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NORDUNET's HISTORY

THE FOUNDING ERA

In the dawn of the 1980s, a vision to connect the Nordics materialized as NORDUnet, a pioneering venture born from collaboration between Norway, Sweden, and Denmark.

Rolf Nordhagen and his contemporaries laid the foundation for a journey of unparalleled cooperation in networking.

What exactly is an NREN?

A National Research and Education Network (NREN) is a key piece of national infrastructure: a secure, resilient, high-speed network that connects universities, colleges and research institutions.

Across the world, 140 countries have their own NREN dedicated to supporting their research and education communities.

European NRENs are connected via GÉANT, a regional education and research network (RREN) that links 50 million users worldwide.

This creates a global network mesh that forms a collaborative information ecosystem of infrastructure and services.

Jisc chief executive officer
Heidi Fraser-Krauss

Audio sound bite button featuring NORDUnet's Chief Technology Officer & Chief Information Security Officer
Josva Kleist - Chief Technology Officer
By collaborating, we are able to secure the NREN communities in the Nordics.
Transcript – "NORDUnet and every Nordic NREN has a computer emergency response team, or a CERT in short. There is a lot of security experience within the Nordic NREN community, and by collaborating, we are able to secure the R and D community in the Nordics. There is a lot of security experience within the Nordic NREN community, and by collaborating, we are able to secure the R and D community in the Nordics. The NREN CERTs meet regularly and build on mutual trust to create an environment where experience in discovering, mitigating, and handling security incidents can be shared to the benefit of the whole community."
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FOUR+ DECADES OF R&E NETWORKS

NORDUnet

Rolf Nordhagen one of the founding fathers and visionaries of NORDUnet.
1980's
Where it all began
  • Establishment of NORDUnet, influenced by one of the founding fathers and visionaries, Rolf Nordhagen.
  • Creation of the first Nordic National Research and Education Networks (NRENs). 
  • Introduction of TCP/IP protocol stack by NORDUnet, a pioneering move in Europe.
  • Registration of the first .net domain: nordu.net. 
  • Introduction of multi-protocol techniques, pioneering the multi-network model.
  • The first European NREN to connect to the National Science Foundation in the United States, providing open access for university students in member countries.
1980's
A flyer titled "Invitation to NORDUNET 90," for an event on October 8-10, 1990, in Helsingør, Denmark.
1990's
Welcoming the World Wide Web
  • Focused on scaling NORDUnet's infrastructure and services for the expanding Internet.
  • Early adoption of TCP/IP over OSI standards, fostering rapid Internet service development.
  • Growth of global network email services and the World Wide Web. 
  • Expansion of network connectivity across the Nordics.
  • Implementation of TCP/IP protocols, establishing a solid foundation in the global internet structure.
1990's
A diverse group of people seated, using their laptops. This signifies NORDUnet Global Collaborations
2000's
Global Collaborations
  • Role in the development of IPv6 through the 6NET project.
  • Engagement in global collaborations with GLIF to boost network capabilities.
  • Significant upgrades to reach 10 Gbit/s speeds, enhancing connectivity for research and education.
  • Transition to owning optical networks for increased capacity and reduced costs.
  • Introduction of eduroam and identity federations for online identities and mobility. 
  • Support for digital scientific communities with shared global resources.
  • Accounting 25 years, "The History of NORDUnet" was published on Jan 1st, 2005.
2000's
An illustrative map highlighting Nordunet's partnerships in the next-generation network sector. The map showcases collaborative efforts and interconnected nodes, symbolizing the strength of partnerships across various regions.
2010's
Network Expansion & Security
  • Global expansion of R&E networks, enabling large-scale scientific collaboration. 
  • Emphasis on big data and the support for high-volume data research. 
  • NRENs' continued growth amidst the rise of commercial Internet services.
  • Contribution to the development of new internet standards and protocols.
  • Enhanced focus on cybersecurity and digital infrastructure resilience.
  • Expansion of network services to support advanced research and education.
2010's
Map showcasing NORDUnet's global network connections, highlighting key points of presence and international links.
2020's
Infrastructure Resilience & Advancements

Advancements in network technology to support data-intensive science.

  • Strengthening of international partnerships for global research collaboration.
  • Commitment to sustainable networking practices.
  • Focus on network infrastructure, services, and support in the NORDUnet Strategy 2020-2025.
  • Continued commitment to enabling world-class research and education through Nordic collaboration.
  • Increased focus on cybersecurity and infrastructure resilience.
  • Service expansion to support advanced research and educational needs.
  • 2021 Norwegian NREN “Uninett” became “Sikt”
  • Valter Nordh became NORDUnet's CEO in 2021 after the departure of René Buch.
2020's
A map showing undersea fiber optic cables in the Arctic region. The map highlights two cable routes: Polar Connect and Far North Fiber, connecting parts of North America, Europe, and Asia. The Earth is centered with the Arctic at the top. The text in the map reads "Polar Connect Vision 2030.
2030's
The Next Era - Polar Connect

NORDUnet and the Nordic NRENs are exploring several initiatives to investigate and plan the first submarine cable system between Europe, Asia, and North America to secure a shorter route through the Arctic Ocean.

2030's
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MILESTONES AND EXPANSION

CONTINUOUS GROWTH

From multi-protocol networks to integrating Finland and Iceland, our history is marked by technological leaps and an ever-expanding collaboration, strengthening our Nordic unity in networking.

Audio soundbite from Jørgen Qvist, NORDUnet’s Chief Network Operating & Service Development Officer
Jørgen Qvist, Chief Operating Officer, NORDUnet
“The additional network redundancy is achieved by sharing the resources in the Nordic NRENs' optical networks.”
Transcript – "The new NORDUnet network is designed to have 100% uptime to support the university's missing critical systems running in the cloud and the media services that education is 100% dependent on. The additional network redundancy is achieved by sharing the resources in the Nordic NRENCH optical networks within the Nordics and focusing NordicNet resources on creating redundancy from the Nordics to the rest of the world."

THE POWER OF NORDIC UNITY

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE

Our eyes are set on the horizons of technology and cooperation. NORDUnet’s future is one of continuous innovation, driving towards a more connected and collaborative world.

THE POWER OF NORDIC UNITY

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The History of NORDUnet Book Cover.

THE HISTORY
OF NORDUNET

The information provided in 2020 was accurate at the time of publication.

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NORDUnet’s MOMENTS & MEMORIES

DINNER FOR ONE

Video kindly made and provided by Harri Kuusisto (CSC)

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