CA*net4- Canada’s High-Performance Research and Education Network February 10, 2009

Cold climate researchers working in the Yukon enjoy access to some of the best network connectivity in Canada. Yukon College is among the universities, colleges, research centres, government research laboratories, schools and other provincial and territorial research networks served by CA*net4, Canada’s high-performance research and education network operated by CANARIE.

CANARIE – the Canadian Network for the Advancement of Research Industry and Education – is Canada’s advanced Internet development organization established to stimulate and support research, innovation and growth. CANARIE is a world leader in connectivity—CA*net3 launched in 1998 was the world's first national optical Internet research and education network, and its successor, CA*net4, has continued to serve as a testing ground for new optical-networking applications, technologies and concepts since its launch in 2002.

Yukon’s connection to CA*net4 is a high-performance link to Edmonton that runs in parallel to public Internet. This advanced connectivity encourages a much greater ability for users to innovate in the development of network-based applications, and it allows northern institutions like Yukon College to participate in broadband IP videoconferencing, distributed learning, data transmission, and enhanced access to partner networks. Given the increasing use of computers and networks as the research platform in many fields, Yukon’s CA*net4 connectivity is essential for national and international collaboration, data access and analysis, distributed computing and remote control of instrumentation required by researchers.

Many Canadian researchers utilize the CA*net4 network without knowing they are, and this high performance network access continues when working from the Yukon. Two major CA*net4 connections in the North are to Whitehorse and Yellowknife, and users working with CANARIE-registered institutions enjoy free access to the network. Yukon College represents the CA*net4 network in the Yukon. YCCIC researchers working on projects with high bandwidth demands are encouraged to contact Yukon Cold Climate Innovation Centre for assistance to increase network access or infrastructure to accommodate their special needs. Private companies can also apply through Yukon College for authorized use to CA*net4 to support non-commercial use of the network for their research programs.