A Digital Highway to ALMA

Associated Universities, Inc. has signed a contract on behalf of ALMA with two Chilean companies -- Silica Networks Chile S.A. and Telefónica Empresas Chile S.A -- to immediately begin construction on ~150 kilometers of fiber optic cable between Calama and the ALMA site, located 34 kilometers from San Pedro de Atacama. From Calama, the network will connect to existing infrastructure to Santiago and the world. As a result, ALMA will increase its data transmission capacity by more than 25 times. The project is funded under the ALMA Development program.

"This long-term structural solution not only has the advantage of being able to convey more data, it could also allow us to operate some of the observatory activities from Santiago", says Jorge Ibsen, Head of ALMA Department of Computing.

ALMA's digital highway will be operational in 2014. Currently, data is transferred via microwave link from the remote and hostile desert to the ALMA archives in Santiago, Charlottesville, Garching, and Mitaka. The new route will enable the transfer of the enormous quantity of data that ALMA will produce when fully built. The route operates bi-directionally and will also improve communication between the ALMA centers and those operating the Joint ALMA Observatory (JAO) in Chile. The new route will facilitate the transfer of the enormous quantity of data that ALMA is capable of producing when fully built, boosting ALMA's scientific capability.

Connect with NRAO

The National Radio Astronomy Observatory and Green Bank Observatory are facilities of the U.S. National Science Foundation operated under cooperative agreement by Associated Universities, Inc.

Founded in 1956, the NRAO provides state-of-the-art radio telescope facilities for use by the international scientific community. NRAO telescopes are open to all astronomers regardless of institutional or national affiliation. Observing time on NRAO telescopes is available on a competitive basis to qualified scientists after evaluation of research proposals on the basis of scientific merit, the capability of the instruments to do the work, and the availability of the telescope during the requested time. NRAO also provides both formal and informal programs in education and public outreach for teachers, students, the general public, and the media.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency created by Congress in 1950 "to promote the progress of science; to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare; to secure the national defense..."

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