SURF.net news

Author: Karin Wessel

  • Lessons from APAN61 in Dhaka

    Lessons from APAN61 in Dhaka

    Last week, Alexander and I traveled to Dhaka, Bangladesh, for APAN61 (APAN stands for Asia-Pacific Advanced Network). These types of conferences are often viewed from a technical standards and backbone capacity perspective, but our time in Dhaka proved that the most critical infrastructure we build isn’t made of fiber—it’s made of people.

    A Federated Foundation for Global Science

    I was invited by APAN to deliver a keynote titled “Staying Connected: A Federated, Open Foundation for Global Research & Education Collaboration.” Giving a keynote was exciting for me – in a good way – and a personal milestone. But the real value lay in the message: how we, as a global community, can ensure that research and education aren’t siloed by geography, geopolitics, or other obstacles. For that purpose, addressing both the why and the how of the need for a federated global infrastructure. And it was a reminder that our work within NRENs (both at SURF and abroad) feeds into a much larger, global engine of collaboration and progress for Science & Education. 

    Besides the keynote, I also gave an additional presentation representing SURF in a Special Interest Group (SIG) on Science Engagement. At SURF, we often talk about science engagement and how to improve our efforts in that respect but seeing it in practice and discussing with other NRENs how they do it during APAN was very stimulating and useful. 

    Specific Takeaways from the Field

    Beyond the podium, four specific observations stood out to me:

    • Infrastructure in Practice: The Bangladesh Research & Education Network (BdREN) has successfully implemented eduroam in all national airports. Coming from the Netherlands, seeing this level of user-focused service in action was impressive. It’s a standard of accessibility we should all be aiming for. Schiphol & Nationale Spoorwegen, bring it on! 
    • High-Level Science Engagement: I spent time with researchers in oncology and molecular biology. The sophistication of their work is a clear signal: they are driving serious scientific inquiry that requires the kind of international research network connectivity we provide. 
    • Logistical Excellence: Organizing a conference of this scale in a city as complex as Dhaka—a metropolis of over 25 million people—is a massive undertaking. To put it in perspective: the population density there is nearly ten times that of Amsterdam. Moving dozens of international guests through that kind of environment requires serious planning. The hospitality and flawless execution by the BdREN team really showcased the professionalism and dedication of our partner NRENs in the region.
    • The “8th Layer” of the OSI Model: Some of you know that when it comes to networking, I’m a Layer 0-3 kinda girl—they don’t call me the “Dark Fiber Lady” for nothing —but this week was all about the human 8th layer. Whether it was reconnecting with old friends & partners, establishing new partnerships & perspectives on future collaboration, or learning about local history like the Shaheed Minar, these face-to-face meetings are what make the global R&E collaboration possible.

    Looking Ahead

    Collaborating with the Asia-Pacific region isn’t just a “nice-to-have” for SURF; it is essential for a functional and resilient global research ecosystem. We’re bringing back more than just notes—we’re bringing back renewed partnerships, connectivity to enable global research opportunities for our SURF members, and a fresh perspective on what it means to be a partner in this international community.

    A special thanks to Mohammad Tawrit and the entire BdREN team for their hospitality and for showing us the future of R&E in Asia.

    With Oncologists & Molecular Biologists in Dhaka

  • Highlights from Internet2 TechEx 2025

    Highlights from Internet2 TechEx 2025

    At Internet2 TechEx 2025, global developments in research and education (R&E) network infrastructure were high on the agenda. In a well-attended update, Brenna Meade (International Networks, Indiana University) shared an overview of key steps being taken worldwide to scale capacity, resilience, and automation in federated network services.

    Major capacity upgrades, including transoceanic links

    Meade outlined a broad range of ongoing and planned upgrades across international backbone and exchange infrastructures. This included new 400 Gbps transoceanic links—critical for data-intensive research and collaboration across continents. She also highlighted activity and continued evolution across multiple Global Exchange Points (GXPs), including FUJI-XP, SOE, GOREX, MANLAN, MOXY, NetherLight, and Pacific Wave. Together, these hubs form an important foundation for high-performance global connectivity between R&E networks.

    NSI reaches production readiness

    A key milestone highlighted in the session: NSI (Network Service Interface) has reached production readiness. NSI enables interoperable, automated service provisioning across network domains. In practice, this supports standardized ways for organizations and networks to request, set up, and manage end-to-end services across multiple administrative boundaries.

    For NRENs, this aligns closely with the push toward scalable, federated connectivity: less manual coordination, faster delivery of services, and more reusable interfaces and operational agreements between domains. Reaching production readiness is therefore a concrete step toward more automated and dependable international network service ecosystems.

    Technology—and the community behind it

    Beyond the technical program, TechEx continues to stand out as a strong community meeting point. Informal conversations between sessions, sharing experiences across very different operating contexts, and social traditions such as the 5K fun run all reinforce the trust and relationships that are essential to building and operating resilient infrastructure.

    In summary: TechEx 2025 underscored how global R&E networks are moving forward on both capacity and automation—with NSI marking a notable step toward interoperable, federated service delivery.

    Screenshot
  • SURF at the 6th Global Research Platform: Building the Future of International Research Networking

    SURF at the 6th Global Research Platform: Building the Future of International Research Networking

    Chicago, September – At the 6th Global Research Platform (GRP), SURF joined peers from around the world to share progress, exchange insights, and strengthen collaboration in global research networking.

    In my presentation, I highlighted SURF’s next steps:

    • Updates on SURFnet Infinity and NetherLight
    • Terabit trials with CERN and the LUMI supercomputer
    • Explorations in quantum-secure networking and fiber sensing

    A recurring theme at GRP was the importance of the federated approach: each NREN serves its own members, but together we form a global infrastructure that supports research at scale. This balance of local autonomy and international collaboration is vital to the community’s success.

    Many thanks to Joe Mambretti, Maxine Brown, and the GRP community for fostering an open, collaborative environment. SURF looks forward to continuing this work and helping shape the future of international research & education networking.

  • Celebrating 20 Years of LHCOPN & Looking Ahead to the Future of Scientific Data Infrastructure

    Celebrating 20 Years of LHCOPN & Looking Ahead to the Future of Scientific Data Infrastructure

    This week in Manchester, SURF participated in the 54th LHCOPN-LHCONE meeting, where global experts gathered to discuss the evolution of research networking. It was a special occasion as we celebrated 20 years since the first LHCOPN meeting, reflecting on how far we’ve come in enabling high-speed data transfer from CERN’s Large Hadron Collider (LHC) to researchers worldwide.

    At the heart of it all, we organize IT infrastructure to make science happen—to help researchers probe the fundamental nature of the universe. Whether it’s LHC physicists searching for the building blocks of matter or SKA astronomers listening to the faintest signals from the early universe, both fields generate massive amounts of data that push the limits of computing and networking.

    Sessions on LHC’s evolving network infrastructure highlighted valuable lessons as we discuss how to develop the SKA Observatory’s data systems. While the scale and patterns of data movement may differ, exploring synergies between NREN-based networks for LHC and SKA was particularly insightful.

    Of course, no meeting is complete without spirited debates—this time on the broader challenges of expanding network capabilities for large-scale scientific projects. The conversation naturally raised questions of trust, Acceptable Use Policies (AUP), and the impact on existing communities. The balance between openness and security, integration and specialization, is a fine one. And as history has shown, discussions on centralized vs. federated models tend to resurface over time—sometimes wrapped in new proposals, sometimes in a familiar shade of red.

    As always in these meetings, technical discussions mixed with broader questions of policy, trust, and governance—some unfolding over structured sessions, others in those classic last-minute deep dives when time was running short. Because in research networking, the big questions are never just about technology.

    Grateful for the engaging discussions, the shared knowledge, and the beautiful opening trip down memory lane. Plenty to reflect on and even more to explore—let’s keep the momentum going!

  • Strengthening Global Research Ties at APAN59: A Dutch-Asian Collaboration Spotlight

    Strengthening Global Research Ties at APAN59: A Dutch-Asian Collaboration Spotlight

    Back from #APAN59, and what a fantastic experience! Honored to represent SURF and #NetherLight, highlighting their impact in international research collaborations—especially between scientists in Japan and in the Netherlands.

    A great example is the #TTADDA project, where Wageningen University & Research (WUR), together with Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Japan (MAFFIN), National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO) and several other partners are using drone technology to tackle food challenges through Dutch-Japanese #agritech collaboration.

    It was great to reconnect with peers worldwide, make new connections, and gain fresh insights. Huge thanks to all the speakers and moderators for their excellent work, including my dear colleague Alexander van den Hil whose expertise also as a moderator I very much admire!

    And of course, a big thank you to everyone who made this event so valuable, and to #APAN for an outstanding conference. Looking forward to what’s next!

    皆さん、本当にありがとうございました！
    (Minasan, hontō ni arigatō gozaimashita!)
    Thank you all very much!

    #GlobalResearchNetworking

    #InternationalConnectivity

    #GREN

    #NetherLight

  • Field trip to visit our colleagues at DFN-Verein

    Field trip to visit our colleagues at DFN-Verein

    What an insightful day in Berlin! A big thank you to Stefan Piger and Leonie Schäfer from DFN-Verein for the engaging discussions and valuable learnings. It was a pleasure to exchange ideas and explore opportunities for collaboration together. Looking forward to continuing this conversation!

  • Stronger digital ties across the Atlantic

    Stronger digital ties across the Atlantic

    Stronger digital ties across the Atlantic


    Dutch, Nordic, and Canadian research and education networks
    upgrade their trans-Atlantic link to 400 Gigabits per second (Gbps) as
    part of the Advanced North Atlantic (ANA) consortium.

    The research and education network organizations of the Netherlands, the Nordic countries
    and Canada have signed an agreement to upgrade the existing connection between
    Amsterdam and Montréal from 100 Gbps to 400 Gbps, placing it among the most powerful
    intercontinental connections in the world.

    The Amsterdam-Montréal connection was established five years ago by SURF, the national research and education network (NREN) of the Netherlands, in collaboration with NORDUnet, the regional NREN of the five Nordic countries. With the new agreement, CANARIE – the federal partner in Canada’s NREN – joins, with the three partners contributing equally.

    The Advanced North Atlantic (ANA) consortium is a joint effort of nine research and education networking organizations in North America, Europe, and Asia committed to maintaining, operating, and sharing a high-speed trans-Atlantic network infrastructure.

    Partners chip in

    The strength of ANA consortium lies in the contribution that each partner makes to the system, and shares this with the ANA membership to achieve a better infrastructure for all. Since all members are organizations that exist to build and operate infrastructure to accommodate the needs specific to research and education, the willingness to contribute has been high.

    “This upgrade is a natural response to the increasing demand of research and education data and services exchange across the Atlantic Ocean, for example research enabled by the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) and Square Kilometer Array (SKA) instruments. The ANA consortium is an excellent example of the impact of partnerships on the collective good. This partnership enables our three national research and education networks to do more together than we can do on our own, maximizing the impact of our individual investments – both on the researchers in our home countries and the global science initiatives they collaborate in,” says Mark Wolff, Chief Technology Officer, CANARIE.

    “The partners chip in when and where they can, but always with an eye to the capacity and redundancy of the entire system. This is one of the advantages of being in the research and education network community. Collaboration is smooth and trustful,” says Lars Lange Bjørn, Team Lead, Network & Service Technology, NORDUnet.

    A connection landing in Canada

    ANA began a little more than a decade ago as a pilot project, trying to probe interest in a 100 Gbps connection for research and education across the North Atlantic Ocean. In 2013, the first such connection was established.

    Currently, 13 connections across the Atlantic Ocean are operated as a unified system by the ANA partners.

    “Notably, the other 12 connections all land in the USA. Our connection is the only one landing in Canada, and this is essential for sufficient fail-over capacity and redundancy in the system,” says Harold Teunissen, Director Network and Campus at SURF.

    The 400 Gbps upgrade for the Amsterdam-Montréal connection is expected to be completed by September 2025.

    The Advanced North Atlantic (ANA) consortium members are KISTI, SURF, NORDUnet, NII,
    Indiana University, ESnet, Internet2, CANARIE, GÉANT.

    About NORDUnet

    NORDUnet is a collaboration between the National Research and Education Networks (NRENs) of the five Nordic countries, i.e., Denmark (DeiC), Finland (Funet/CSC), Iceland (RHnet), Norway (Sikt), and Sweden (Sunet). NORDUnet operates a world-class data network, based on dark fiber and spectrum sharing, together with support for e-infrastructures, including media services like videoconferencing and lecture capturing & playback. More than 400 research & education institutions in the Nordics, with over 1.2 million users, are connected via the Nordic NREN networks, enabling scientists, educators,
    and students to work and share knowledge globally. NORDUnet is an active participant in the European NREN collaboration GÉANT and is a founding father of intercontinental NREN collaborations such as the Advanced North Atlantic (ANA) and Asia Pacific Europe Ring (AER) systems that are part of the Global Research and Education Network (GREN). In 2020, NORDUnet celebrated 40 years of Nordic NREN collaboration.

    About SURF

    SURF is the ICT cooperative of Dutch education and research institutions. The members, the owners of SURF, join forces to develop or procure the best possible digital services, work together on complex innovation issues and develop and share knowledge with each other.

    SURF actively collaborates with other European NRENs united in GÉANT and participates in global consortia like the Advanced North Atlantic (ANA) and Asia Pacific Europe Ring (AER).

    NetherLight, SURF’s Global Exchange Point (GXP) dedicated to research and education data in Amsterdam connects similar GXPs and advanced high-capacity networks for scientific and educational collaboration. The NetherLight GXP plays a major and vital role in the federation of research and education networks worldwide, also known as the Global Research and Education Network (GREN)

    About CANARIE

    CANARIE, together with its 13 provincial and territorial partners, forms Canada’s National Research and Education Network (NREN). This ultra-high-speed network connects Canada’s researchers and educators to each other and to global data, technology, and colleagues.

    To strengthen the security of Canada’s research and education sector, CANARIE collaborates with its partners in the NREN, government, academia, and the private sector to fund, implement, and support cybersecurity initiatives. CANARIE also provides identity management services to the academic community through eduroam and identity and access management services.

    Established in 1993, CANARIE is a non-profit corporation, with most of its funding provided by the Government of Canada.

  • International Collaboration at SuperComputing24: NetherLight/SURF participates in NICT-led experiment to advance high-speed data innovations

    International Collaboration at SuperComputing24: NetherLight/SURF participates in NICT-led experiment to advance high-speed data innovations

    During the SuperComputing 2024 (SC24) event in Atlanta, the Japanese National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) led an ambitious experiment using a global-scale experimental network. This network, established through collaboration with 19 international partners, connected Tokyo and Atlanta with 10 high-speed 100 Gbps paths, achieving a total capacity of 800 Gbps. The project showcased groundbreaking demonstrations of high-speed data transfer, anonymous communication, and innovative data management.

    One notable highlight was a data transfer experiment that reached 466 Gbps, and an award-winning anonymous communication demonstration by Osaka University achieved 588 Gbps while ensuring robust privacy. 

    NetherLight, the Global Exchange Point (GXP) run by SURF, played a critical role facilitating these complex experiments. Other key contributors included research and education networks and GXP’s from around the world, showcasing the collective effort required to achieve such innovation.

    This NICT experiment at SC24 emphasizes the importance of international collaboration and partnerships in global research and education networks. By working together in experiments like these, we can collectively show and assess the potential for transformative technologies in data handling and communication, essential for future scientific progress.

    For more details, pictures and graphics, and information about the contributing parties in this experiment, please read the full NICT press release here.

  • SC24: Advancing Distributed Hybrid Quantum Computing with SURF and NetherLight

    SC24: Advancing Distributed Hybrid Quantum Computing with SURF and NetherLight

    At SuperComputing 2024 (SC24) in Atlanta, an international collaboration showcased a groundbreaking demonstration of distributed hybrid quantum computing secured by advanced post-quantum cryptography (PQC) and quantum key distribution (QKD). This global effort brought together partners from Europe and the USA, highlighting how quantum and classical computing systems can be integrated and secured on a world scale.

    The Challenge and Opportunity of Quantum Computing

    Quantum computing holds immense potential for solving complex problems in fields like chemistry, biology, meteorology, and financial systems—challenges beyond the reach of classical computing. However, the technology’s cost, sensitivity, and limited availability present hurdles to its widespread application. Moreover, quantum computing threatens the security of current encryption systems, raising the stakes for robust, future-proof solutions.

    To address these challenges, the demonstration aimed to:

    1. Combine quantum computing with classical resources to improve accessibility and cost-effectiveness.

    2. Enable global distribution of these hybrid systems for broader researcher access.

    3. Protect these systems and data against threats in a post-quantum cryptographic environment.

    International Collaboration Driving Innovation

    This demonstration was the result of an international partnership involving European organizations (PSNC, GÉANT, SURF/NetherLight) and U.S. institutions (Internet2, ESnet, ICAIR/Northwestern University, StarLight). Together, they built a transatlantic hybrid quantum-classical computing network connecting testbeds in Poznan, Poland, and Atlanta, USA, using live production networking infrastructure.

    SURF and its NetherLight exchange played a pivotal role, enabling global connectivity alongside other major networks like GÉANT, Internet2, and SCinet. This collaborative approach leveraged expertise and resources from all partners to push the boundaries of what’s possible in quantum and classical computing integration.

    Technical Breakthroughs and Secure Data Transmission

    The demonstration showcased:

    – Hybrid quantum-classical computing integration using Quantum Processing Units (QPUs), CPUs, and GPUs.

    – High-speed data transmission over transatlantic links secured with PQC algorithms and QKD encryption.

    – Advanced security measures, including DWDM services for long-distance encryption and QKD technology for local network data security.

    This setup demonstrated the viability of a distributed quantum-classical infrastructure capable of supporting research use cases in fields like material science and optimization. By employing existing quantum computing systems with ~100 qubit capacity, the project advances the goal of achieving “quantum utility.”

    A Model for Future Innovation

    The SC24 demonstration underscores the power of international collaboration to solve complex challenges and drive technological breakthroughs. By integrating cutting-edge technologies and resources from diverse global partners, this project paves the way for the next generation of secure, distributed quantum computing infrastructure.

    SURF and NetherLight’s participation exemplifies their commitment to advancing science and innovation through global partnerships. Together with other partners, they are demonstrating how collective efforts can unlock the potential of quantum computing for research and education worldwide.

    The project was featured at SC24’s Network Research Exhibition, with a live presentation at the NRE Theatre, showcasing the transformative potential of distributed hybrid quantum computing.

    For further information and the full press release, please continue here.

  • This week, SURF participated in the 53rd LHCOPN-LHCONE meeting, organized by CERN

    This week, SURF participated in the 53rd LHCOPN-LHCONE meeting, organized by CERN

    October 17, 2024

    Hosted by the Institute of High Energy Physics (the Institute of High Energy Physics (IHEP) in Beijing, now a Tier-1 data center for the Worldwide LHC Computing Grid (#WLCG), the event focussed on progress and current challenges in network connectivity and infrastructure needs for the High-Luminosity Large Hadron Collider (HL-LHC).

    The information gathered by the HL-LHC will help scientists investigate deeper questions about the fundamental structure of the universe, such as the properties of the Higgs boson, the nature of dark matter, the existence of new particles or forces, and potential deviations from the Standard Model of particle physics.

    Collaboration and community building with research partners like CERN Nikhef (National Institute for Subatomic Physics) NORDUnet GÉANT Energy Sciences Network (ESnet) Internet2 Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) Institute of Technology (KIT), Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN) and many other partners in the GREN — too many to all mention here — strengthens our shared commitment to advancing science and research. By doing so, we reinforce this common goal and optimize our global research system for the future.

    A special shoutout to Arno Bakker for his first talk representing SURF and NetherLight and many thanks to all the speakers and participants for their valuable contributions.

    And last but not least: a big xièxiè thank you to the Institute of High Energy Physics (IHEP) for the all very tǐng tǐng tǐng hǎo perfect arrangements!