The project will exploit the results of these IST projects and of national research and education networking projects in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Serbia, Montenegro and Greece. Southeast European countries have a strategic role in connecting SE Europe, Caucasian and Mediterranean countries to G-NT. The SEEREN network needs to be sustained and upgraded by exploring all available infrastructure solutions. SEEFIRE will contribute to the preparation of the next generation of this network (SEEREN2), by providing the tools and knowledge that may allow SEE NRENs to potentially obtain access to dark fibre. In this respect, it will considerably assist them in long-term sustainability plans. SEEFIRE will contribute to introducing SEE countries into the eInfrastructures community and will stimulate the launch of joint RTD projects, widening the scope of existing project, helping the participating countries to pursue forthcoming FP6 projects and to become more technology competent. SEEFIRE will provide

- a benchmark of existing and potential optical fibre in the region,

- an analysis of the technical options available for the deployment of dark fibre and the management of optical transmission by NRENs in the region, thereby providing guidelines for future implementations,

- reports on economic aspects and regulations, and

- information dissemination activities targeting both technical and policy-making actors in the region.