GARR selects Infinera's 800G tech to boost network capacity

GARR, the Italian research and education network, has chosen Infinera's GX Series ICE6 800G coherent solution to double the capacity of its optical infrastructure, GARR-T. The expansion project, which will extend connectivity to Sardinia, aims to enhance the high-performance network that facilitates collaboration between research institutions and universities at both national and international levels.

Infineras solution will be deployed across GARR's terrestrial network and the submarine cable system operated by Sparkle. This implementation will enhance GARR’s optical backbone, providing high-speed data transmission to support Italy’s scientific community. The project is part of the EU Recovery Fund initiative, TeRABIT, which aims to develop a high-performance computing and network infrastructure within Italy.

“Infineras high-performance and open optical technology gives our community the ability to freely manage a range of spectrum rather than single optical signals, creating a seamless integration between GARR-T’s terrestrial network and the optical infrastructure on Sardinia,” stated Massimo Carboni, GARR's Chief Technology Officer. He added, “This is a critical first step of GARR-T’s expansion, which will be completed by 2025 and will provide up to 400 Gbps connectivity all over the Italian territory.”

The new connectivity to Sardinia will also provide additional access for institutions involved in the Italian National Center for Research in High-Performance Computing, Big Data, and Quantum Computing (ICSC). The deployment will offer rapid data transmission, redundancy, and improved reliability, which are expected to benefit the broader scientific community in Italy.

Nick Walden, Senior Vice President of Worldwide Sales at Infinera, said, “We are pleased to work with GARR, leveraging Infineras innovative solutions to enable GARR to expand connectivity services across Italy’s research and education community.”

The implementation of Infineras GX Series ICE6 800G solution signifies a significant step in GARR-T’s expansion project. The ultimate goal is to achieve comprehensive, high-speed connectivity across Italy by 2025.