JANET helps the UK library community to transmit data at speeds of 290 dictionaries per second

UKERNA®, the organisation responsible for running JANET®, the high speed academic and research computer network, will be demonstrating the capabilities of the upgraded network this week at Online Information 2001, which takes place at Olympia on the 4th, 5th and 6th December.

UKERNA®, the organisation responsible for running JANET®, the high speed academic and research computer network, will be demonstrating the capabilities of the upgraded network this week at Online Information 2001, which takes place at Olympia on the 4th, 5th and 6th December.

UKERNA's presence as an exhibitor at the event will ensure that delegates have access to current and detailed information on JANET. During the course of 2001, the network has received a major upgrade as part of the 50 million SuperJANET® project. JANET can now deliver data at speeds of 2.5Gbit/s, which equates to 290 dictionaries per second.

JANET's library customers are delivering a number of important services to the academic and research community across the network. The British Library, for example, has developed a web interface to their main library. The British Library Public Catalogue (BLPC) describes over ten million items which are available in the libraries Reading Rooms or for remote supply of photocopies or loans. In addition, its inside web service enables users to search and order from the British Library's journal and conference collection of millions of articles without leaving their desks.

Tim Hadlow, from the British Library's Information Services Department, commented, "The capabilities of the upgraded JANET network is helping us to plan exciting lifelong learning services for the future. We are working on a number of projects to provide network wide access to rare materials, which rarely leave the secure rooms here at the British Library. These will be of major benefit to researchers and academics in the UK and across the world".

Geoff McMullen, UKERNA's Chief Executive comments, "The first JANET became operational in 1984 following a late 1970's study that recommended the creation of a single network, based on a uniform technology that would support a simpler, cheaper and more reliable service".
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"The speed at which JANET is capable of transferring data has been systematically increased as the technology becomes available. Academic library customers are increasingly looking to online information services to meet their research needs. JANET's recent upgrade ensures that academic libraries across the UK are able to offer speedy, reliable access to both the internet and the additional services offered to those within the JANET community. UKERNA is committed to developing the network as customer needs evolve, adding value for the academic community when it comes to the speed, volume and reliability of JANET. To this end we fund both in-house and external research projects, so that we can continually improve and enhance the capabilities of the network and the services that support it."

Mr McMullen adds, "UKERNA is committed to providing the whole education and research sector with the means of promoting the concept of lifelong learning. We continue to develop and enhance the network according to the JANET communitys requirements, whose priority is for a reliable and secure network environment."
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Notes to Editors:
UKERNA stands for the United Kingdom Education and Research Networking Association

UKERNA, JANET and SuperJANET are registered trademarks

JANET currently connects over 700 organisations including all UK universities, most colleges of higher and further education, research council establishments and other organisations that work in collaboration with this community, enabling the exchange of data and information between connected organisations. Several hundred thousand computers are currently connected and network access is available to all staff and students (subject to their organisations' policies.)

For further media information, please contact Silvana Damerell or Kirstie Nelson on 01869 324555 or pr@langton.co.uk