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Strategic Direction Statement
DRAFT
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Background
3. A Vision of an Advanced Network in NZ
4. A summary of the demand
5. NGI-NZ Purpose and Objectives
6. Strategies
6.1. For establishing an advanced network
6.2. For providing governance and management structures
6.3. For facilitating development of advanced networking applications
6.4. For facilitating relationships with regional networks
6.5. For maintaining international advanced network relationships
6.6. For encouraging evolution of the network
6.7. For supporting New Zealand R+E+I on the world Internet stage
6.8. For promoting and publicising the value
7. Conclusion
1. Introduction
This strategic plan is a living document that will change over time reflecting the activities of the NGI-NZ Society Incorporated.
2. Background
By the end of the last decade those following international data networking developments recognised that New Zealand had been left far behind in the area of advanced data networking. While all other OECD countries has moved to support advanced networking with Government encouragement and, directly or indirectly, Government funding, the belief in New Zealand had been that the market would provide the services required. This proved to be untrue.
In 2002 a three month long feasibility study was conducted, examining in detail the need for the establishment of a NGI network for New Zealand. Over 60 potential private and public sector stakeholder organizations were canvassed as part of the study, including the tertiary education and research community as well as key industry sectors highlighted in the Central Government's "Growth and Innovation Strategy Report - Creative Sector, Biotech and ICT."
The resulting report was entitled “Collaborating at Speed : ‘Innovation Infrastructure for a Knowledge Economy’.” One of the first priorities from the report was the establishment of the NGI-NZ Consortium (now the Society) to provide a national high-speed network also connecting to the international NGI networks.
3. A Vision of an Advanced Network in NZ
An innovative and globally-connected economy, with state of the art national internet infrastructure delivering bandwidth at capacities and prices that encourage collaboration, and stimulate researchers and entrepreneurs to seek new challenges and business opportunities.
This vision reaches out to all New Zealanders, beyond the tertiary education and research sectors, to schools, businesses and the community, creating a widespread “innovation culture”.
4. A summary of the demand
It is always going to be difficult to demonstrate the demand for a service that does not yet exist. However MoRST have gone through the process of seeking opinions and guidance from leading research workers in New Zealand and have produced a report that solidly endorses the need for advanced networking capabilities for science and research. In summary the report states:
New Zealand will miss out on the growth opportunities that these sectors [research, education and innovation] promise if network infrastructure issues are not addressed.
The nature of work and our markets increasingly have global-scale implications. To participate in this work place and capture these markets , New Zealand has no choice but to remain well connected (digitally).
5. NGI-NZ Purpose and Objectives
The NGI-NZ Society will guide the establishment of an NGI network for New Zealand, and work to promote and stimulate the development and use of advanced networking applications.
The Society’s objectives to 2006 are:
1. to establish an integrated advanced network for research, innovation and education;
2. to provide governance and management structures to oversee the design and implementation of the initial NGI network;
3. to promote and support the development of advanced networking applications;
4. to facilitate connection with regional networks;
5. to establish and maintain working relationships with international advanced network organisations and networks;
6. to encourage the technical evolution of networking as a research and education infrastructure and to stimulate the involvement of the education, innovative and scientific communities in networking;
7. to provide an appropriate structure for the Society to facilitate full participation from all organisations with an interest in advanced networking;
8. to capture economies of scale for the continued communication needs of Members;
9. to provide a body to represent New Zealand research, innovation and educational interests on the world Internet stage;
10. to promote and publicise the value of advanced networks;
11. to enable, facilitate and promote economic growth through the use of advanced networking facilities and services.
6. Strategies
6.1. For establishing an advanced network
NGI-NZ will ensure New Zealand has the best possible environment for innovation in the use of advanced networking. To enable this strategy, it has developed the following underlying principles.
Open, neutral ‘meet-me’ points
Open, neutral ‘meet-me’ points knows as GigaPoPs (gigabit per second Points of Presence) are the fundamental building blocks for the future of networking. GigaPoPs allow independent parties to connect to each other without the use of telecommunications suppliers. Such an open interconnection regime supports competition and innovation.
The concept of the ‘dumb’ network
Advanced networks should embrace the concept of end-user control. Network intelligence is provided at the edge, rather than value-added services within the network itself. This ‘dumb’ network provides the optimal environment for innovation through end-user empowerment.
Convergence of data, voice and video communications
The network will carry voice, video and general data. Advanced networks are content “agnostic.” While in the past different types of communications networks have been established to transport different types of traffic the strong trend is towards transport of all traffic on a single service.
‘Over-supply’ of Bandwidth
Advances in technology have led to the view that bandwidth should no longer be considered a scarce resource. The concept of the ‘idle’ network is embraced by NGI-NZ and other advanced network providers, with average utilization often no more than 10%.
Scalability
To ensure that ‘over-supply’ is achievable the network architecture and technology will allow up-scaling in bandwidth at small incremental cost.
Reliability
The network will be built using proven technology, with redundant electronic and photonic elements providing high reliability. While it will be used as a platform to investigate the use of advanced networking services it will not be an ‘experimental’ network. It will be professionally managed with high quality operational characteristics.
6.2. For providing governance and management structures
NGI-NZ will set up a wholely-owned company to oversee the operation of the network. This company will be responsible for operating the network for members on a non-profit basis, and responsible for all the financial issues. It will out-source the actual operation and maintenance of the service as appropriate.
The governance of the network will be the responsibility of the NGI-NZ Board. A technical advisory group, drawn from members, will be established to provide technical advice to the NGI-NZ company.
6.3. For facilitating development of advanced networking applications
NGI-NZ will facilitate and support the operation of interest groups in the development of advanced networking applications through sponsoring meetings and communications services such as audio and video conferencing, and Access Grids.
6.4. For facilitating relationships with regional networks
While the initial focus for NGI-NZ will be on the development of a national advanced network backbone, it will seek to work with regional networking initiatives to support regional access to advanced network services, and promote a vibrant competitive market for network services. The GigaPops are seen as key to facilitating this regional development. They provide meet me points for the regional networks, and support regional access to the NGI advanced network services.
6.5. For maintaining international advanced network relationships
NGI-NZ will move quickly to establish peer relationships and connectivity with AARNet, Australia's Research and Education Network, and Internet2 in the United States. These relationships will provide access to a number of advanced research networks. NGI-NZ will establish additional relationships in a timely fashion to meet member needs.
6.6. For encouraging evolution of the network
NGI-NZ will establish a working group from its members, with the power to co-opt, to undertake forward-looking research in networking technology. This group will monitor emerging developments in advanced networking and evaluate them for use in the New Zealand context.
6.7. For supporting New Zealand R+E+I on the world Internet stage
NGI-NZ will become actively involved in international initiatives supporting and promoting advanced networking. This will include attendance at appropriate international meetings and forums where New Zealand’s R+E+I activities can be promoted, and experience can be gleaned from other network providers.
6.8. For promoting and publicising the value
In its role as a facilitator and promoter of the advanced network and its benefits in New Zealand, NGI-NZ will take every opportunity to promote the value of such networks to its members, prospective members and other stakeholders. Promotional strategies will be developed in support of NGI-NZ’s strategic and business plans. Speaker programmes for international experts in R+E+I applications will also be sponsored.
7. Conclusion
NGI-NZ looks forward to participating in a research, education and innovation environment that increases New Zealand’s global connectedness and enables our researchers, educators, scientists and innovators to take a prominent place on the world stage.
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