Advanced communications research projects in Germany: The KomNet project

The article describes twenty-five field test and demonstration networks set up under the German government-sponsored KomNet project, with the object of evaluating long distance data transmission systems, metro networks, access networks and network management processes. Properties of optical fibre cables, system stability and suitability for interoperability between systems were investigated. The paper lists systems provided by Acterna, Alcatel, SEL, Infineon, Lucent, Siemens, VPI and T-Systems Nova companies, as well as 20 universities, research institutes and other companies. A metro-net installed in Berlin and to a 16*10 Gbit/sec link between Berlin and Darmstadt, and multiple 40 Gigabit/sec per gamma channel system are also referred to.