CAREN Project

Launched in January 2009, the Central Asian Research and Education Network (CAREN) project aims to:

establish and operate a high-capacity regional R&E network in Central Asia based on broadband Internet (with minimum link capacities of 34 Mbps);
improve intra-regional connectivity across Central Asia by replacing existing low-capacity satellite connections with terrestrial fibre;
facilitate R&E collaborations between Central Asia and Europe with direct connection to GÉANT at a minimum bandwidth of 155 Mbps;
seek synergies with user communities in neighbouring regions, i.e. Asia-Pacific (TEIN3) and the South Caucasus (BSI);
act as a catalyst for the development of sustainable national research networking in the five former Soviet republics of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan;
decrease the digital divide, combat brain drain and promote regional development and cohesion;
support and promote collaborative network applications in areas of high societal impact, such as telemedicine, seismology, distance education, energy and water resources management and environmental s tudies;
pave the way for sustainability of the network after CAREN.

FUNDING

The Europe Aid Co-operation Office (AIDCO) of the European Commission is contributing 80% (€5m) towards the costs of the project with the remaining funds being provided by the partners on the basis of a cost-sharing model. The project is expected to last until the end of 2011 with the possibility of an extension of a further 12 months.

The CAREN project aims to establish a high-capacity regional research and education network in Central Asia to provide the region with a gateway to global research collaboration by the end of 2009. It sets out to replace the satellite-based connectivity established by the Silk project with a broadband internet-based network using terrestrial fibre.

Offering a direct link to GÉANT, CAREN will allow researchers, educators and students in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan not only to collaborate among each other but also to engage in exciting joint projects with their peers in Europe and in other parts of the world. Thus the Silk Road, the ancient trading link between Asia and Europe, does not trade just goods but also ideas!

link: CAREN NOC