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JANET

JANET, or the Joint Academic Network, is the United Kingdom's national research and education network (NREN), a high-speed computer infrastructure that connects universities, further education colleges, research councils, and other academic institutions to facilitate collaboration, data exchange, and innovative learning. It serves over 20 million users across the UK education and research sectors, making it Europe's busiest NREN and a critical backbone for academic connectivity. Established in 1984 by the Computer Board for Universities and Research Councils, JANET emerged from efforts dating back to the early 1970s to create a unified data network linking universities and research establishments. Initially funded through the board and later by the Universities Funding Council via the Information Systems Committee, it adopted X.25 packet-switching technology over 2 Mbps lines, enabling connections to over 200 sites and more than 2,000 computers. The network's development included the introduction of the JANET Service (JIPS) in 1991 for support and subsequent upgrades under the SuperJANET program, progressing from 34 Mbit/s fiber optics in 1993 to 2 Tbps capacity by 2013. Today, JANET is operated by Services Limited and supports advanced features such as up to 100 Gbit/s scalable connectivity, robust cybersecurity including , and seamless integration with international networks for global research collaboration. It handles six petabytes of daily, enables services like secure access and big data transfers (e.g., 4 TB files from to observatories), and connects over 900 institutions while contributing approximately £500 million annually to the economy through enhanced transnational education.

Overview

Purpose and Scope

JANET, known as the Joint Academic NETwork, serves as the United Kingdom's (NREN), dedicated to delivering high-speed data connectivity tailored for the UK's academic and research communities. This infrastructure supports the seamless exchange of information essential for scholarly pursuits, fostering an interconnected ecosystem where institutions can leverage advanced networking capabilities without reliance on broader commercial services. The primary objectives of JANET encompass enabling robust research collaboration, facilitating the delivery of educational programs, and promoting knowledge sharing among diverse academic entities, including universities, colleges, research councils, and associated organizations. By prioritizing secure and efficient connectivity, JANET ensures that these communities can engage in innovative activities such as joint projects, virtual learning environments, and data-intensive scientific endeavors. JANET's scope is specifically limited to serving institutions, providers, organizations, and select bodies like local authorities, deliberately excluding commercial enterprises and to maintain its focus on non-profit educational and needs. As of , this network connects approximately 20 million users across the UK's and sectors, underscoring its central role in supporting national infrastructure.

Significance and Usage

JANET handles six petabytes of data daily, establishing it as Europe's busiest (NREN) by traffic volume. This substantial throughput supports the seamless exchange of vast datasets essential for and scientific , far exceeding typical networks in sustained high-volume performance. The network enables connectivity for approximately 20 million users across universities, research institutions, and related sites in the UK. It maintains over 600 direct global peerings with key education, research, and cloud providers, ensuring low-latency, high-capacity interconnections that underpin daily operations for this extensive user base. JANET plays a pivotal role in facilitating critical research data flows, including petabyte-scale transfers from international observatories, such as those anticipated from the Vera C. Rubin Observatory project launching in 2025. These capabilities bolster UK contributions to global science by enabling rapid data dissemination and analysis for collaborative projects in fields like astronomy and particle physics. While complementing public internet service providers, JANET prioritizes secure, high-performance connectivity tailored to academic needs, distinct from consumer-grade services. Managed by , it ensures sustained reliability for these specialized demands.

History

Early Developments

The origins of academic networking in the 1960s were marked by pioneering experiments in , inspired by the project in the United States. At the National Physical Laboratory (NPL), independently conceived concepts in 1965, leading to a functional prototype by 1970 that demonstrated efficient data transmission over 768 kbps channels. Similarly, () began exploring packet-switched architectures in the late 1960s under Professor Peter Kirstein, establishing early connections to shared computing resources. The also contributed through initial site-specific experiments in computer networking during this period, focusing on resource sharing among academic institutions. In the 1970s, these efforts expanded into more structured regional and research-oriented networks, addressing the growing demand for inter-university data exchange. The Science Research Council () developed SRCnet starting in the early 1970s to connect key research sites, including Daresbury Laboratory, Rutherford Laboratory, and the Atlas Computing Division at Chilton, initially using leased lines and remote job entry terminals for scientific access. Renamed SERCnet in 1981 following the council's rebranding, it evolved to incorporate the X.25 protocol by 1978, enabling reliable packet-switched links between over 160 hosts and supporting thousands of weekly connections for academic collaboration. Other site-specific systems, such as the South West Universities Computer Network (SWUCN) launched in 1971, linked institutions like the Universities of , , and using proprietary protocols on ICL hardware, further diversifying the landscape of early academic connectivity. Key milestones underscored the push toward international and coordinated networking. In July 1973, achieved the first UK-to-US computer connection by linking to the via a 9.6 kbps through NORSAR in , funded by a £5,000 NPL grant and provided by the British ; this transmission reached the and introduced the ARPANET's first non-US node. Earlier, in 1966, the Computer Board for Universities and Research Councils was formed to oversee funding and standardization of university computing, issuing reports in 1973 and 1975 that advocated for ARPANET-compatible and adoption of the Post Office's Experimental Packet Switched Service (EPSS). These developments laid the groundwork for broader coordination among fragmented efforts. The primary challenges during this era stemmed from the proliferation of isolated local networks with incompatible protocols and hardware, resulting in inefficient resource use and high costs from duplicated leased lines. Academic institutions required a standardized framework for data exchange to support collaborative research, prompting the Computer Board's initiatives to unify these disparate systems. These early advancements ultimately paved the way for the formal establishment of in 1984 as a national backbone.

Establishment and Growth

JANET emerged from pre-1984 experiments with regional academic networks in the UK, which demonstrated the need for a unified national infrastructure to support research and education collaboration. The network was officially launched on 1 April 1984 as a government-funded, X.25-based system under the name Joint Academic NETwork (JANET), aimed at linking UK higher education and research institutions. Initially managed by the Joint Network Team within the Computer Board's Information Systems Services division, it connected over 60 sites, including universities, polytechnics, and research council facilities, enabling shared access to computing resources and data exchange. Throughout the late , JANET underwent significant expansion, incorporating colleges into its reach to broaden access for post-secondary institutions beyond traditional universities. In 1989, experimental TCP/IP protocols were introduced to facilitate international connectivity, paving the way for the formal JANET IP Service (JIPS) launched in 1991 as a dedicated overlay for IP traffic alongside the existing X.25 infrastructure. This period marked rapid growth, with site connections increasing to over 200 by the early , supporting enhanced collaboration across the academic community. In 1994, responsibility for JANET's management shifted from the Computer Board to the newly formed Education and Networking Association (UKERNA), establishing a specialized entity dedicated to the network's ongoing development and operations. This transition ensured sustained focus on scaling the infrastructure to meet evolving demands in education and research.

Technological Evolutions

In 1991, JANET underwent a significant protocol shift with the full adoption of the protocol suite through the launch of the JANET IP Service (JIPS) on November 1, replacing the earlier X.25-based Coloured Books protocols that had formed the network's foundation since its inception in 1984. This transition, piloted earlier that year, enabled seamless integration with global protocols and facilitated rapid growth in data traffic, as IP usage quickly surpassed X.25 volumes within months. The SuperJANET initiative, proposed in 1989 to enhance capabilities, marked the beginning of major upgrades starting in the early 1990s. Phase 1, implemented in 1993, introduced (ATM) technology over fiber-optic links operating at 34 Mbit/s, with an ATM pilot, connecting initial sites and replacing slower leased lines to support higher-bandwidth applications. Phase 2, launched in 1995, expanded the ATM backbone to additional nodes at 155 Mbit/s while incorporating support for and video services, enabling experimental applications like collaborative videoconferencing across the network. Phase 3, completed by 1998, leveraged Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM) to achieve aggregate speeds of up to 10 Gbit/s on the IP core backbone, with ATM at 622 Mbit/s, significantly boosting capacity for data-intensive research traffic. Subsequent phases further accelerated capacity enhancements. SuperJANET4, rolled out in 2002, upgraded the core backbone to 10 Gbit/s using advanced optical technologies, ensuring for emerging needs. SuperJANET5, introduced in , adopted a architecture combining Ethernet and elements to deliver 10 Gbit/s transit alongside dedicated circuit services, with provisions for future expansion to 40 Gbit/s. Janet6, deployed in 2013, incorporated (SDN) principles to manage a 2 Tbit/s across multiple channels, optimizing dynamic for diverse demands. Following Janet6, the network saw further upgrades, including 400 Gbit/s connectivity in as part of the Janet(UK) backbone enhancements, enabling higher-capacity international links and support for petabyte-scale data transfers. By the early , capacities scaled to 800 Gbit/s in select segments. A pivotal across these evolutions was the widespread shift to fiber-optic infrastructure, initiated with SuperJANET's deployment and culminating in lambda services—dedicated optical wavelengths provisioned for point-to-point connections—which allowed institutions to secure high-capacity, low-latency paths tailored to specific applications like large-scale data transfers.

Technical Infrastructure

Network Architecture

JANET's backbone consists of a national fibre optic core network spanning the , leveraging approximately 9,000 km of laid under a from 2013 to 2028, primarily using standard fibre for reliable transmission. This infrastructure employs dense (DWDM) technology to enable high-capacity data transmission, supporting migrations to 100GbE and beyond through equipment like 6500 systems. Recent upgrades, including Ciena's WaveLogic Ai, have enabled core links up to 800 Gbit/s and potential capacities of 25.6 Tbps per pair as part of the ongoing Shaping the Future of Janet program. The connection model follows a hierarchical structure, where 11 regional networks serve as aggregation points linking educational and research institutions to the central backbone. This design facilitates both point-to-multipoint connectivity for shared access and dedicated circuits for high-priority links, ensuring resilient and efficient distribution of network resources across the . JANET's domain management is handled by , which oversees the .ac.uk domain for and entities, providing registration, maintenance, and services. These domains integrate seamlessly with the (DNS) for name resolution and utilize (BGP) for routing, allowing JANET to advertise around 320 IPv4 prefixes and 15 prefixes to manage traffic efficiently. Scalability is achieved through a modular that supports hybrid Ethernet and services layered over the optical , enabling flexible upgrades such as the of coherent 100GE DWDM converters without overhauling the core fibre plant. This design, evolved from earlier phases like Janet6, accommodates growing demands from over 1,000 connected organizations and 20 million users.

Connectivity and Speeds

JANET offers scalable site connections ranging from 1 Gbit/s to 100 Gbit/s, tailored to the requirements of and educational institutions, with many sites utilizing multiple 10 Gbit/s links and select high-data-volume facilities connected at 100 Gbit/s. The network's aggregate backbone capacity provides external of 5 Tbit/s, with links up to 800 Gbit/s, enabling the handling of eight petabytes of daily across its fibre optic as of 2024. Access to JANET is facilitated through diverse last-mile delivery methods, including leased lines and wide area Ethernet services for dedicated, high-capacity connections starting at 1 Gbit/s. Complementing these, the managed service provides flexible routing over any bearer, enhancing accessibility for remote or distributed sites while maintaining security and performance. Additionally, JANET supports and emerging mobile backhaul in academic environments, with trials demonstrating its potential for reliable connectivity in mobile research scenarios. The network integrates seamlessly with high-performance computing (HPC) clusters, supporting efficient data flows for intensive simulations and analyses through optimized end-to-end performance initiatives. For transfers, JANET's Netpath service—formerly known as Lightpath—delivers dedicated networking with point-to-point links of guaranteed , bypassing shared packet to ensure low-latency, high-throughput connections between sites. JANET maintains over 600 global direct connections, which minimize and enhance reliability for international collaborations by optimizing traffic routing to key and scientific networks worldwide.

Governance and Organization

Management Structure

Services Limited, a not-for-profit wholly owned by , serves as the primary operator of the JANET network, handling its day-to-day operations including network maintenance, development, and service delivery. The governing body for JANET is , a not-for-profit organization funded by public sector higher education and funding bodies, which provides strategic oversight and sets overarching policies. Jisc's board comprises senior representatives from , colleges, research councils, and government entities, ensuring alignment with the needs of the education and sectors; its operations related to JANET are based at facilities in . Policy development for technical standards and network interconnections is managed through Jisc's , including specialized committees that advise on and matters, with JANET adhering to an open peering to facilitate efficient connections with other networks and ISPs at major exchange points. JANET's operations are supported by dedicated in-house teams focused on network engineering, which design and optimize the backbone ; specialists, who develop and enforce guidelines; and staff, who liaise with connected organizations to address needs and provide support services such as incident response through the Janet CSIRT.

Funding and Operations

JANET's funding primarily comes from the government through the , which supports connectivity services for schools in , and from research councils that enable primary connectivity for , , and organizations. This governmental support is supplemented by membership fees collected from institutions, which cover a portion of charges to ensure equitable access. These sources maintain JANET as a non-commercial, not-for-profit service dedicated to the . The budget for JANET emphasizes sustained infrastructure investments, with reporting total organizational income of £148.7 million in 2023/24, a substantial share directed toward upgrades and in the tens of millions of pounds annually. Under 's management oversight, prioritizes backbone enhancements and regional expansions without reliance on commercial revenues. Operationally, JANET employs a centralized model for and , aggregating demand across institutions to achieve cost efficiencies and negotiate favorable terms with suppliers. Performance is monitored through service level agreements (SLAs) with regional network providers, who deliver contracted services while adhering to standards for reliability and uptime. Sustainability efforts focus on green networking practices, including the development of methodologies to measure and embodied carbon in the network's operations, alongside energy-efficient routing to minimize environmental impact. These initiatives align with broader commitments to reduce emissions by over half by 2030, ensuring long-term operational viability.

Services Provided

Core Network Services

JANET's core network services provide essential connectivity and tools for and institutions across the , enabling seamless data exchange and collaboration. The Janet connection service delivers standard Ethernet-based access, allowing connected organizations to transfer data, send emails, and access services efficiently between institutions. This connectivity is routed through the high-speed Janet backbone, ensuring reliable performance for everyday operations. Wireless services form a key component of JANET's offerings, facilitating mobile access for users in educational settings. The service enables seamless roaming, permitting students and staff to authenticate once and connect to secure networks at participating institutions worldwide using a single set of credentials. Complementing this, govroam extends similar zero-touch to personnel, allowing them to roam across public organizations without additional logins. These services enhance mobility and productivity in academic and governmental environments. JANET supports collaboration tools optimized for research workflows, including video conferencing capabilities that leverage the network's for high-definition sessions, enabling multipoint meetings among institutions. Additionally, the network facilitates and integration through services like Janet Cloud Connect, which links organizational networks to public cloud providers for secure data storage and collaborative access tailored to research needs. These features promote efficient without the need for . Domain services under JANET include the registration and management of .ac.uk domains, which are reserved for UK academic and research entities. Jisc, as the registry operator, handles requests for new domains, renewals, and modifications via a dedicated , ensuring stable online presence for institutional websites and resources. This service supports the of the academic community by maintaining a centralized, authoritative system for domain allocation.

Security and Support Services

JANET provides robust cybersecurity measures to protect its users in the UK research and education community. Central to these efforts is the Foundation DDoS mitigation service, which is included with every Janet IP connection and continuously monitors network traffic for anomalous patterns indicative of distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, automatically filtering malicious traffic to maintain service availability. Enhanced options, such as Foundation Plus and Critical Services Protection, offer additional layers of automated mitigation for high-value assets like DNS servers, websites, and VPNs, ensuring rapid response to sophisticated threats. Complementing these is the Jisc Computer Security Incident Response Team (CSIRT), which serves as the dedicated first point of contact for monitoring, coordinating, and resolving security incidents across the Janet Network and connected organizations, including proactive vulnerability scanning and threat intelligence sharing. Access management on JANET emphasizes secure, federated authentication to enable seamless and protected resource access. Through integration with the UK Access Management Federation (UKAMF), operated by , users benefit from a standardized framework that supports (SSO) capabilities, allowing institutions to authenticate identities via trusted identity providers while adhering to and SAML protocols for authorization. This system reduces the risks associated with password proliferation and ensures compliance with secure access principles, directly supporting the core IP services that form JANET's foundational connectivity. Support services for JANET users include dedicated helpdesk assistance, comprehensive programs, and clear guidance to foster effective utilization. The Janet Service Desk operates 24/7, providing for connection issues, fault reporting, and operational queries via (0300 300 2212) and ([email protected]), serving as the primary contact for institutions to resolve incidents efficiently. resources, delivered through structured events and online materials, cover topics such as basic networking, router configuration, and security best practices, aimed at systems administrators and support staff to enhance institutional capabilities. guidance is outlined in documents like the Janet Security Policy and (AUP), which detail responsibilities for secure usage and promote alignment with broader standards. JANET's operations align with national compliance standards, particularly those from the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), to safeguard research data and . The Janet mandates annual self-assessments for connected organizations using frameworks like and NCSC guidelines, including threat intelligence collaboration to protect sensitive research activities. This ensures adherence to UK legislation on data protection, such as GDPR, while supporting NCSC's Trusted Research principles through measures like and incident reporting protocols.

Regional Networks

Structure and Coverage

JANET's regional structure is organized as a decentralized framework comprising 11 JANET Regional Networks (JRNs), which collectively span , , , and [Northern Ireland](/page/Northern Ireland). These networks are managed by local consortia formed from partnerships of higher and institutions, often collaborating with regional development agencies to tailor services to local needs. This model ensures responsive, community-driven operations while maintaining national standards. The coverage of these regional networks is extensive, connecting over 1,200 organisations across the and serving 20 million users in and as of 2023/24. To enhance reliability, each JRN features dual, diversely routed connections to the national backbone, providing multiple entry points for nationwide redundancy and minimizing single points of failure. Operationally, the JRNs are responsible for delivering last-mile connections to end-user sites and managing local arrangements within their regions, allowing efficient aggregation of before to the core infrastructure. Central coordination is provided by , which oversees standards, contracts, and integration with the national backbone to ensure seamless nationwide performance. The regional model has evolved for greater efficiency through the Janet Access Programme, transitioning from approximately 20 metropolitan area networks (MANs) in the early and around 18 JRNs in the to the current optimized structure of 11 JRNs as of 2023, reflecting consolidation and technological upgrades.

Key Regional Examples

The JANET network comprises 11 regional networks that connect educational and research institutions across the , enabling localized implementations tailored to diverse geographical needs. London's regional network facilitates dense urban connectivity for over a dozen universities and research hubs in , supporting high-volume data exchanges essential for collaborative projects in fields like and . This infrastructure handles the intense traffic demands of a compact metropolitan area, where institutions such as and rely on resilient, high-bandwidth links to the national backbone for real-time collaboration. The Regional Network (NIRN) covers key academic centers in and , providing dedicated connectivity for approximately 10 institutions and sites. It emphasizes cross-border collaborations with academics in the , exemplified by a dedicated high-speed link established in 2004 between and to support joint initiatives in areas like and . Facilities such as the Observatory and utilize 1 Gbps connections via NIRN to transfer large datasets, such as 4 TB of astronomical data from international partners, with upgrades planned to multi-gigabit capacities. In , the regional networks managed under the broader Scottish framework support remote site connections, particularly for institutions in the , where geography poses connectivity hurdles. Universities like the University of the Highlands and Islands leverage these networks for distributed research, enabling seamless access to national resources despite dispersed campuses across rugged terrain. This setup ensures equitable participation in national projects, such as those involving marine and environmental studies, by bridging urban centers like with isolated highland facilities. Regional networks address geographical variations, such as rural broadband limitations in , where the Regional Network (SWERN) connects universities in , , and amid challenging terrains. Legacy infrastructure from the , relying on mixed SDH and Ethernet technologies, has required ongoing upgrades through Jisc's Janet Access Programme to achieve modern speeds and reliability for rural sites. These efforts mitigate disparities in access, ensuring research continuity in areas with sparse population and difficult topography.

International Connections

Links to Global Networks

JANET's primary international connection is to GÉANT, the pan-European research and education network that links over 50 national research and education networks (NRENs) across . This resilient 400 Gbit/s link enables high-capacity and intra-European connectivity, supporting the exchange of research data between institutions and global partners. Through GÉANT and direct global interconnections, JANET maintains over 600 peerings with key research networks worldwide, facilitating seamless collaboration for academics. Notable examples include connections to in the United States, providing access to North American research facilities via high-speed routes; APAN in the region, enabling data sharing with institutions in and beyond; and SINET in , supporting joint projects in fields like and high-energy research. These peerings ensure low-latency, high-bandwidth paths optimized for research traffic. JANET supports resolution of domains through its with DNS , including servers located internationally to provide reliable querying for domains like .edu and other NREN-specific top-level domains. This capability allows researchers to access and reference resources from networks without disruption. For large-scale data exchanges, JANET allocates dedicated bandwidth capacities to handle petabyte-scale transfers, such as astronomical datasets from observatories. For instance, the network is provisioned to transfer vast volumes of data from the Rubin Observatory in to institutions, enabling real-time analysis of cosmic phenomena and long-term storage for collaborative studies.

Collaborations and Projects

JANET has played a pivotal role in the data pipeline project, enabling the high-speed transfer of petabyte-scale astronomical data from the observatory in to UK researchers since first light in June 2025. This initiative leverages the JANET network's integration with the GÉANT backbone to facilitate seamless international data flows, supporting UK astronomers in processing vast datasets from the Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST) project. The collaboration ensures that UK institutions, including those in the LSST:UK , can and analyze this data efficiently, contributing to advancements in and . In ongoing collaborations, JANET supports UK participation in global high-performance computing (HPC) initiatives, notably the Partnership for Advanced Computing in (PRACE), where UK researchers gain access to Europe's leading supercomputing resources through EPSRC subscriptions. This involvement allows for compute-intensive simulations and across disciplines. Additionally, JANET contributes to strategic alliances with international NRENs, including sharing best practices and threat intelligence via CSIRTs to enhance protection of global research infrastructures. JANET further enables educational exchanges through support for transnational education (TNE) programs, offering roaming via the service that extends connectivity to users across and beyond. This facilitates seamless collaboration for students and faculty participating in programs, ensuring secure and reliable during exchanges and initiatives. Jisc's broader TNE , including guidance on provision, complements these efforts to promote global educational partnerships. The impact of these collaborations is evident in JANET's facilitation of UK involvement in major international events, such as CERN's (LHC) data analysis, where the network handles terabit-scale transfers for research. These projects underscore JANET's role in amplifying research contributions on the world stage.

Future Developments

Ongoing Upgrades

JANET continues to enhance its through expansions and reliability improvements, building on achieved backbone of 600 Gbit/s established in using Ciena's technology. Recent initiatives include the beta launch of Jisc's managed service in 2024, providing flexible and secure access to the Janet Network via any bearer, revolutionizing connectivity for and institutions. Additionally, the Tier-1 connection to JANET is being upgraded to 400 Gbit/s, projected to support network requirements up to 400 Gbit/s by 2026. Reliability initiatives include the full launch of Jisc's Security Operations Centre (SOC) in March 2025, enhancing with and for threat detection and response across connected organizations. The Foundation service continues to provide scrubbing capacity by monitoring traffic and diverting attacks at no additional cost. Complementary measures involve integration and security-embedded provisioning. Advancements build on the JANET6 rollout completed in 2013, which established a 100 Gbit/s , extended through (SDN) for dynamic bandwidth allocation and automated provisioning. Preparations for 6G include the JOINER platform to accelerate testing and adoption at scale.

Strategic Plans

JANET's strategic plans focus on long-term investments in and international competitiveness to support emerging research demands. The Janet Access Programme (2018–2023) re-engineered the 18 regional networks with standardized points of presence, resilient ring architectures using dark fiber and data centers, delivering high-capacity access and addressing digital divides; its completions continue to benefit remote areas through successor services like . Innovation efforts include ongoing exploration of private 5G networks integrated with JANET for on-campus deployments in and , with use cases discussed as of 2025. The network has adopted quantum-safe encryption via Arqit's NetworkSecure platform (as of December 2024) to protect data against quantum threats. Sustainable practices are advanced through SDN and virtualized functions for efficient scaling. Policy goals emphasize collaborations with GÉANT for global connectivity, including the Polar Connect project for a trans-Arctic cable by 2030 and e-infrastructure sharing. The roadmap aligns with multi-year research funding, with evaluations adapting to sector growth.

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