Intune Networks partnered with Boston University’s Photonics Center to explore newer fiber optic technology to address the rapid growth of Internet traffic.
College of Engineering Professor Alexander Sergienko, who is helping conduct the research, said the research team will begin lab testing for the Boston University Research Switch and Transportation Network in its partnership with the Ireland-based company.
The research team will explore technology that allows for new network architectures using Intune Networks’ optical packet switch and transport technology, according to a Feb. 17 Intune Networks press release.
“At the moment it is a new exploratory technology,” Sergienko said. “It’s not like someone is going to install the new network on campus – at least not for the next few years – but in the future if it goes [well] and matures, then we’ll be first to benefit from this, of course.”
The money is being raised externally, with the company funding the hardware being used for the network tests in the lab. Part of the money will go toward regular research and development.
The new network technology is not in effect anywhere yet, but Sergienko said BU’s involvement in the research will prove to be beneficial for BU.
The research will explore technology that allows for new network architectures using Intune Networks’ optical packet switch and transport technology, according to the press release.
The proposed network will be designed for metropolises, campuses or data centers, Sergienko said.
“In the future when they start selling real devices, when we get past the research and development stage, BU will be the first beneficiary of this high throughput network on campus,” Sergienko said.
Jim Lowrie, senior vice president of Worldwide Sales for Intune Networks, described the BURST network as a “strategic initiative” that is meant to address the challenges caused by trends in Internet usage, according to the press release.
Intune has begun trials in the United States. The testing completed by Boston metro-area organizations is aimed to show customers the effectiveness of the technology.
“Following an extensive period of development and research, we are on the cusp of allowing commercial and research organizations benefit from our technology,” Lowrie said in the press release.
Sergienko likened the network technology to a non-stop flight for information, where the system currently in place has layovers at different “airports,” known as nodes.
“The one benefit of this approach it is uses much less resources, less hardware and then you have to spend less energy to support it,” Sergienko said. “So high speed with less resources, so you do more, but you spend less, and that is why I personally like it very much.”
The network technology won’t just be faster, it will be more efficient overall, Sergienko said.
He said, “The university [Information Services & Technology] office is very much interested in getting the best of the best, to be first in line for the best technologies of the future.”
