide Ubuntu Net WACRE N ASREN

12. 4.10.2012 Page 12© 2012 ASREN, GmbH, All Rights ReservedInternet 2 Meeting - Philadelphia, USA A logical topology  Could be cost efficient to rest on two or three regional hubs  Fujairah Smarthub could be emerging as an aggregation of important R&E landings

13. 4.10.2012 Page 13© 2012 ASREN, GmbH, All Rights ReservedInternet 2 Meeting - Philadelphia, USA Summary Increasing interest in building regional Arab R&E network as globalization of e- Infrastructure became inevitable – Strength Lack of physical connection and no regional network of collaboration - Weakness Continuing of EC funding on regional efforts for e-Infrastructure and a growing excellence of Arab research portfolio - Opportunity Lack of vision and motivation at the regional policy level – Threat

14. 4.10.2012 Page 14© 2012 ASREN, GmbH, All Rights ReservedInternet 2 Meeting - Philadelphia, USA ASRENOrg.net