ESnet, Internet2 and NYSERNet Extend Pact to Connect U.S. Research Community to Major International Hub

The Department of Energy’s Energy Sciences Network (ESnet) and Internet2 — two of the nation’s leading research and education networks — today (Sept. 6, 2017) announced the renewal of an agreement to remain anchor tenants at one of the world’s most critical Internet exchange points operated by the New York State Education and Research Network (NYSERNet).

Located at 32 Avenue of the Americas in Manhattan, NYSERNet’s “32AofA” global network exchange is a well-known international hub where the world's leading research and education networks connect to content, data and telecom providers to seamlessly exchange traffic among their networks.

“One network alone cannot connect every scientist in the lab, every student in a classroom or every researcher in the field. By creating a rich interconnected fabric of networks, we are able to bring together the best ideas, minds and scientific resources no matter where in the world they may be,” said Inder Monga, director of ESnet and the Scientific Networking Division of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. “This is how discovery in the era of big data will take place. We appreciate our continuing partnership with NYSERNet and Internet2 to provide this truly critical network connection.”

With the agreement, scientists at U.S. national labs and universities, including some of the most prestigious institutions in New York state, can seamlessly connect via NYSERNet, ESnet, and Internet2’s networks with collaborators and resources around the world. As a result, researchers can collaboratively use remote observatories to discover long-hidden secrets of the universe, enable efficiency-minded cities to use remote supercomputers to analyze traffic patterns and energy usage, analyze mountains of DNA data to identify patterns that help find cures for major diseases, and tackle other data-intensive problems.

NYSERNet negotiated the agreement on behalf of Internet2 and ESnet as part of its own contract renewal at 32AofA.“NYSERNet is pleased that we’re able to continue our partnership with ESnet and Internet2 to serve researchers and educators in the U.S. and around the world,” said Christopher M. Sedore, president and CEO of NYSERNet.

"This agreement is a testament to how the research and education community is able to share infrastructure resources to help support our researchers and scientists,” said George Loftus, associate vice president of business and relationship management for network services at Internet2. “Internet2 is proud to be an anchor tenant at NYSERNet’s leading New York facility and pleased to be part of this unique global exchange for research and education. This renewal allows Internet2 and ESnet to continue community investment that supports the global research enterprise.”