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GN4-3 · Project

Europe's High-Speed Research Network Connecting 50 Million Users Across 100+ Countries

digitalMarket-readyTRL 9
geant.org

Imagine a private highway system built just for scientists and universities — one that connects over 50 million researchers across Europe at speeds regular internet can't touch. GN4-3 is the project that keeps this highway running and makes it faster, pushing speeds up to 100 Gbps per link and even Terabit-level at major hubs. It also adds security services and cloud access so researchers can share massive datasets and use supercomputers from anywhere. Think of it as the backbone plumbing that makes big European science projects actually possible.

By the numbers
50 million
Users reached across Europe
10,000
Connected institutions
100+
Countries connected worldwide
42
National Research and Education Networks connected
100 Gbps
Transmission speed per fibre link
€77.5 million
EU contribution for this project phase
40
Consortium partners
39
Countries in consortium
31
Total deliverables produced
The business problem

What needed solving

Research institutions and universities need ultra-fast, secure network connections to share massive datasets, access supercomputers, and collaborate across borders — but commercial internet is too slow, too insecure, and not designed for these workloads. Without dedicated infrastructure, European science loses its competitive edge as data volumes explode and international collaboration becomes essential.

The solution

What was built

GN4-3 maintained and upgraded Europe's research backbone network operating at multiple 100 Gbps per fibre link with Terabit-capable nodes. It produced 31 deliverables including a Vulnerability Assessment as a Service pilot that evaluated commercial and open-source security tools for large-scale network protection, plus updated cloud access, HPC connectivity, and security services for the research community.

Audience

Who needs this

Network equipment vendors selling high-speed switching and routing gearCybersecurity firms offering vulnerability assessment and managed security servicesCloud service providers wanting to reach the European research and education marketData center operators looking to connect with national research networksEdTech companies needing high-bandwidth infrastructure for remote learning platforms
Business applications

Who can put this to work

Cybersecurity Services
SME
Target: Managed security service providers and vulnerability assessment firms

If you are a cybersecurity firm looking for proven assessment methods for large-scale networks — this project piloted a Vulnerability Assessment as a Service that evaluates commercial tools alongside open-source approaches. The service was tested across a network reaching 50 million users in 10,000 institutions, giving you a blueprint for packaging cloud-based or cookbook-style vulnerability scanning at massive scale.

Cloud & Data Services
enterprise
Target: Cloud service providers and data center operators targeting research and education

If you are a cloud provider trying to serve the research and education sector — this project built the service layer connecting 42 national research networks to European high-performance computing facilities. With 40 consortium partners across 39 countries already integrated, any cloud operator plugging into this ecosystem gains instant access to 10,000 institutions and 50 million potential users.

Telecommunications
enterprise
Target: Network equipment vendors and fiber optic infrastructure companies

If you are a telecom equipment maker seeking reference deployments for ultra-high-speed networking — this project operates a backbone running multiple 100 Gbps per fibre link with Terabit-capable nodes. The network spans 39 countries and connects to 100+ countries worldwide, providing one of the largest real-world testbeds for next-generation networking equipment.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What does it cost to access GÉANT services?

The project data does not include specific pricing for commercial access. GÉANT services are primarily funded through EU contributions (€77.5 million for this phase) and national research network memberships. Commercial entities would need to negotiate access through their national research and education network or directly with GÉANT.

Can this infrastructure scale to support our commercial operations?

The backbone already operates at multiple 100 Gbps per fibre link, with Terabit connectivity achievable at single nodes. It connects 42 national networks reaching 50 million users across 10,000 institutions in 100+ countries. This is production-grade infrastructure, not a prototype.

What about IP and licensing for the tools developed?

Based on available project data, the Vulnerability Assessment as a Service pilot evaluated both commercial and open-source approaches. The project consortium of 40 partners across 39 countries would hold joint IP rights under the EU grant agreement. Specific licensing terms would need to be discussed with the coordinator, GÉANT Vereniging.

Is this technology actually deployed or still experimental?

This is fully operational infrastructure. GÉANT has been running for over two decades and GN4-3 is the third phase of a larger agreement. The objective explicitly focuses on updating existing services based on user community requirements, not building from scratch.

How would our products integrate with this network?

GÉANT provides connectivity to European high-performance computing facilities, cloud services, and scientific data repositories. Integration would typically happen through one of the 42 connected national research and education networks. The project's 31 deliverables include service specifications and pilot results that define integration pathways.

Which countries and regions does this cover?

The consortium spans 39 countries including most of Europe plus Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Israel, Moldova, Turkey, and Ukraine. Through partnerships with other regional networks, it reaches 100+ countries worldwide. This makes it one of the most geographically extensive research networks globally.

Are there regulatory or compliance considerations?

Based on available project data, the network emphasizes secure and trusted connectivity. The Vulnerability Assessment as a Service pilot specifically addresses security compliance. As EU-funded infrastructure serving public research institutions, it operates under European data protection and cybersecurity regulations.

Consortium

Who built it

The GN4-3 consortium is exceptionally large with 40 partners spanning 39 countries — essentially a pan-European operation with extensions into the Caucasus, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East. The consortium is dominated by research organizations (13) and other entities (19, mostly national research network operators), with only 2 industrial partners and 6 universities. The industry ratio is just 5% with 5 SMEs, which makes sense for publicly funded infrastructure rather than a commercial venture. For a business looking to engage, the key entry point is the coordinator GÉANT Vereniging in the Netherlands, which operates the backbone and manages commercial relationships. The sheer geographic spread — from Portugal to Azerbaijan — means any product or service validated on this network has immediate credibility across the entire European research sector.

How to reach the team

GÉANT Vereniging, based in the Netherlands — the organization that operates Europe's research backbone network. Contact through geant.org.

Order a report on this consortiumSee GEANT VERENIGING profile →
Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want an introduction to the GÉANT team or help positioning your product for the research networking market? SciTransfer can connect you with the right people in the consortium.

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