TF-PR Meeting Lyngby, 17/3-2005 Martin Bech, UNI•C Why PR has grown important to Forskningsnettet (The Danish Research Network) TF-PR Meeting Lyngby, 17/3-2005 Martin Bech, UNI•C

Organization of the NRENs in Denmark The Research Network – Forskningsnettet Governed by a management committee Operated by UNI•C Development by UNI•C (and others) The Network for the educational sector – Sektornet Governed by UNI•C Basic Network infrastructure operated by TDC Services operated by UNI•C Development by UNI•C

Network infrastructure used to be enough If the network infrastructure Reached all the institutions of the users Had capacity enough Had a good operational record Were known and appreciated by those who financed it - then that used to be all we should care about

What changed? From 2003 – prices doubled Internet and IP bandwidth is no longer anything exceptional Users are comparing prices and services Comparing us to a normal Telco - which, of course, is meaningless New technical possibilities (GRID, Lambda, …)

We need to be known by the users A brand name Services that differentiate us from a regular telco Identity services: Shibboleth and PKI Connectivity services: eduRoam and iPass GRID services and Lambda switching are services which can not exist without user involvement Network experiments with user involvement Create a community around the network

Services for the end user Just like in Sektornet iPass Roaming WAYF-server Video bridge and on demand services UniVid – a user involvement project MultiCast/AccessGRID and all the other technical stuff…

Community www.forskningsnettet.dk – expanded and improved Small brochures Electronic newletters with compelling content A user conference ”Technical Reference Group” Video task force UniVid project Roadshow (with limited turnout) Round of meetings with main institutions

Is the future bright and clear? YES – More attention and recognition than ever YES – Noone leaves Forskningsnettet and we are winning institutions back! YES – Exceptional turnout at the last conference NO – More services require extra funding to be sustained NO – We have still a long way to go before we solve all relevant common problems for the users

Conclusion The transition from a purely technical back-stage operator into a modern provider of services to the end user would never be possible without your effort