SURFnet is the Dutch National Research and Education Network (NREN) that provides network infrastructure and collaboration services to 160 connected institutions and 1 million end-users. SURFnet began offering videoconferencing services in 2001 and has expanded its services over time, including offering high-definition videoconferencing through its SURFcontact service since 2009. By 2012, SURFnet analyzed the commercial videoconferencing market in the Netherlands and determined it would transition its SURFcontact users to commercial vendors by the end of the year while continuing to focus on identity and collaboration services.

1. Videoconferencing in Dutch
Higher Education

2. SURFnet
the Dutch NREN
SURFnet is the Dutch National
Research & Education Network
(NREN)
-Services, innovation, knowledge
-Not for profit
-Task organisation of Stichting
SURF = ICT collaboration of
higher education & research
A small operation serving a large
community:
-85 employees
-160 connected institutions
-1 million end-users
2

3. SURFnet is part of the
SURF family
on tro l
i cc
t eg
ra
st Stichting SURF
Institutions
SURFnet
SURFfoundation
SURFdiensten
i p
cus n sh
t o m e r r e l a t io
3 SURFnet - We make innovation work

4. Two result areas
Network infrastructure
A hybrid fixed-wireless network as the basis for all
collaboration, providing efficient, unlimited data
transport
Collaboration infrastructure
a pioneering collaboration environment that
seamlessly connects systems, services, tools, and
people
4 SURFnet. We make innovation work

5. Vision
Researchers, instructors, and students
work together simply and effectively
with the aid of ICT

6. SURFnet vision on
innovation
SURFnet promotes, develops, and operates a trusted,
connecting ICT infrastructure that facilitates optimum
use of the possibilities offered by ICT. SURFnet is thus
the driving force behind ICT-based innovation in
higher education and research in the Netherlands.
If a showcase service is successful, the role of
SURFnet as a service provider for these temporary
ICT services must be taken over by the market.

7. Videoconferencing
at SURFnet
2001 2009 2012
?
Demo service Full service HDVC ?
http://www.surfcontact.nl

8. VC in 2001

9. VC in 2001

10. VC in 2012
40 ports HD MCU

11. SURFcontact
HD videoconferencing dienst voor de zorg, hoger onderwijs en
onderzoek
! VC in 2012
!
!
!
!

12. SURFcontact
Functionalities
- Videoconferencing with groups
- Sharing data and applications
- Live streaming and recording
- Videoconferencing through the firewall
ova tion?
on inn
position
r ou r
be Open Standards
R e mem - Transport = IP
- Protocol = H323/SIP/H460
- Quality= HD
- Numberplan= GDS/E.164
http://www.surfcontact.nl

13. Market Analysis 2011
- HD Videoconferencing is offered as a service by a
number of vendors in the Dutch market
- Managed Videoconferencing services are mostly
network agnostic
- Vendors try to be device agnostic as well, but are
sometimes forced by hardware suppliers to make
certain choices
- Pricing models differ among vendors. SURFcontact
is unique in offering flat fee combined with the
possibility of guest usage.

14. SURFcontact 2012
User input
Market
analysis
Continue No Scenario
after April
‘Stop’
1th 2012?
Usage of Yes
SURFcontact
31 dec 2012
Scenario Phase out of
‘Continue’
SURFcontact

15. Migrate current users
User profiles  Vendor responses  Actual migration
6 vendors are offering competitive services

16. What’s next?
Users & Middleware: Service Providers:
Identity providers: Single sign on Commercial
Institutions Enable teams Non commercial
Virtual Organisations OpenSocial
End users

17. SURFconext
Supporting Services
•SURFfederatie
•SURFteams
•OpenSocial

18. Dutch Institutions &
the use of VC
Example:
Expert op afstand

19. Dutch Institutions &
the use of VC
Example:
LION

20. Dutch Institutions &
the use of VC
Example:
- Combined Master from 3 universities

21. Dutch Institutions on
the use of VC
Some general comments
-More and more instutions see daily use of VC
-Many institutions use VC in their curricula to
collaborate with international partners
-VC is also used for int. research collaboration
-VC is essential for virtual organisations
-Contact with patients via VC
-Teleclasses with live feed from operation room
-Additional VC classrooms to facilitate larger groups of
students
-HDVC is superior to Skype regarding group meetings

22. Dutch Institutions on
the use of VC
Some issues
-More integration with desktop/mobile clients and
high quality VC
-Accesibility – everyone should find VC-eq intuitive to
use
-Flawless operation – too often technical support is
necessary
-Sound quality in larger rooms
-Little interaction between teacher and large groups of
students

23. Albert Hankel
albert.hankel@surfnet.nl
www.surfnet.nl
Presentation released under Creative Commons
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Be green, read from the screen 