The government has provided funding to assist at least two remote Core Member sites connect to KAREN.

About the remote site connectivity project

The MoRST remote site connectivity fund provides a one-off investment to support the connection of remote university and Crown research institute locations to KAREN. Many of our research organisations have infrastructure and monitoring stations in remote locations around the country from which they gather environmental, astronomical or geological data. This funding will help connect these important research centres to KAREN enabling remote control of equipment and fast data transfer back to the main centres.

Status of the remote site connectivity project

AUT Radio astronomy telescope at Warkworth

On 10 May 2010, REANNZ and AUT celebrated the successful connection of the Auckland University of Technology's radio astronomy site at Warkworth to KAREN. Connecting the telescope allows New Zealand to demonstrate its capability in radio astronomy, and could enable us to take part in the global radio astronomy project, the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) that aims to answer questions about the origin and evolution of the universe.

Connection was made possible by the establishment of a new 1Gb/ps KAREN Point of Presence (PoP) at Warkworth. The PoP at Warkworth is linked to the nearby Telecom New Zealand Ltd satellite ground station, opening the door to KAREN access for users that transit the station, such as the Chatham Islands, Scott Base, and some Pacific Islands.

Our 17 May media release on radio astronomy over KAREN provides further details.

University of Canterbury's Mt John Observatory

We are working with the University of Canterbury and suppliers to implement the best solution for the University of Canterbury's Mt John Observatory near Tekapo. We expect to have this site connected by June 2010.

Key outcomes

• Remote Member sites will have connectivity to KAREN for a minimum of three years
• Connection to KAREN will be at a minimum of 1 Gb/s
• Establishment of a Tier 3 PoP, expanding KAREN's reach to Members
• Installation of the Local Access component between the sites and the Tier 3 POP.  This, in the case of Mt John, poses challenges because of the harsh environmental conditions unique to Mt John

Contact

This project is being led by David Clough, REANNZ Deployment Specialist. You can contact David on:
ph: 04 913 1094
e:  david.clough [at] reannz.co.nz

Updated 17 May 2010