Date:         Tue, 29 Sep 92 18:17:17 DNT
From: Frode Greisen <NEUFRODE@vm.uni-c.dk>

                              Press release            29 Sep 1992
                              -------------
EBONE continues in 1993
=======================

According to the Ebone 92 Memorandum of Understanding, the Ebone
partners gathered in Vienna on Sep.  23 to discuss the future of Ebone.

Since Ebone is the only pan-European IP backbone today the partners
agreed to continue the Ebone during 1993.  The organizational framework
will be much like it is today, being an open backbone and building on
active cooperation between the partners.

A new meeting is planned for the Fall of 1993 to discuss possible
changes in the organizational framework and possible technical
integration scenarios for Ebone in 1994 or later.

The following major new principles were agreed for 1993:

- The sharing of costs and resources will be done in a more fair way.
The model for this was agreed at the meeting.

- Intercontinental connectivity will be included in the shared
resources.

- Operational and overall management will be included in the cost
sharing scheme.  This includes the Ebone Operations Team in Stockholm
and at the Ebone Boundary System sites and part time service of
Bernhard Stockman acting as Ebone Action Team chairman.  The RARE
secretariat gives administrative support and Frode Greisen acts as
Ebone general manager on a part time basis as of today.

- The partners will work on a long term strategy for the European IP
connectivity, in cooperation with coordination bodies for worldwide IP
connectivity.

Four days after the meeting the final link in the originally planned
backbone was put into operation. Ebone is now a resilient European
backbone ring linking Ebone Boundary Systems in Amsterdam, London,
Montpellier, Geneva and Stockholm with Regional Boundary Systems
connected to these systems by access links.

The Ebone will not be static, but the basic principles of openness and
maximal connectivity will continue and Ebone will also welcome new
partners. The successes of Ebone's first year are a firm base for
developments in 1993.

Frode Greisen
UNI-C
Building 305, Technical University
DK2800, Lyngby, Denmark
Phone +45 4593 1420
Fax   +45 4593 0220
E-mail Frode.Greisen@uni-c.dk