Europe tames ‘elephant flows’ in 1.2 Tbit/s supercomputer trial

Europe achieved a record-breaking 1.2 terabit-per-second (Tbit/s) data transfer across 2,175 miles (3,500 kilometers) in a supercomputing trial involving CSC (IT Center for Science), SURF, and Nokia. The test demonstrated a quantum-safe, high-capacity fibre-optic connection between Amsterdam, Netherlands, and Kajaani, Finland, transferring both real research and synthetic data directly disk-to-disk. The data traversed five production research and education networks, including NORDUnet, Sunet, SIKT, and Funet, leveraging Nokia’s IP/MPLS routing and quantum-safe optical technology. Nokia’s Flexible Ethernet (FlexE) was key to managing “elephant flows,” or very large continuous data streams, proving the feasibility of ultra-fast, long-distance data transport critical for AI and high-performance computing (HPC). This milestone highlights the importance of resilient, scalable, and secure cross-border connectivity to support the exponential growth of research data, especially for AI model training and supercomputing workloads. The trial supports Europe’s ambitions for supercomputing infrastructure, such as the LUMI supercomputer in Kajaani and AI projects like GPT-nl, enabling seamless workflows across distributed data centers. The success of this multi-domain, high-throughput network test underscores the value of strategic partnerships and advanced digital backbones in driving scientific progress and preparing for future AI and HPC demands. Overall, the trial sets a new benchmark for operational long-distance data networks, providing critical insights into data transport and storage infrastructure. Stakeholders emphasized that despite geographical distances, reliable and scalable data connections are achievable and essential for Europe’s research ecosystem. Nokia and its partners are committed to continuing support for global research and education networks, ensuring they can scale confidently to meet the next generation of discovery and innovation.