In a significant move set to transform the landscape of optical networks, Trinity College Dublin has announced the launch of the €1.3 million ‘Twilight’ project. This cutting-edge initiative aims to leverage digital twin technology to facilitate rapid and disruption-free advancements in optical networks. The announcement was made by Minister for the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Patrick O’Donovan TD, as part of a broader funding initiative that includes 28 research awards valued at €34 million across seven Higher Education Institutions.
The Twilight project, formally titled "Twin Lightpaths: A Digital Twin Framework For Full Automation Of Disaggregated Optical Networks," is spearheaded by Professor Marco Ruffini and Principal Investigator in the CONNECT Centre. Professor Ruffini, who led the project proposal, highlighted the transformative potential of the project: “Optical networks are the lifeblood of the internet. They must evolve to support the ever-increasing usage of the internet and digital innovations like Smart Cities and Virtual/Augmented Reality. Twilight’s digital twin project will ensure safe, rapid advancements without network disruption.”
The project has garnered significant support and collaboration from HEAnet and GÉANT. HEAnet, Ireland’s National Education and Research Network, manages a national optical network spanning over 2,500 km and has been a crucial partner in advancing Ireland’s research infrastructure. Their ongoing collaboration with the SFI CONNECT Centre has facilitated numerous connectivity services and research demonstrations.
In 2022, a direct connection was established between HEAnet and Prof. Ruffini’s Open Ireland test network at Trinity, providing invaluable insights into the production network’s characteristics. This synergy has paved the way for the Twilight project, which will, for the first time, extend optical connectivity from the Open Ireland test bed to the GÉANT optical network via HEAnet.
Eoin Kenny, Innovation and R&D Manager at HEAnet, emphasised the project’s impact on network planning and resource optimisation: “Planning network changes has always been challenging. Twilight’s digital twin will streamline this process, save time, and help HEAnet to optimise our network resources. We are very pleased with the work carried out on the Open Ireland research infrastructure and look forward to continuing this close collaboration.”
GÉANT, the collaboration of European National Research and Education Networks (NRENs), plays a pivotal role in connecting Europe’s researchers, academics, and students with a high bandwidth, high-speed, and resilient pan-European backbone. Guy Roberts, Senior Transport Network Architect at GÉANT, expressed his enthusiasm for the Twilight project:
“The future for anyone working with optical networks looks bright with all the new technologies on our side. We are continually dealing with the issues of dynamic provisioning of optical paths. Despite making extensive use of optical equipment vendors’ planning tools, we have discovered anomalous situations that can lead to some level of service disruption. GÉANT will work with Trinity and HEAnet to provide measurements to train the digital twin algorithms, help with any fine-tuning, and carry out experiments on the use cases we have jointly defined.”
The launch of the Twilight project marks a pivotal step towards the automation and optimisation of optical networks. By harnessing the power of digital twin technology, Trinity College Dublin, in collaboration with HEAnet and GÉANT, is set to drive forward innovation and efficiency in network infrastructure, ensuring robust and scalable connectivity to support the digital demands of the future. This initiative not only underscores the importance of strategic partnerships in advancing research but also highlights Ireland’s commitment to being at the forefront of technological advancements in optical networks.