Agilent-IIT Bombay to develop Ethernet

MUMBAi, INDIA: Agilent Technologies, the world’s premier Test & Measurement Company and a technology leader in communications, electronics, life sciences and chemical analysis has announced a collaboration with IIT Bombay to build technologies for 100 Gigabit Ethernet as well as next generation Carrier Ethernet networks in the metropolitan space. Agilent Technologies funds the Gigabit Networks Laboratory of Computer Science and Engineering Department, IIT-B.

Prof. Ashwin Gumsate, who is the James R. Isaac Chair in Computer Science and Engineering Department of IIT Bombay, will lead this research collaboration. This research builds a new system that would pave a roadmap for 100 Gigabit Ethernet. This will also use novel optical technologies.

The new technologies which will be developed by this association will be employed by the next generation data centers as well as for mobile backhaul traffic. The partnership between IIT Bombay and Agilent Technologies R&D center at Bangalore would help create a new metropolitan test-bed which would be the key for testing future access and metro technologies

Venkatesh Valluri, President and Country General Manager, Agilent Technologies said: “Agilent has always been a pioneer in introducing fresh technologies and driving the need of technological advancements in the country. It is our honor to join hands with IIT Bombay in building technology blocks for networks beyond 10 GBPS, particularly 100 Gbps, using intelligent optics and smart electronics. Agilent is a world leader in providing measurement solutions in the Electronics and the Life Sciences domains. Such collaborative technologies that help in enhancing data speeds multifold create new global business opportunities."

The partnership begins in July 2008 and is likely to result in research culmination by June 2009.  Appreciating the collaboration Prof. Ashwin Gumaste said: "It is a great pleasure to partner with Agilent Technologies and to explore areas that could potentially redefine the Ethernet network domains. With this association we hope to contribute substantially to the telecommunication research at the global level."

The collaboration, the first of its kind in this high-speed application space with emphasis on the future of Ethernet would be a key shift for private-public partnerships in the Indian scenario.