The Spanish National Host

The idea of "National Host" arose as part of the Fourth General Plan for Research and Development of the European Union, within the sub-program of "Advanced Communications Technologies and Services" (ACTS). The purpose of these "National Hosts" is to link and coordinate the activities and pilot networks that already exist in each country in the field of networks and services based on advanced broadband communications, with a view to make them available for ACTS projects. This would permit experimentation with advanced communication services designed to incorporate the end users, a basic aspect of programs such as ACTS. In Spain, the National Host was set up in 1994 under the guidance of the Spanish Administration. The Spanish National Host (SNH) comprises five organizations that offer their resources (equipment, technical staff, auditoriums, etc.) to research and development projects in the field of advanced communications (ACTS, for example), generally implying the participation of end users. Each partner in the SNH contributes with resources that belong to its own specific NH communications platform. Taken together, these platforms build up the complete infrastructure of the SNH.

The cost for the service provided by the platform of the UPC, like all the other SNH platforms, consists of three quantities: an amount for using the resources, an amount for assistance of qualified personal and the amount for the usage of the connection. The later depending on the contracted peak rate and time duration of the connection according to GIGACOM tariffs. Connectivity services provided by National Hosts may be used by companies involved in research projects.

Spanish National Host Services

Technically, the NHs provide facilities only for supporting of ACTS projects, but in practice the facilities are open for almost any organization which plans to develop or enhance broadband oriented applications, providing that such usage is not for short-term commercial gain. The NH services will particularly facilitate the involvement in research programs by Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs). Such participation is consistent with the stated aims of the European Commission, as it is felt that maximum creativity will be achieved by having research consortia composed of a mix of small and large organizations.

The cost for the service provided by the platform of the UPC, like all the other SNH platforms, consists of three items, namely cost for using the resources, cost for assistance of qualified personal and cost for the usage of the connection. The later depends on the contracted peak rate and time duration of the connection.