The Quilt is pleased to introduce new affiliate member VERNet as we expand our membership beyond North America.

VERNet designs, builds, operates and manages a network in Victoria, Australia that enables educators, researchers and students to exchange ideas and communicate faster. The network is the Victorian Education and Research Network (VERN) and is the preferred supplier of high-bandwidth connectivity to the research and education sector in Victoria providing customers with leading-edge technology and services at affordable rates.

Established in 2004, VERNet provides Layer 1, 2 and 3 services to nine universities and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) This network is fiber-based and spans more than 2,000 kilometers providing more than 231 services to universities, CSIRO and other research organisations including 26 hospitals from 1Gbps to 100Gbps.

The company is a licensed telecommunications carrier with all members also serviced by the national carrier AARNet. Members procure Layer 1, 2 or 3 from VERNet and then a range of higher-layer services from the national carrier such as commodity internet, videoconferencing, NET+ cloud services, and Eduroam. The company also has a unique, dedicated high-speed research network up to 10Gbps, connecting six Victorian research precincts.

VERNet CEO Roger Tanton explained that VERNet pursued affiliation with The Quilt because of its vibrant involvement and volunteer contributions of its members, and because researchers in Victoria would like to collaborate more with researchers in North America and share data across a wide range of disciplines.

“I was fortunate enough to attend the Quilt Fall 2013 Conference and would be very pleased if VERNet staff could serve on technical, administrative and financial committees or as resources for The Quilt,” he noted. “We have found that RNOs across the world tend to use the same vendors, similar business and even corporate governance models, and the company would like to be a part of this collegiate community and assist where possible.”

The research and education sector in Australia is serviced by the national carrier (AARNet) and two incorporated regional carriers, VERNet in the state of Victoria, and SABRENet in South Australia.

“We are thrilled to have our first affiliate member on another continent,” said Quilt President and CEO Jen Leasure. “This is great way for us to grow our R&E network collaborations and for VERNet to benchmark its network operations with other regional networks located in North America.”