Mid-Atlantic Crossroads announces launch of Double HELIX

Mid-Atlantic Crossroads (MAX) announces the launch of Double HELIX (Health, Education, Life Sciences, and Internet eXchange), the new high-performance point of presence (PoP) located at the Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research in Rockville, Maryland. Double HELIX offers high-speed big data transfer services through a 100 Gbps-capable networking infrastructure to the Shady Grove Life Sciences Center and the surrounding research community.

The launch of Double HELIX expands the MAX regional network and further facilitates communication and collaboration between scientific researchers. Specifically, the PoP acts like a highway on-ramp to MAX's advanced research network services, enabling the high-speed transfer of large data sets. Scientists are therefore able to conduct vital genomics and life sciences research more efficiently across the region. Double HELIX is also highly scalable, and its infrastructure is able to support multiple 100 Gbps networking connections, depending on scientist and researcher requirements.

"MAX strives to stay one step ahead of the research community's technological needs, and the launch of Double HELIX achieves this goal," said Tripti Sinha , Executive Director of MAX. "Double HELIX is located in the epicenter of research and innovation in Maryland's biotechnology and life sciences business corridor, and we are excited for the opportunities it will create."

Double HELIX operates using Fujitsu technologies and runs multiple 100 Gbps services to support the MAX dense wavelength division multiplexing regional footprint. MAX relies on this advanced optical technology as the base for its network footprint in Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia.

"The launch of Double HELIX was a major undertaking for MAX, and we are proud to see it come to fruition," said Tom Lehman , Director of Research at MAX. "The growth of MAX's network is driven by the needs of the research and science communities, and Double HELIX will certainly help to meet those needs."