SURFnet

<h2 id="history">History</h2>
<p>The organization was established in 1986, it started supplying <a href="/facts/Internet_Protocol/Qq6VeEal">IP</a> connectivity services in 1989, deploying the <a href="/facts/TCP/IP/KNkxtSpw">TCP/IP</a> suite.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:1" href="#fn:1"><sup>1</sup></a> SURFnet has deployed a series of network generations in an <a href="/facts/Overbuilt/QzjeEqRp">overbuilt</a> manner. The initial SURFnet network was based on 9.6 kbit/s and 64 kbit/s <a href="/facts/X.25/yaGPqw2Y">X.25</a> connections, providing <a href="/facts/DECNET/9wnFzPvn">DECNET</a> protocol. SURFnet2 was established in 1989 and delivered TCP/IP over an X.25 network. The SURFnet3 network delivered native TCP/IP via <a href="/facts/Leased_line/JzGppCIP">leased lines</a> and became operational in 1991, mainly consisting of 64 kbit/s and 2 Mbit/s lines.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:2" href="#fn:2"><sup>2</sup></a> In 1994 SURFnet4 was developed based on <a href="/facts/Asynchronous_Transfer_Mode/SzA8ewFL">ATM</a> and, later on SDH, links. SURFnet5 was developed from 1999 onward on a 10 Gbit/s <a href="/facts/DWDM/xSkNRxfu">DWDM</a> infrastructure, with access links of 100 Mbit/s and 1 Gbit/s.
</p><p>SURFnet6, the sixth generation of the SURFnet network, was taken into operation at the beginning of 2006. This network provides the 750,000 users in higher education and research with Internet facilities, and also provides them with "lightpaths", which are direct connections between two <a href="/facts/Network_node/LBp2vNcJ">network nodes</a> without the need for <a href="/facts/Router_(computing)/Nh5cIyVf">routers</a>. Lightpaths have a capacity of 1 to 10 Gbit/s.
</p><p>The company SURFnet used to be a subsidiary of the <a href="/facts/Not-for-profit/AmXu2c85">not-for-profit</a> foundation, SURF (Samenwerkende Universitaire Reken Faciliteiten; English: Co-operative University Computing Facilities).
The operating companies SURFnet, SURFmarket, and SURFsara were merged in 2020 into a single organization: SURF - a single operating company as part of the SURF Cooperative in which the members are represented.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:3" href="#fn:3"><sup>3</sup></a>
</p>
<h2 id="services">Services</h2>
<p>Currently SURF is operating SURFnet8. 
</p><p>SURF presently provides services on all <a href="/facts/Network_layer/L2jAtJzQ">network layers</a>, including <a href="/facts/Authentication/64y4S69b">authentication</a> services, such as <a href="/facts/Eduroam/LKng4CYb">eduroam</a>, SURFconext  and SURF Research Access Management. SURF also provides services for security (SURFsoc), <a href="/facts/Online_collaboration/f5XlsBvr">online collaboration</a> (SURFdrive) and <a href="/facts/Streaming_media/4rPhSq0Y">streaming media</a>. The company collaborates with a number of organization, both nationally and internationally, including the pan-European research network <a href="/facts/G%C3%89ANT/ps1dMfmp">GÉANT</a> (formerly <a href="/facts/DANTE/aeITdk8A">DANTE</a> and <a href="/facts/TERENA/CAUUtvcz">TERENA</a>), <a href="/facts/Kennisnet/u2o8bv63">Kennisnet</a> and <a href="/facts/GLORIAD/GblXjlXT">GLORIAD</a>.
</p>
<h2 id="influence">Influence</h2>
<p>SURF's executives have been founders of or occupied board positions in organisations including <a href="/facts/EBONE/ffbGRCSY">Ebone</a>, <a href="/facts/Council_of_European_National_Top_Level_Domain_Registries/8pjBpeTD">CENTR</a>, <a href="/facts/.nl/TY9kv3wd">SIDN</a>, <a href="/facts/AMS-IX/6hBtgRCq">AMS-IX</a>, <a href="/facts/TERENA/CAUUtvcz">TERENA</a>, <a href="/facts/DANTE/aeITdk8A">DANTE</a>, <a href="/facts/RIPE_NCC/W2dAICVa">RIPE NCC</a>, <a href="/facts/Internet_Society/scIaot5x">ISOC</a>, <a href="/facts/IETF/tIcCsFhX">IETF</a>, <a href="/facts/IESG/tIcCsFhX">IESG</a> and <a href="/facts/Internet_Architecture_Board/JV2M6FNP">IAB</a>.
</p><p>Surfnet became a driving force behind ICT-based innovation in higher education a research in the Netherlands.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4"><sup>4</sup></a>
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<h2 id="see-also">See also</h2>
<ul><li><a href="/facts/BELNET/kYRedwFw">BELNET</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Deutsches_Forschungsnetz/sTFSJvPc">Deutsches Forschungsnetz</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Internet2/APYDGudp">Internet2</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/G%C3%89ANT/ps1dMfmp">GÉANT</a></li></ul>

<h2 id="external-links">External links</h2>
<ul><li><a href="https://www.surf.nl/en">SURF website</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.lightreading.com/document.asp?doc_id=62469">Article in Light Reading, Nov. 09 2004 "SURFnet, Internet2 deploy Nortel"</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.netherlight.net">netherlight.net</a></li>
<li><a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=xG_2BwAAQBAJ&dq=surf+surfnet&pg=PT163">Grid computing via SURFnet</a></li></ul>

<h2 id="references">References</h2>

<ol>
<li id="fn:1"><p>"Kees Neggers: Global Networking Requires Global Collaboration | Internet Hall of Fame". www.internethalloffame.org. 9 September 2016. Retrieved 2020-04-03. <a href="https://www.internethalloffame.org/blog/2016/09/09/kees-neggers-global-networking-requires-global-collaboration" target="_blank">https://www.internethalloffame.org/blog/2016/09/09/kees-neggers-global-networking-requires-global-collaboration</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:2"><p>Office, United States General Accounting (1991). High-performance Computing: High-speed Computer Networks in the United States, Europe, and Japan : Report to Congressional Requesters. The Office. <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=MM7u_kNbghMC&dq=surf+surfnet&pg=PA22" target="_blank">https://books.google.com/books?id=MM7u_kNbghMC&dq=surf+surfnet&pg=PA22</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:3"><p>"Significant changes | SURF.nl". SURF.nl. Archived from the original on 2022-10-01. Retrieved 2024-12-19. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20221001141251/https://www.surf.nl/en/1surf-changing-to-be-at-the-forefront/significant-changes" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20221001141251/https://www.surf.nl/en/1surf-changing-to-be-at-the-forefront/significant-changes</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:4"><p>Ramon, Gil-Garcia, J. (2013-06-30). E-Government Success around the World: Cases, Empirical Studies, and Practical Recommendations: Cases, Empirical Studies, and Practical Recommendations. IGI Global. ISBN 978-1-4666-4174-7.{{cite book}}:  CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) <a href="978-1-4666-4174-7" target="_blank">978-1-4666-4174-7</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
</ol>

SURFnet open-in-new

SURFnet