On November 1 The Caribbean Knowledge and Learning Network, CKLN, and the Mexican national research and education network, Corporacion Universitaria para el Desarrollo de Internet A.C (CUDI) signed a collaboration agreement whereby CUDI will provide network operations center (NOC) services to the Caribbean research and education network, C@ribNET. C@ribNET is the high capacity, fiber optic network that will facilitate enhanced opportunities and experiences for the research and education community in the region, and which is managed by CKLN, an agency of CARICOM.

NOC services are critical to the management of any research and education network, and will ensure support to users. The availability of a Network Operations Centre that conforms to minimum standards has been identified as an essential component of the C@ribNET project as it now also belongs to the international research and education community. The role of the Network Operations Centre is to maintain stability in service operations for users of C@ribNET and to facilitate the introduction of quality services into the live environment while ensuring  customer satisfaction and cost-effectiveness.

Mr. Ken Sylvester, Chief Executive Officer of CKLN said he was very pleased at the collaboration with CUDI, and noting that the skills required to manage a NOC service are limited in the Caribbean. He was pleased that CUDI agreed to provide these services for C@ribNET, and noted that CKLN intends to facilitate the training of Caribbean technical persons so that the service can be provided within the region.

Dr. Carlos Casasus, CEO of CUDI, said that he was glad that CUDI was able to provide this support to C@ribNET as a sister network to the Latin American R&E network, RedCLARA (Cooperación Latino Americana de Redes Avanzadas  - Latin American Cooperation of Advanced Networks). He said that this type of cooperation reflects the spirit of the R&E community worldwide, and by providing this service at the implementation stages of C@ribNET was a testament to how far CUDI itself has come with the help of others. Mr. Sylvester was very grateful to CUDI and their technical team, and observed that the relationship would be mutually beneficial.

C@ribNET was implemented in the Caribbean in May 2012, connecting all CARICOM member states, to each other, but also to the R&E networks around the world. Such networks provide dedicated, secure connectivity for researchers, academics, communities involved in e- health, e-agriculture, security, disaster mitigation and management, and many other communities concerned with development and the public good.

CUDI is supported by [ name sponsors]. C@ribNET is supported through a €10 million grant from the European Union.