Tsinghua University in Beijing, part of Cernet and Nokia have now set up the first Joint Internet Laboratory within the scope of the INTERNET 6 cooperation program. In its full scale, the INTERNET 6 network is believed to be the most advanced nationwide IPv6 network in the world.
An essential advantage of IPv6 is the huge address space, making it possible to allocate an Internet address to practically every electronic device on earth. IPv6 is an Internet protocol specified by the IETF ( Internet Engineering Task Force). It offers clear advantages to the present IPv4 protocol. Features like network security, mobility, and quality of service are incorporated into the IPv6 protocol.
At the Joint Laboratory, the partners undertake research and development projects focusing on Internet technology based on IPv6 protocol. This year, Nokia will establish more Joint Laboratories with leading Chinese universities, as part of the program.
"Nokia is happy to strengthen its commitment to China with this cooperation which we believe will greatly advance IPv6, an essential enabler in building Nokia's vision of the Mobile Information Society," said James Lin, President of Nokia (China) Investment Corporation, "With Internet 6 we will have advanced features and functionalities such as Mobile IP and quality of service."
INTERNET 6 is a technology cooperation program between Nokia and CERNET established by the partners in late 1999. In the program, Nokia and CERNET develop together next generation Internet technologies and applications based on the use of IPv6 protocol. The partners are setting up a nationwide experimental network using IP routers and IPv6 software donated by Nokia. The network will cover the 10 regional centers of CERNET during this quarter.
In the course of the program, the partners develop technological features and applications on IPv6. The experimental network will be upgraded on the regular basis and new capabilities will be experimented on the network, like QoS, IP-mobility.
The first Research & Development (R&D) project within the Joint Internet Laboratory at Tsinghua starts this month. R&D cooperation with the Beijing University of Telecommunications is already on the way as a part of the program and further strengthens Nokia's cooperation with Chinese industry.
Nokia China R&D Center in Beijing is in charge of implementing the program from Nokia side. Advanced Internet technologies, including IPv6, is one focus area of the Beijing R&D since its establishment in 1998.
CERNET is a nation-wide education and research network infrastructure to support education and research in and among universities, institutes and schools in China using the up-to-date telecommunication and computer techniques. By now, it has 2.1 millions users and about 600 Chinese universities have been connected by CERNET. CERNET is funded by the Chinese government and directly managed by the Chinese Ministry of Education. http://www.cernet.net
Nokia is paving the way to the Mobile Information Society with its innovative products and solutions. The company is the leading mobile phone supplier and a leading supplier of mobile, broadband and IP networks, related services as well as multimedia terminals. In 1999, Nokia's net sales totaled EUR 19.8 billion (USD 19.9 billion). Headquartered in Finland, Nokia is listed on the New York (NOK), Helsinki, Stockholm, London, Frankfurt and Paris stock exchanges and employs more than 55 000 people.