ZDRUZENIE POUZIVATELOV SLOVENSKEJAKADEMICKEJ DATOVEJ SIETE-SANET

Their core work

SANET is the Slovak national research and education network (NREN), operating the academic data network that connects Slovak universities, research institutions, and libraries to each other and to the pan-European GÉANT backbone. Their core mission is providing high-speed connectivity and advanced network services to the Slovak research and education community. Within H2020, they contribute as a national network operator in the GÉANT ecosystem, helping build and maintain the infrastructure that underpins European research collaboration, including transatlantic links to Latin America.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

SANET's participation began with general research networking infrastructure through GN4-1 (2015) and expanded into both deeper technical specialization and wider geographic scope. The early projects lacked specific keyword tagging, but the later GN4-3 phases (2019+) reveal a clear focus on multi-domain networking, network security, and advanced communication services. The BELLA-S1 project (2016-2021) shows an expansion beyond European connectivity toward transatlantic infrastructure linking Europe with Latin America.

SANET is moving from basic connectivity provision toward advanced, security-aware multi-domain networking services, reflecting the broader GÉANT community's evolution toward more sophisticated infrastructure.

How they like to work

SANET operates exclusively as a participant in very large consortia — the GÉANT projects typically involve 40+ partners from across Europe. They have never coordinated an H2020 project, which is typical for national NRENs that contribute their national network segment to the collective European infrastructure. With 40 unique partners across 38 countries, they are deeply embedded in the pan-European NREN community rather than operating independently.

SANET has collaborated with 40 unique partners across 38 countries, almost entirely through the GÉANT consortium — one of the largest and most geographically distributed partnerships in H2020. This reflects the nature of NRENs: each country contributes one network operator to a collective infrastructure.

What sets them apart

SANET is Slovakia's sole national research and education network operator, making them the mandatory gateway for any European research infrastructure project requiring Slovak connectivity. Their participation in BELLA-S1 shows they contribute beyond the standard European NREN role, engaging in intercontinental infrastructure development. For consortium builders, partnering with SANET means access to Slovak academic institutions and their network infrastructure.

Highlights from their portfolio

• GN4-2
  The only GÉANT phase where SANET received direct EC funding (EUR 4,600), suggesting a more active role or specific deliverable responsibility in this phase.
• BELLA-S1
  Extends SANET's reach beyond Europe — a submarine cable project connecting European and Latin American research networks, unusual for a Central European NREN.
• GN4-3N
  Focused specifically on increasing long-term backbone capacity, indicating SANET's involvement in physical infrastructure expansion, not just service delivery.