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eduroam

Eduroam, short for education roaming, is a secure, worldwide roaming access service for Wi-Fi networks developed specifically for the international research and education community. It allows users from participating academic and research institutions—such as students, faculty, researchers, and staff—to connect automatically to eduroam-enabled hotspots using their home institution's username and password, without needing to register anew at each location.^[1]^[2] The service provides seamless, encrypted internet access across more than 10,000 hotspots in over 100 countries and territories, emphasizing simplicity, security, and privacy by avoiding insecure web-based login forms.^[3]^[4] Initiated in 2003 as a pilot project by the TF-Mobility task force under TERENA (now part of the GÉANT Association), eduroam began with six European countries and rapidly expanded due to its utility for mobile academics.^[5] By 2016, it had grown to serve users in dozens of regions, and as of 2020, it encompassed 106 territories from Greenland to Argentina; as of 2024, it supports millions of users globally through a network of national roaming operators (NROs), with over 8.4 billion authentications recorded that year and recent expansions into K-12 education sectors.^[6]^[3]^[7] Overall governance is provided by the Global eduroam Governance Committee (GeGC), comprising senior representatives from roaming operators, with coordination and support from the GÉANT Association to establish technical and organizational standards.^[8]^[5] At its core, eduroam operates using the IEEE 802.1X standard for port-based network access control and a hierarchical system of RADIUS (Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service) proxy servers.^[5] When a user attempts to connect at a visited institution, the local access point forwards the authentication request through a chain of RADIUS proxies to the user's home institution's server for verification, ensuring that sensitive credentials never leave the secure path and are not visible to the roaming site.^[9] This architecture supports WPA2-Enterprise or WPA3 security protocols, protecting against eavesdropping and unauthorized access while maintaining user privacy.^[4] Participating institutions must deploy compatible RADIUS infrastructure and agree to eduroam policies, often facilitated by tools like the eduroam Configuration Assistant Tool (CAT) for device setup.^[9]^[10] The service's key benefits include single sign-on convenience, enabling global mobility for education and research without administrative overhead for temporary access, and integration with broader initiatives like OpenRoaming for potential expansion beyond academia.^[11] It addresses the needs of mobile users by providing reliable connectivity at campuses, conferences, libraries, and other hotspots, fostering international collaboration while adhering to strict data protection standards.^[12]

History

Origins and Early Development

The concept of eduroam originated in 2002 amid growing demands for secure, seamless wireless access across European educational and research institutions, driven by the need to facilitate user mobility without complex guest account management. At SURFnet, the Dutch national research and education network (NREN), an internal pilot addressed local roaming frustrations, laying the groundwork for a broader solution that would enable authentication using home institution credentials at visiting networks. This initiative aligned with discussions in the Trans-European Research and Education Networking Association (TERENA, now GÉANT) Task Force on Mobility, where experts like Klaas Wierenga identified inter-NREN roaming as essential for the research community.^[13]^[14] In 2003, eduroam launched as a collaborative inter-NREN project involving six European countries: the Netherlands (SURFnet), Germany (DFN), Finland (Funet), Portugal (FCCN), Croatia (CARNET), and the United Kingdom (Janet). The initial pilot tested connectivity among institutions in all six of these nations, demonstrating the feasibility of cross-border Wi-Fi access for students and researchers. This phase marked eduroam's transition from a national experiment to a pan-European service, quickly gaining adoption under GÉANT's umbrella.^[15]^[5] The service's technical foundation relied on the IEEE 802.1X standard for port-based authentication and a hierarchical RADIUS (Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service) proxy system to route authentication requests securely across networks. Developed by the TERENA Task Force, this architecture supported encrypted tunneling methods like EAP-TTLS and PEAP, ensuring privacy without requiring changes to users' home credentials. Switzerland's SWITCH also contributed early insights through VPN-based testing, influencing the hybrid approaches evaluated.^[5]^[16] Early development faced challenges in achieving interoperability, as founding networks employed diverse setups—including 802.1X/RADIUS in the Netherlands, VPN authentication in Germany and Switzerland, and other variations—necessitating rigorous testing to resolve compatibility issues with legacy hardware and protocols. These pilots highlighted the importance of standardized policies and monitoring to scale the service securely, paving the way for broader European rollout.^[16]

International Expansion

Eduroam's expansion beyond Europe began in the late 2000s, building on its initial European pilots to establish a global footprint through collaborations with national research and education networks (NRENs).^[5] The service arrived in North America in 2009 through a partnership with Internet2, which facilitated initial testing and integration with U.S. higher education institutions.^[17] By 2012, Internet2 had enabled a full rollout across the United States, incorporating eduroam into its NET+ services and allowing seamless access for American researchers and students at international hotspots. This marked a significant step in transatlantic connectivity, with early adopters including major universities that expanded the network's utility for cross-border academic mobility.^[17] In the mid-2010s, eduroam extended to the Asia-Pacific and Latin America via strategic alliances with regional NRENs. The Asia-Pacific Advanced Network (APAN) played a pivotal role in deploying the service across the region starting around 2014, enabling secure Wi-Fi roaming for institutions in countries like Australia, Japan, and Singapore through coordinated infrastructure development.^[18] Similarly, RedCLARA, the pan-Latin American network, partnered with eduroam in the same period to roll out the service in nations including Mexico, Brazil, and Chile, focusing on integrating it with existing research infrastructures to support collaborative projects.^[19] These expansions emphasized eduroam's role in fostering regional research collaborations by providing reliable, credential-based access across diverse geographies.^[20] African adoption commenced around 2010, coordinated by the UbuntuNet Alliance, which supported NRENs in eastern and southern Africa to implement eduroam for off-campus connectivity.^[21] By 2023, this effort had reached several countries in the region, including Uganda, South Africa, and Kenya, benefiting millions of users through deployments that bridged digital divides in research settings.^[22] In the Middle East, entry occurred in the late 2000s, with subsequent growth driven by the Arab States Research and Education Network (ASREN), which integrated eduroam into networks across countries like Oman and Jordan to enhance scientific exchange.^[23] By 2017, eduroam had achieved a key milestone, operating in 85 countries worldwide and supporting billions of authentications annually.^[24] This growth continued, surpassing 100 countries by 2023, reflecting its evolution into a truly global service for the research and education community.^[25]

Milestones and Recent Updates

In 2024, eduroam achieved a record-breaking 8.4 billion authentications worldwide, marking a 12% increase from the previous year's 7.5 billion and underscoring its growing scale across more than 100 countries and over 38,000 service providers.^[26] This surge reflects the service's expanding role in supporting seamless connectivity for the global research and education community. By early 2025, eduroam expanded significantly into K-12 education in the United States, with implementations in states including Arizona, Connecticut, Nebraska, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, and Utah, aimed at bridging digital divides by providing secure Wi-Fi access to students in schools, libraries, and museums. In November 2025, Missouri and Wisconsin joined this effort through MOREnet and WiscNet, further extending access.^[7]^[27] These initiatives, led by Internet2's eduroam Support Organizations program, enable K-12 users to connect using institutional credentials, fostering equitable access to educational resources beyond traditional higher education settings. Off-campus access has also grown rapidly, with Metro eduroam deployments in urban areas expanding from 20 institutions in December 2020 to 256 by April 2025, enhancing connectivity in city-wide hotspots for researchers and students.^[28] Complementing this, eduroam has expanded to multiple airports globally, including in South Africa and Bangladesh, by 2025, facilitating international travel for academic users.^[29] The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated this trend post-2020, driving adoption of remote and extended access solutions as institutions adapted to hybrid learning and work environments.^[30] Reflections on eduroam's 20-year milestone in 2023 highlighted its evolution from a European pilot to a cornerstone of global academic networking, with ongoing institutional celebrations such as the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill marking its 10-year eduroam implementation in October 2025.^[31]^[32]

Technology

Core Standards and Protocols

Eduroam relies on the IEEE 802.1X standard for port-based network access control, which provides a framework for authenticating and authorizing devices before granting access to a local area network (LAN). This standard enables service providers (SPs) to enforce secure authentication at the network port level, ensuring that only authorized users can connect to the wireless infrastructure.^[33] Centralized authentication in eduroam is facilitated by the Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service (RADIUS) protocol, which serves as the core trust fabric for routing authentication requests across federated networks. RADIUS supports eduroam's realm-based routing mechanism, where user identities are formatted as username@institution.realm, allowing proxies to direct requests to the appropriate home institution's identity provider (IdP) based on the realm portion of the identity.^[33]^[33] The RADIUS infrastructure employs a hierarchical proxy server model to manage scalability and efficient routing. Local RADIUS servers at visiting institutions forward authentication requests to national roaming operators (NROs), which in turn proxy them to regional or global top-level proxies if necessary, ultimately reaching the user's home IdP for verification; this multi-tiered approach minimizes direct interconnections between all participants while maintaining security through RADIUS over TLS (RadSec) using X.509 certificates between proxies.^[33] For secure transmission of credentials, eduroam utilizes the Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP) within the 802.1X framework, supporting methods that provide mutual authentication and encryption. Commonly deployed EAP methods include Protected EAP (PEAP) with MS-CHAP version 2 (PEAP-MSCHAPv2) for username/password-based authentication tunneled over TLS, and EAP-Tunneled TLS (EAP-TTLS), which similarly encapsulates inner authentication protocols within a TLS tunnel to protect against eavesdropping and man-in-the-middle attacks.^[33]^[34]

Authentication Process

When a user attempts to connect to an eduroam network at a visited institution, they select the eduroam SSID on their 802.1X-capable device, which initiates the authentication process by prompting for credentials. The user enters their username in the realm format (e.g., username@institution.edu) and password, where the realm portion identifies their home institution's domain. This format enables the system to route the request appropriately without requiring the user to know the backend hierarchy.^[35] The device's supplicant sends an access request to the local access point at the visited institution's service provider (SP), which forwards it to the SP's RADIUS server. This server examines the realm and proxies the request through a hierarchical chain of RADIUS servers: from the institutional level to the national roaming operator (NRO) proxy, and potentially to a confederation-level top proxy if needed. The chain ensures the request reaches the user's home identity provider (IdP) for verification, maintaining security by not exposing credentials along the path.^[35]^[36] In international roaming scenarios, such as a European user connecting in North America, the proxy chain extends across confederations. For instance, the request from a European SP routes via the European NRO to the GÉANT root proxy, which forwards it to the Internet2 root proxy in the US, then to the US NRO and finally the home IdP. This full-mesh interconnection among top-level proxies enables seamless global routing based on the realm.^[35] Upon receiving the request, the home IdP's RADIUS server authenticates the credentials against its local identity system. If successful, it sends an Access-Accept response back through the same proxy chain to the visited SP, which grants network access, such as assigning the user to an appropriate VLAN. If authentication fails, an Access-Reject is returned similarly, denying access without disclosing the credentials; logs at each proxy level record the attempt for troubleshooting purposes, attributing issues to the relevant institution or operator. Users are advised to contact their home institution for resolution in case of failure.^[35]^[8]

Implementation Requirements

Institutions seeking to participate in eduroam as Service Providers (SPs) must deploy wireless infrastructure capable of supporting IEEE 802.1X authentication with RADIUS interfaces on access points, ensuring compatibility with WPA2-Enterprise (AES-CCMP encryption) as a minimum standard, while WPA3-Enterprise is recommended for enhanced security.^[37] Access points are required to broadcast the "eduroam" SSID consistently and forward EAP messages unmodified to upstream RADIUS servers, prohibiting the use of open networks or any interception that could compromise user privacy.^[36]^[37] As Identity Providers (IdPs), institutions integrate eduroam with existing identity management systems, typically using RADIUS servers backed by protocols such as LDAP for credential verification or other secure backends to handle user authentication via EAP methods like PEAP or TTLS that support mutual authentication and end-to-end encryption.^[36]^[38] While SAML-based systems like Shibboleth are common for broader federation, eduroam specifically requires RADIUS integration, often achieved through gateways that bridge identity providers to the eduroam RADIUS infrastructure.^[39] To facilitate secure device connections, institutions utilize the eduroam Configuration Assistant Tool (CAT), which allows IdPs to create customized installer profiles for various platforms, automating device configuration, server certificate installation, and protection against rogue hotspots by validating credentials securely without exposing them.^[40] This tool ensures users can connect seamlessly by downloading institution-specific profiles from the CAT portal, reducing configuration errors and enhancing overall adoption.^[40] Security implementation mandates comprehensive logging policies for both IdPs and SPs, recording details such as timestamps, outer and inner identities, MAC addresses, service provider information, and authentication outcomes, with logs retained for at least three months (or six months in some guidelines) to support auditing and incident response.^[37]^[36] Compliance is verified through testing with tools like the eduroam Test Server or eapol_test utility, which simulate authentication requests to confirm proper proxying and response handling before full integration.^[41] Ongoing maintenance involves regular updates to RADIUS servers for security patches and protocol compliance. The eduroam confederation services target at least 98.9% availability, with scheduled downtimes announced at least seven days in advance and unscheduled incidents reported promptly. Institutions are encouraged to participate in global eduroam testing events and monitoring via the eduroam Operations Tool (OT) to ensure continuous interoperability and rapid resolution of issues, such as within two working hours for critical incidents.^[36]^[36]^[42]

Governance

Global Oversight

The Global eduroam Governance Committee (GeGC) was established in November 2010 to provide centralized oversight for the service's international operations. It consists of 15 voting members, with three representatives appointed from each of the five major regions: Africa, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, North America, and Europe. These members are senior officials from regional roaming operators, nominated by their respective confederations and formally appointed by the eduroam Secretariat for two-year terms, ensuring balanced global representation in decision-making.^[5]^[43] The GeGC holds primary responsibility for maintaining eduroam's consistency and integrity worldwide. This includes formulating and revising the eduroam Compliance Statement, which sets mandatory technical and operational standards that all roaming operators must adhere to, as well as collecting signed compliance agreements from operators to verify adherence. Additionally, the GeGC coordinates international testing and enforcement by investigating complaints of compliance violations—particularly those affecting security or interoperability—and recommending the authorization or revocation of roaming operators based on remediation efforts.^[43]^[37] The GeGC operates under a charter that emphasizes core principles of interoperability, security, and sustainability to support eduroam's expansion as a reliable global service. This document, finalized by the GÉANT Association, requires decisions by consensus or majority vote and allows for non-voting expert advisors to provide technical input. The charter also addresses funding and legal support through a designated host entity to ensure long-term viability.^[43] Eduroam's global governance has evolved from its origins under TERENA, which initially coordinated the service starting in 2003 and facilitated the GeGC's formation, to leadership by the GÉANT Association following TERENA's merger with DANTE in 2014. GÉANT now provides operational support, including secretariat services and strategic alignment with broader research and education networking initiatives, enabling the GeGC to focus on policy and standardization.^[5]^[14]^[15]

Regional and National Operators

National Roaming Operators (NROs) are designated entities in each participating country responsible for managing the local implementation of the eduroam service. They operate national RADIUS proxy servers to facilitate authentication traffic routing, onboard participating institutions as Identity Providers (IdPs) and Service Providers (SPs), and provide ongoing technical and operational support to ensure seamless connectivity for users. For instance, in the United Kingdom, JANET serves as the NRO, coordinating eduroam access for over 450 IdPs and 500 SPs across thousands of service locations.^[44] Similarly, in France, RENATER acts as the NRO, supporting more than 300 institutions and enabling eduroam in over 1,000 hotspots nationwide.^[45] At the regional level, confederations coordinate NRO activities to align with global standards while addressing area-specific needs. In Europe, GÉANT oversees NROs through the European eduroam Confederation, ensuring policy compliance and technical interoperability among members.^[5] In North America, Internet2 and InCommon manage regional operations, supporting NROs in expanding eduroam to over 3,800 U.S. locations.^[46] The Asia-Pacific region relies on APAN for coordination, fostering collaboration among NRENs to extend coverage in diverse economies.^[18] RedCLARA handles Latin American efforts, integrating NROs across the continent for secure roaming.^[19] In Africa, UbuntuNet Alliance and WACREN jointly support NROs, operating regional proxies to bridge connectivity gaps in research and education.^[47] Institutions seeking to join eduroam must sign participation agreements with their national NRO, which outline reciprocal obligations for providing IdP and SP services. The NRO conducts compliance checks to verify adherence to technical standards, such as RADIUS server configurations and security protocols, before approving integration. Once verified, institutions are registered in the eduroam Operations Database, a central repository that tracks NRO contacts, IdP/SP details, and realm configurations to enable global authentication routing.^[48] NROs fulfill key responsibilities beyond onboarding, including maintaining user support mechanisms like dedicated hotlines and troubleshooting resources to assist with connectivity issues. They also adapt global eduroam policies to local regulations, such as data privacy laws, ensuring the service remains compliant while promoting adoption— for example, by offering training and monitoring tools tailored to national contexts.^[49]

Global Deployment

Europe

eduroam was pioneered and is primarily led by GÉANT, the pan-European research and education network association, which coordinates its development and deployment across the continent. Since its inception in 2003, nearly all European National Research and Education Networks (NRENs) have participated, forming a robust federation that enables seamless connectivity for millions of users. GÉANT holds the registered trademark for eduroam in Europe and facilitates collaboration with NRENs, which co-fund the service alongside the European Union, ensuring sustained infrastructure and policy alignment.^[50] The service boasts extensive coverage with over 20,000 service locations spanning more than 40 European countries, reflecting its foundational role and high-density implementations in urban centers such as Amsterdam and London.^[51] In the Netherlands, for instance, SURFnet coordinates widespread access points in public and academic spaces, while in the UK, Jisc supports dense deployments across universities and city sites in London. This network density stems from early adoption, promoting high interoperability through standardized RADIUS protocols and integration with national identity management (IdM) systems, such as the UK's UK Access Management Federation and Germany's DFN-AAI.^[52]^[2]^[53] As of 2025, eduroam in Europe accounts for a substantial portion of the global total, contributing to the service's record 8.4 billion authentications in 2024, with ongoing growth projected.^[26] Expansions have extended beyond campuses to public venues, including libraries and community centers, enhancing accessibility for researchers and students; for example, Ireland's eduroam Everywhere project added nearly 500 off-campus hotspots in libraries and transport hubs by 2022, a trend continuing across the region.^[54]^[55] These developments underscore eduroam's role in fostering a connected European knowledge ecosystem.^[56]

North America

In North America, eduroam is managed by Internet2 and InCommon in the United States, CANARIE in Canada, and CUDI in Mexico.^[46]^[57]^[5] These organizations coordinate federation with the global eduroam service, enabling seamless wireless access for researchers, students, and staff across participating institutions. The deployment provides coverage at approximately 5,000 service locations spanning more than 2,000 institutions, including a robust network in higher education settings such as the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Pennsylvania State University.^[51]^[46]^[58]^[32]^[59] A key focus in North America has been expanding eduroam to support K-12 education and community access. In 2025, state networks MOREnet in Missouri and WiscNet in Wisconsin joined the eduroam Support Organizations program, increasing the number of participating U.S. states to 11 and deploying over 1,400 additional hotspots, with more than 1,100 dedicated to K-12 schools.^[60]^[61] This expansion enables secure Wi-Fi access for over 1 million additional K-12 students in these states, allowing them to connect using their school credentials at participating locations.^[7] North American implementations uniquely emphasize off-campus roaming to bridge digital divides, integrating eduroam with public libraries, museums, and community centers as part of broader federal digital equity initiatives.^[27]^[62] This approach supports continuous learning beyond school grounds, such as completing assignments at local hotspots or collaborating across districts, while aligning with U.S. programs like the Education Connections Initiative to promote equitable internet access.^[58]

Asia-Pacific

In the Asia-Pacific region, eduroam deployment is coordinated through the Asia-Pacific Advanced Network (APAN), which facilitates collaboration among national research and education networks (NRENs) to ensure seamless roaming. National operators such as AARNet in Australia, ERNET India, and TANet in Taiwan serve as key roaming operators, managing local infrastructure, authentication proxies, and compliance with global standards. AARNet, for instance, has operated eduroam services in Australia since 2004 and co-hosts the APAN Regional Roaming Operator with the Hong Kong Polytechnic University to support cross-border connectivity.^[63]^[64]^[65]^[18] The service spans over 20 countries and economies, including Australia, China, India, Japan, Singapore, Taiwan, and others, with approximately 6,000 service locations providing access at universities, research institutes, and public venues.^[51] Strong growth has been observed in China via CSTNET and CERNET, Japan through NACSIS, and Australia, where participation includes over 40 universities and numerous research facilities. This expansion builds on mid-2010s initiatives funded by networks like TEIN, which introduced eduroam to additional countries such as Bhutan and Mongolia.^[18]^[66]^[67] Key initiatives include the rollout of Metro eduroam in densely populated urban hubs like Singapore, managed by SingAREN, which extends Wi-Fi coverage to innovation districts, student accommodations, and transport nodes beyond traditional campuses. By 2025, further expansions target research parks and collaborative spaces, enhancing connectivity for interdisciplinary projects in high-tech zones across the region. These efforts nearly doubled Metro eduroam hotspots and geographical reach within two years leading up to 2022, with continued momentum.^[68]^[69] Deployment has addressed region-specific challenges, including multilingual support in eduroam configuration apps to accommodate diverse languages like Mandarin, Japanese, and Hindi, and adaptations to varying regulatory environments on data privacy and spectrum allocation. NRENs collaborate via APAN to harmonize policies, ensuring compliance while promoting adoption in regulatory-diverse settings from strict data localization in China to open innovation frameworks in Australia.^[18]^[70]

Latin America

In Latin America, eduroam is coordinated by RedCLARA, the pan-regional network connecting national research and education networks (NRENs), working alongside national roaming operators (NROs) such as INNOVARED in Argentina and RNP in Brazil to facilitate seamless deployment and management.^[19] This collaboration ensures compliance with global eduroam standards while addressing regional challenges like varying infrastructure levels across countries. Other key NROs include REUNA in Chile, CUDI in Mexico, and RENATA in Colombia, enabling interconnected roaming for academic communities. The service covers more than 10 countries in the region, with approximately 5,200 service locations providing access primarily at universities and research institutions in nations including Brazil, Mexico, and Chile.^[51]^[71] Brazil leads with nearly 4,000 service locations operated by RNP, supporting extensive campus and public space connectivity, while Mexico's CUDI manages over 400 service locations across higher education sites, and Chile's REUNA oversees around 430 locations focused on academic hubs.^[72]^[51]^[71] This infrastructure allows students, researchers, and staff from participating institutions to access secure Wi-Fi using their home credentials during travel or collaboration. Key developments include eduroam's integration with RedCLARA's high-capacity fiber optic network, which spans multiple countries and enhances reliable international roaming by leveraging dedicated bandwidth for authentication traffic.^[19] Additionally, efforts emphasize expanding access to underserved areas, with ongoing initiatives to extend hotspots to public and remote sites through partnerships with local NRENs.^[73] A distinctive regional adaptation is the provision of multilingual support in English, Spanish, and Portuguese for configuration tools and user guides, alongside economically viable cloud-based software-as-a-service (SaaS) models that lower deployment costs for under-resourced institutions.^[19] Adoption in Latin America gained momentum in the mid-2010s via projects like ELCIRA, which established initial NROs and pilots in several countries.^[74]

Africa

In Africa, eduroam is primarily managed by the UbuntuNet Alliance for Southern and Eastern Africa and the West and Central African Research and Education Network (WACREN) for Western and Central regions, facilitating coordination among national research and education networks (NRENs).^[75]^[76] National roaming operators include the Tertiary Education and Research Network of South Africa (TENET), which oversees deployment across South African institutions, and the Research and Education Network for Uganda (RENU), which has expanded eduroam to numerous higher education and research sites.^[77]^[47] As of 2023, eduroam operates in at least 17 African countries, providing secure Wi-Fi roaming to users in hundreds of institutions through thousands of hotspots, enabling seamless connectivity for academic and research communities despite infrastructural constraints. In 2022, over 27 million students across the continent accessed the service, highlighting its scale in supporting educational mobility.^[78]^[79] Representative expansions include RENU's deployment of more than 600 hotspots connecting over 240 institutions in Uganda, and TENET's integration at nearly all South African universities plus public venues like libraries.^[77] By 2025, key developments have enhanced off-campus access, such as TENET's rollout of eduroam in South African airports in collaboration with the Airports Company South Africa, allowing travelers secure connectivity without additional costs. In Uganda, RENU's Metro eduroam initiative reached 256 institutions by April 2025, extending hotspots to public spaces and remote areas to bridge urban-rural divides.^[80]^[28] These efforts, including similar public space integrations in Bangladesh through cross-regional ties, have bolstered global roaming for African users, contributing to eduroam's record 8.4 billion authentications worldwide in 2024.^[26] To address connectivity challenges like limited bandwidth in many regions, eduroam implementations prioritize roaming traffic for efficiency, ensuring low-latency access for educational purposes without overwhelming local networks.^[15] Complementing this, training programs under the Africa Training Initiative (ATI), a collaboration between UbuntuNet Alliance, WACREN, and ASREN, provide capacity building for NRENs on eduroam deployment, configuration, and troubleshooting, fostering sustainable growth across the continent.^[81]^[82]

Middle East

The deployment of eduroam in the Middle East is coordinated by the Arab States Research and Education Network (ASREN), which serves as the regional roaming operator, facilitating seamless connectivity across participating national research and education networks (NRENs).^[23] ASREN collaborates with entities such as GÉANT to support integrations and expansions, ensuring secure Wi-Fi roaming for students, researchers, and academics in the region.^[83] National operators play a pivotal role, including Ankabut in the United Arab Emirates, which manages six identity providers and service providers; MAEEN in Saudi Arabia, overseeing two service providers; and OMREN in Oman, covering 32 universities, colleges, and research centers.^[71] In Qatar, deployments are supported by institutions within Education City, such as Qatar University, Georgetown University in Qatar, Northwestern University in Qatar, and Texas A&M University at Qatar.^[84]^[85]^[86] Coverage spans more than 10 countries, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Israel (via IUCC), Jordan (via JUNET), and Lebanon (via AUB), with hotspots concentrated in major research-focused universities and institutions. For instance, in Oman, eduroam serves over 30 academic sites, recording more than 500,000 authentications in its first year of full deployment in 2021. In the UAE, early adoption began in 2011 at EPFL Middle East, extending to Ankabut-connected campuses like those of Khalifa University and the UAE University. Saudi Arabia's hotspots include key sites under MAEEN, such as King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), while Israel's deployment supports widespread access at institutions like the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Lebanon's American University of Beirut (AUB) provides eduroam via a dedicated GÉANT interconnection, enabling regional roaming.^[29]^[87]^[88]^[89]^[90] Recent developments emphasize integrations with prominent Gulf research hubs, such as the Synchrotron-light for Experimental Science and Applications in the Middle East (SESAME) in Jordan, which joined eduroam in October 2025 through partnerships with GÉANT and ASREN to enhance scientific collaboration. Expansions in 2025 have focused on extending access to high-traffic venues, building on earlier milestones like the 2023 launch at Muscat International Airport in Oman—the first such airport deployment in the Middle East—allowing researchers to maintain connectivity during travel.^[83]^[91] These efforts align with eduroam's WPA2-Enterprise security protocols, which are adapted to regional high-security environments by authenticating users at their home institutions to minimize data exposure and ensure compliance with local privacy standards.^[92]

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Dec 1, 2016 · eduroam was developed to meet the needs of the research and education community and was first deployed in Europe in 2003. It is now available at ...
[20]
eduroam in Africa: a Guidebook - Ubuntunet Alliance
We wrote a paper that serves as a guidebook detailing the technology behind eduroam, the benefits and the challenges for its four main target groups in Africa.
[21]
eduroam in Africa: Connecting students anywhere, anytime!
Eduroam is a secure, worldwide roaming service for education, available in 17 African territories, with 27 million students accessing it in 2022.
[22]
eduroam successfully deployed across Oman - ASREN's
Dec 13, 2023 · eduroam allows students, researchers and academics within the Sultanate of Oman to obtain Internet connectivity across campus and when visiting ...
[23]
[PDF] Deliverable D3.2 Compendium Study - European Commission
Oct 11, 2017 · Having started in Europe, eduroam has gained momentum throughout the research and education community and is now available in 80 countries ...
[24]
eduroam hits a new record – 7.5 billion authentications in 2023
Jan 23, 2024 · Following on from 2022's record 6.4 billion national and international authentications, eduroam has reached new heights with 7.5 billion auths in 2023 in over ...Missing: 80 2017
[25]
eduroam hits a new record – 8.4 billion authentications in 2024
Following on from 2023's record 7.5 billion national and international authentications, eduroam has reached new heights with 8.4 billion auths in 2024 in over ...
[26]
https://eduroam.org/eduroam-hits-a-new-record-8-4-billion-authentications-in-2024/
[27]
Eduroam Wi-Fi Access Program Bridges K-12 Digital Divides
Jan 23, 2025 · The K-12 eduroam program is up and running in Arizona, Connecticut, Nebraska, Nevada, Oregon, Washington and Utah, according to InCommon ...Missing: Missouri | Show results with:Missouri
[28]
Metro eduroam deployment for greater impact
The number of institutions joining eduroam has increased from 20 in December 2020 to 256 in April 2025, driven by the desire to access Metro eduroam service.Missing: cities | Show results with:cities
[29]
Extending the reach of eduroam to more airports - In The Field: Stories
eduroam – the free Wi-Fi roaming service for the international research and education community – is available at more than 30 airports around the globe.
[30]
eduroam Helps Provide Critical Connectivity During COVID-19
May 11, 2020 · Discover how eduroam, a roaming wireless access service, is aiding educational institutions during the COVID-19 pandemic.Missing: impact adoption post-
[31]
eduroam. 21 anos ao lado dos estudantes - FCCN
Sep 29, 2023 · A eduroam chega a mais de 100 países, cumprindo o seu objetivo inicial de há 21 anos: “disponibilizar à comunidade académica um serviço de ...
[32]
A decade of eduroam: Encrypted Wi-Fi at Carolina and beyond
Oct 15, 2025 · The international consortium expanded in Europe, then spread to Australia before welcoming its first American members in 2012. When UNC joined ...Missing: timeline | Show results with:timeline
[33]
RFC 7593 - The eduroam Architecture for Network Roaming
This document describes the architecture of the eduroam service for federated (wireless) network access in academia.Missing: early | Show results with:early
[34]
FAQs for eduroam System Administrators and Implementation Techs
Feb 3, 2025 · The most often depolyed EAP methods are based on username and password. The majority of these (i.e. PEAP/MSCHAPv2, EAP-TTLS/*, EAP-FAST) use ...
[35]
RFC 7593: The eduroam Architecture for Network Roaming
### Summary of eduroam Authentication Process (RFC 7593)
[36]
[PDF] eduroam Service Definition and Implementation Plan
Abstract. This document describes the eduroam service. It contains a general overview of the service (including its aims, its elements, and security),.
[37]
[PDF] eduroam Compliance Statement
eduroam IdPs MUST implement a RADIUS interface to connect to the eduroam infrastructure. A. 2. eduroam IdPs MUST implement an EAP method for all affiliated ...
[38]
eduroam IdP using OpenLDAP - MARWAN docs
Jan 4, 2022 · 1. Install openldap module and tools and test access to your LDAP server · 2. Configure ldap module · 3. Configure eduroam inner tunnel to use ...Missing: Shibboleth | Show results with:Shibboleth
[39]
FAQ - InCommon
InCommon uses SAML and Web-based authentication and authorization and eduroam uses EAP and RADIUS. The InCommon Federation is intended for access to ...
[40]
Configuration Assistant Tool (CAT) - eduroam.org
The tool builds customised installers for a range of popular PC and smartphone platforms and enhances the security for the end user.
[41]
How do I test my eduroam deployment? - AARNet Knowledge Base
Aug 14, 2025 · You can check the authentication side of your eduroam deployment using the eapol_test command-line application. This application allows you ...
[42]
eduroam Admin IdP Realm Testing - Internet2 Wiki
Aug 15, 2022 · eduroam Administrators are able to test the configuration of a Realm to ensure it is responding to requests via three authentication methods.Missing: compliance | Show results with:compliance
[43]
None
### Summary of GeGC Responsibilities and Composition
[44]
[PDF] eduroam Policy Service Definition
Jul 26, 2012 · The information stored in the eduroam database is collected with the help from NROs and includes: •. NRO representatives and respective contacts ...
[45]
eduroam - Jisc
Any Janet connected organisation is eligible to use eduroam at no additional charge. To check if you are registered email help@jisc.ac.uk. To apply, visit our ...
[46]
eduroam - Renater
PART OF THE RENATER PACKAGE. 106 countries participating in eduroam's global wifi coverage. 311 institutions in France use eduroam. OUR SECURE MOBILE WIFI ...
[47]
eduroam: The Global Roaming Wi-Fi Access Service - Internet2
Secure, privacy-preserving Wi-Fi access using your home institution credentials. Global roaming connectivity at 38,000 locations across more than 100 countries.
[48]
eduroam - Ubuntunet Alliance
UbuntuNet Alliance is spearheading the deployment of eduroam in Zimbabwe through ZIMREN, the country's National Research and Education Network (NREN).
[49]
[PDF] eduroam Technology and Service Overview
Feb 12, 2021 · Provides identity management database. • Responsible for user authentication. • Interface to eduroam: RADIUS server. • Visited institution = ...
[50]
How to deploy eduroam at national level (ADVANCED)
Federation Level RADIUS (FLR) servers are used to connect eduroam Identity Providers and eduroam Service Providers with each other, and also provide an uplink ...Missing: global maintenance
[51]
eduroam and GÉANT - eduroam.org
The GÉANT Project works with relevant industry and standardisation groups to find and share solutions related to eduroam technology and security.
[52]
Where can I eduroam? - eduroam.org
Having started in Europe, eduroam has rapidly expanded throughout the research and education community and is now available in over 100 territories worldwide ...Missing: official | Show results with:official
[53]
eduroam Deployment Guide - Jisc community
This document is designed to guide the deployment process of an organisation joining the eduroam(UK) service, from a 'high altitude' overview of the service.
[54]
https://www.heanet.ie/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/eduroam-Everywhere-Project-Report-2022.pdf
[55]
[PDF] eduroam Everywhere Project | HEAnet
Enabling eduroam Wi-Fi hotspots in almost 500 new off-campus locations such as libraries, transport, sporting venues, working hubs, community centres, town ...
[56]
The sky's the limit: extending connectivity for learning across the ...
Jul 12, 2023 · For example, eduroam is available at more than 500 public sector sites in Kent and Medway, delivering connectivity to council offices, community ...
[57]
[PDF] GÉANT and the NRENs enable the European Knowledge Area
GÉANT conducts an annual survey to map the European NRENs' educational activities and services that provides an overview and indicates trends for future ...
[58]
eduroam - CANARIE
The eduroam service is available to all research and higher-ed institutions that participate in the Canadian Access Federation (CAF).<|separator|>
[59]
eduroam - InCommon
Global reach. eduroam is available in over 100 countries. It's not just for the US! eduroam is available at thousands of locations worldwide, including more ...Missing: 80 2017 2023
[60]
Penn State Wireless - Information Technology
Penn State is replacing the psu wireless network with eduroam as the University's primary network. The existing psu network will be retired on November 21.
[61]
https://incommon.org/news/morenet-and-wiscnet-join-eduroam-support-organizations/
[62]
https://internet2.edu/eduroam-support-organizations-expand-k-12-access/
[63]
eduroam Support Organizations Expand K-12 Access - Internet2
Jan 24, 2025 · In a Government Technology interview, Kevin Morooney and Brett Bieber share how eduroam and others advance K-12 digital inclusion.
[64]
What is AARNet's role in eduroam?
Jul 30, 2025 · AARNet has a member in the Global eduroam Governance Committee, and has played a key role in extending eduroam in the Asia Pacific. Was this ...
[65]
Eduroam Official Website
Secure wireless network access across educational institutions nationwide. Part of India's Digital Education Initiative. eduroam@ernet.in. 011-22170641.Missing: NKN operator
[66]
TANet Wireless Network Roaming and eduroam Education Roaming
The purpose of wireless network roaming is to provide a single account with cross-domain authentication services for various campuses or academic-related ...
[67]
eduroam – reaching out to Asia
May 2, 2018 · A project funded by the Trans-Eurasian Information Network (TEIN) that saw eduroam successfully deployed in seven countries in Asia – Bhutan, ...
[68]
eduroam - AARNet
After a quick, one-time setup at your home institution, eduroam uses your regular login credentials to securely authenticate you in the background.<|separator|>
[69]
eduroam - Singapore Advanced Research and Education Network ...
eduroam is a secure roaming access service developed for the international research and education community, pioneered by the European research and education ...Missing: urban | Show results with:urban
[70]
Two Years of Metro eduroam! | GÉANT CONNECT Online
Sep 1, 2022 · The Metro eduroam reach has nearly doubled in the number of hotspots and geographical coverage, in just a span of two years.Missing: Singapore | Show results with:Singapore
[71]
[PDF] Introduction of eduroam and its development as a national ...
Aug 24, 2022 · How to join and deploy eduroam? 9. ▫ Establish a National Roaming Operator for eduroam operation, and inform eduroam APAN team.
[72]
Countries - eduroam
Country, NREN/NRO, Number of service locations, Number of IdPs, Number of SPs. Albania, RASH, 1, 1, 1. Andorra, U.Andorra, 1, 1, 1. Armenia, ASNET-AM, 44 ...
[73]
Brazil has the world's largest eduroam network - RedCLARA
Apr 7, 2022 · Brazil is now the country with the largest eduroam network in the world. There are 3,000 access points spread throughout its national ...Missing: hotspots | Show results with:hotspots
[74]
eduroam Everywhere: Bridging the digital divide for the R&E ...
Dec 26, 2023 · Having started in Europe, eduroam has rapidly expanded throughout the ... eduroam hotspots across the country. This demonstrates that ...
[75]
[PDF] Deliverable D4.2 Roadmap for the delivery and ... - ELCIRA
Abstract: This deliverable will provide a roadmap for the delivery and deployment of. National eduroam (RO) in Latin America: This deliverable will provide ...
[76]
Our Services - Ubuntunet Alliance
UbuntuNet Alliance, WACREN and ASREN operate eduID.africa as an African catch-all identity federation. eduID.africa provides a template for NRENs to ...
[77]
News - WACREN
ASREN, UbuntuNet Alliance and WACREN are the regional research and education networks interconnecting national research and education networks (NRENs) across ...
[78]
eduroam - TENET South Africa
eduroam (education roaming) is the secure, easy-to-use, worldwide WiFi roaming access service developed for the international research and education community.
[79]
eduroam in Africa: Connecting students anywhere, anytime!
Jun 15, 2023 · It celebrated 6.4 billion national and international authentications in 2022. It is a project of the pan-European network GÉANT, and it receives ...
[80]
eduroam in Africa: Connecting students anywhere, anytime!
Jun 16, 2023 · eduroam in Ghana. GARNET, the Ghanian NREN and member of WACREN, supports deployment and uptake of eduroam in the country. Over 240,000 ...
[81]
TENET welcomes eduroam rollout in airports
May 2, 2023 · TENET, Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) and Wits are working together to expand the eduroam footprint to airports.
[82]
WACREN and the UbuntuNet Alliance formally adopt the Africa ...
WACREN and the UbuntuNet Alliance formally adopt the Africa Training Initiative (ATI). The West and Central African Research and Education Network (WACREN) ...Missing: eduroam challenges bandwidth
[83]
[PDF] RENs, Campus networks, and the Africa Training Initiative (ATI)
Africa Training Initiative (ATI). ▫ AfREN collaboration – ASREN, Ubuntunet Alliance and WACREN initiative. ▫ Framework for capacity building and skills.
[84]
SESAME joins global eduroam network, boosting scientific ...
Oct 30, 2025 · Partnership with GÉANT and ASREN provides seamless, secure internet access for international scientists.
[85]
Eduroam - Office of Information Technology - Georgetown Qatar
Eduroam (educational roaming), is a single, secure, wireless internet service available at GU-Q and many other participating institutions worldwide.Missing: CIRA | Show results with:CIRA
[86]
Access the Wireless Network - MyNUQ - Northwestern University
Northwestern participates in eduroam (education roaming), a secure federated wireless network for the international research and education community. The ...Missing: CIRA | Show results with:CIRA
[87]
Infrastructure services
EduRoam - wireless service allowing visiting staff from participating EduRoam institutions or travelling QU staff access to high speed internet services free.Missing: CIRA | Show results with:CIRA
[88]
Oman is roaming ahead full speed - In The Field: Stories
Students, researchers, and academics across the sultanate can now use eduroam to connect to the internet.
[89]
EPFL Middle East bring academic educational roaming to the UAE
Apr 9, 2014 · This service – educational roaming – is provided by eduroam, first deployed in the UAE by EPFL Middle East in 2011. March 1, 2014, marked ...
[90]
eduroam Roaming Operators - Confluence Mobile - GÉANT ...
RAAP. (tick) Accepted 2012-04-19 Signed Statement. Compliance Statement v2. SOAM. yes. Technical trials have been performed - awaiting RO to be appointed. 56 ...
[91]
Lebanon Joins Global Research and Education Networking ...
Dec 13, 2023 · GÉANT partners up with regional networking organization the Arab States Research and Education Network (ASREN) to support the creation of ...
[92]
Muscat International Airport becomes first in Middle East to offer ...
Jun 8, 2023 · Eduroam, the global educational roaming service, at Muscat international Airport, making it the first airport in the Middle East to provide such secure ...
[93]
eduroam Security - eduroam.org
Oct 22, 2021 · eduroam is based on the most secure encryption and authentication standards in existence today. Its security by far exceeds typical commercial hotspots.