Through REANNZ's international partnership with Taiwanese network, TWAREN, and Singaporean Network, SingAREN, KAREN members now have improved access to their peers in these countries. KAREN recently signed Memoranda of Understanding with TWAREN and SingAREN confirming peering arrangements, and as a result widening the reach of KAREN and speeding up access to international collaboration partners in these countries.

Peering is an interconnection of separate networks or groups of networks allowing the exchange of traffic between network customers.

"We are so happy to see that the peering between us has been completed. The success of our first step was so encouraging. We are looking forward to having more collaborations including VoIP and measurement technologies in the future," said Li-Chi Ku, Assistant Engineer, Taiwan Advanced Research and Education Network National Center for High-performance Computing.

"SingAREN is pleased to peer with KAREN to facilitate seamless collaboration between researchers from the two communities as we move towards Global Research Collaboration," said Francis Lee, president of SingAREN.

"New Zealand has excellent trade and science relationships with both Taiwan and Singapore.  For New Zealand researchers, the improved access to partners in both these important countries will support deeper collaborations that will help ensure this country stays at the leading edge," said Donald Clark, REANNZ Chief Executive.

KAREN is also currently peered with the following networks/institutions:

• AARNET (Australia's Academic and Research Network)
• ESnet (Energy Sciences Network)
• PNWGigapop - University of Washington
• Abilene - Internet2
• GMnet – NTT
• NLR (National Lambda Rail)
• Transpac – Indiana University
• CSUNET-NE – California State University Network
• CENIC (The Corporation for Education Network Initiatives in California)
• CANARIE (Canadian Advanced Network and Research for Industry and Education)