564 



87 



in order to obtain preferential rates or the allocation of special 

 lines. With regard, in particular, to international links, it would 

 be necessary, on the one hand, for the PTTs to charge rates 

 comparable to those applicable at national level and, on the other 

 hand, for them to authorize free interconnection of the networks 

 reserved for scientific and technical users. It should be noted 

 that several studies have been undertaken within the European 

 framework with a view to defining the characteristics of a high- 

 speed European network in cooperation either with private firms or 

 with the PIT administration. Pending completion of such projects, 

 the interconnection of all the X 25 national networks would be of 

 primary importance. 



3.1.3) Political obstacles 



The political obstacles are real, but probably less difficult to 

 surmount, particularly in the field of !-'"_'-: Energy Physics, where 

 the results are hardly likely to be covered by military or 

 industrial secrecy. Where Fusion is concerned, closed scientific 

 and technical cooperation derives from a declared political will to 

 ensure that participants exchange the most important scientific and 

 technical information relating to this sector. (In this connection, 

 if an agreement between the countries which participated in the 

 Summit is to be concluded in this field, it would be advisable to 

 incorporate in it a clause concerning the dissenination of results). 



3.2 Requirements for the coming decade : 



On bandwidth: 



1. The HEP community in Europe requires in two or three years access 

 to public data networks at medium (56 Kbps) and, by the end of the 

 decade, high (IMbps) bandwidths with international links able to 

 operate at the high bandwidth. 



2. The average total international traffic generated at medium 

 bandwidths is 250 K bits/second during the working week. The high 

 bandwidth traffic could reach 2 Megabits/second at the end of the 

 decade when new accelerators are in full operation in Europe and 

 the US. 



Technical barriers: 



3. It is essential that rapid agreement is reached on ISO standards 

 for communications. 



4. Manufacturers must be strongly encouraged to support these 

 standards as they are agreed, by setting public sector procurement 

 requirements, if necessary. 



