Internet2

What Internet2 does

Internet2 is a non-profit, member-driven advanced technology consortium founded in 1996 and headquartered in Washington, DC, serving the U.S. research and education community. It operates the nation's largest research and education network, delivering 400G+ wavelengths of capability, four national peering locations, and Layer 1/Layer 2 services, alongside Cloud Connect for cloud resource access and Radware-procured DDoS volumetric mitigation. Its portfolio also includes InCommon, an identity and access management suite providing single sign-on, certificate services, and the eduroam global roaming Wi-Fi service used by over 1,000 organizations, and the NET+ program, a community-vetted portfolio of cloud and technology services including AWS, Google Cloud, Instructure Canvas, ServiceNow, and emerging offerings such as UpGuard (third-party risk management), Kajeet Private 5G, and the Portkey AI Gateway.

The consortium serves 342 U.S. universities, 59 government agencies, 46 regional and state education networks, 61 corporate partners, and over 80,000 community anchor institutions including K-12 schools and libraries. Revenue is generated through recurring membership fees and NET+ service subscriptions, with no disclosed pricing for individual services. Distribution is community-led, relying on advisory committees, working groups, annual Community Exchange and Technology Exchange events, webinars, and a Cloud Scorecard program that evaluates providers for the R&E segment. Internet2 has no shareholders and is governed by a board of trustees elected by member representatives, with leadership including President and CEO Howard Pfeffer and CFO Jeffrey Evans.

Name

Internet2

Legal name

Internet2

Website

https://internet2.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Internet2 is a non-profit member consortium operating the largest U.S. research and education network, providing high-speed connectivity, InCommon identity management, and the NET+ cloud services portfolio to 500+ universities, government agencies, and research institutions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Research and Education Networking

NAICS

Wired Telecommunications Carriers (517111), Wired and Wireless Telecommunications (except Satellite) (5171), Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (518210)

SIC

Communications Services, Nec (4899), Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373)

akta.pro primary industry

IP Transit & Internet Backbone (Tier-1/2, peering, DIA) (HDAIAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cloud Connectivity & Interconnect (Cloud On-Ramps, IX, Cross-Connects) (HDAIAFAF), Managed Internet & Value-Added ISP Services (Managed Router/Wi-Fi, Security, Filtering) (HDAIADAJ)

Keywords

• Research and education networking
• Identity and access management
• Cloud services portfolio
• Non-profit technology consortium
• High-speed network infrastructure

Headquarters

HQ city

Ann Arbor

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Internet2 operates as a non-profit member-driven organization serving research and education institutions. Membership provides access to the network infrastructure, cloud services, identity management solutions, and community collaboration opportunities.
2. NET+ Services: The NET+ program provides vetted cloud and technology services to member institutions, with services including AWS, Google Cloud, Instructure Canvas, and various security and productivity tools customized for research and education needs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Internet2 operates a secure, high-speed research and education network (with 400G+ wavelengths of capacity) and delivers a portfolio of community-vetted technology services to member institutions. Its core offerings include the Internet2 Network, the NET+ Cloud Services portfolio (community-vetted access to AWS, Google Cloud, ServiceNow, Instructure Canvas, LabArchives, and other vendors), and the InCommon suite of identity and access management services (including eduroam global Wi-Fi roaming, InCommon Federation single sign-on, the InCommon Trusted Access Platform, and Certificate Services).

Product overview

Internet2 is a non-profit advanced technology community for higher education and research, providing a platform-plus-services architecture. The core offerings include the Internet2 Network (the nation's largest research and education network with 400G+ wavelengths), InCommon identity and access management services (including eduroam global roaming, InCommon Federation for SSO, and certificate services), and the NET+ Cloud Services portfolio offering community-vetted access to AWS, Google Cloud, ServiceNow, Instructure Canvas, and LabArchives. Additional services include network solutions (Cloud Connect, DDoS mitigation, Layer 1/2 services, Rapid Private Interconnect), security services (UpGuard third-party risk management, InCommon Trusted Access Platform), and emerging services (Kajeet Private 5G, Portkey AI Gateway). Internet2 supports over 336 universities and 500+ member organizations through community programs including the Community Anchor Program, Performing Arts Community of Interest, and Internet2 Emerging Leaders Scholarship program.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• NET+: A portfolio of community-vetted cloud services for research and education institutions, including AWS, Google Cloud, Canvas LMS, and others.
• InCommon
• eduroam

Products and services

• Internet2 Network The nation's largest and fastest research and education network, providing performance, resiliency, and security demanded by the most advanced applications; delivers 400G+ wavelengths of network capability to U.S. universities, government agencies, and regional networks.
• NET+ Cloud Services Portfolio A community-vetted portfolio of cloud services providing direct, customized access to major cloud solutions including AWS, Google Cloud, ServiceNow, Canvas LMS, and LabArchives through negotiated contracts and community support, available to 150+ subscribers and 83+ higher education members.
• InCommon Identity and Access Management Suite Internet2's complete suite of identity and access management services for the research and education community, including InCommon Federation single sign-on, eduroam global roaming Wi-Fi, the InCommon Trusted Access Platform, InCommon Certificate Services, and InCommon Academy training.
• eduroam Secure, global wireless service developed for and by the international research and education community, providing seamless access to global roaming Wi-Fi at participating institutions worldwide.
• Internet2 Cloud Connect Service that makes it easier for researchers to access and use cloud resources, providing networking connectivity to cloud providers via Internet2 and regional network infrastructure.
• DDoS Volumetric Mitigation Service Cloud-based volumetric DDoS protection service procured on behalf of the R&E community from Radware, providing distributed denial-of-service mitigation for member institutions.
• Layer 1 Service Offers the most specialized and cost-effective way for member institutions to build a custom, high-capacity network using dedicated Layer 1 wavelength services.
• Layer 2 Service Delivers strategic advantage providing effective and efficient 100 gigabit Ethernet technology for member institutions to build private, high-performance networks.
• Rapid Private Interconnect (RPI) Provides dedicated access to any vendor-provided service at four national peering locations, enabling private interconnects for member institutions.
• InCommon Certificate Service Provides unlimited server and user certificates for one annual fee, covering all domains of research and education institutions.
• NET+ UpGuard Third-party risk management solution under the NET+ portfolio providing AI-powered workflows, continuous vendor monitoring, and coordinated assessments including HECVAT and IT accessibility standards for research and education institutions.
• NET+ Kajeet Private 5G and Neutral Host Network Platform Private 5G and Neutral Host Network Platform enabling research and higher education institutions to deploy secure, scalable wireless networks across campuses, labs, and underserved areas supporting applications like smart classrooms and IoT systems.
• NET+ Portkey AI Gateway Service AI Gateway Service enhancing access to cloud resources and identity management services for the research and education community.
• InCommon Trusted Access Platform Identity and access management suite of software designed to integrate with existing systems, providing secure single sign-on access to cloud and local services and global collaboration tools for R&E institutions.
• InCommon Federation Provides secure single sign-on access to cloud and local services, and global collaboration tools for over 1,000 participating research and education organizations.
• InCommon Academy Expert-led training from component-level training to implementation support for identity and access management, provided by Internet2's IAM professionals.

Quantifiable outcome

• NET+ program serves 150+ cloud services subscribers and 83+ higher education members
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration21 records

AI capability9 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• UpGuardcoreTechnology or Integration · 7 April 2026UpGuard was selected to join the Internet2 NET+ service portfolio following a competitive procurement process involving 14 higher education institutions. The NET+ UpGuard program will enable research and education institutions to streamline third-party vendor risk assessments with AI-powered workflows, continuous monitoring, and coordinated assessments including HECVAT and IT accessibility standards. The program launches in May 2026 with a webinar featuring Colorado State University and Harvard University.
• EntrinsikminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 April 2026Entrinsik, a data analytics and business intelligence software company headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina, has joined Internet2 as an industry member. As part of the membership, Entrinsik participates in the Internet2 Cloud Scorecard program, which provides transparency on cloud and AI services for research and higher education institutions.
• GooglecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 October 2025Google and Internet2 launched a collaborative AI Education Leadership Program to accelerate responsible AI adoption across the U.S. higher education sector. The first cohort includes 10 universities collectively serving more than 325,000 students, including UC Berkeley, NYU, and the University of Washington. The program provides a community-driven framework for institutions to integrate tools like Gemini for Education and NotebookLM.
• KajeetcoreTechnology or Integration · 29 October 2025Kajeet was selected by Internet2 to launch the NET+ Kajeet Private 5G and Neutral Host Network Platform for research and higher education institutions. The service enables deployment of secure, scalable wireless networks across campuses, labs, and underserved areas, supporting applications like smart classrooms and IoT systems.
• Portkey AIcoreTechnology or Integration · 21 July 2025Internet2 launched the NET+ Portkey AI Gateway Service targeting the research and education community, aiming to enhance access to cloud resources and identity management services through AI gateway capabilities.
• GleancoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 April 2025Glean, a Work AI platform company, announced a collaboration with Internet2, joining as an industry member and participating in the Cloud Scorecard program. Glean's enterprise search, AI assistant, and agent-building capabilities are made available to Internet2's 500+ member organizations, helping faculty, students, and administrators manage fragmented digital environments.
• Amazon Web Services (AWS)coreTechnology or Integration · 2 April 2025AWS is part of the NET+ service portfolio, featuring both a full-featured contract focused on customer success and a community of practice that effectively expands cloud team capabilities for member institutions.
• Instructure CanvascoreTechnology or IntegrationThe NET+ Instructure Canvas program helps institutions adopt and influence Instructure services, including the Canvas LMS, streamlining digital tools and content for teachers and students.
• GÉANTminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational partnership for Network Performing Arts Production Workshops (NPAPW) enabling collaborative live performances and remote auditions using advanced networks.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• GÉANT: GÉANT is the pan-European research and education network consortium, the closest direct international peer to Internet2. It operates a similar backbone, eduroam global service, and eduGAIN identity federation across European R&E institutions, and is an active Internet2 partner.
• ESnet (Energy Sciences Network): ESnet is the U.S. Department of Energy's dedicated research network serving national laboratories and scientific facilities. It is the most direct U.S. counterpart to Internet2 for high-performance R&E backbone, and a frequent collaborator on large-data research.
• CANARIE: CANARIE is Canada's national research and education network, operating a backbone and identity/services portfolio structurally similar to Internet2's, and serving Canadian universities, colleges, and research institutions.
• JISC: JISC is the UK-based not-for-profit providing digital, data, and network services to higher education and research. It operates Janet6 (the UK R&E backbone) and an identity/access portfolio that closely mirrors Internet2 + InCommon.
• AARNet: AARNet is Australia's Academic and Research Network, providing high-capacity backbone, eduroam, and federated identity services to Australian universities and research institutions — a near-direct structural peer to Internet2.
• CENIC: CENIC is the Corporation for Education Network Initiatives in California, a regional R&E network connecting California universities, schools, and libraries with high-speed networking — closely comparable to Internet2 in mission and service mix at a regional level.
• LEARN (Lonestar Education and Research Network): LEARN is a Texas-based R&E network serving universities, colleges, and K-12 across Texas. It is structurally similar to Internet2's regional/state network model and partners with Internet2 for backbone connectivity and services.
• Internet2 Community Anchor Program (internal anchor network model) — comparable commercial anchor broadband providers: ConnectED/Kajeet/Sprint/T-Mobile Education units are not direct peers; instead consider Merit Network: Merit Network is a Michigan-based non-profit R&E network operator providing high-speed connectivity and identity services to universities, K-12, and community anchors — comparable in mission, governance, and service mix to Internet2 at a state/regional level.

Regional players

• NORDUNet: NORDUNet is the joint Nordic R&E network serving Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. It operates a high-capacity backbone and federated identity services comparable to Internet2, primarily serving a different geography.
• RedCLARA: RedCLARA is the Latin American research and education network, connecting national R&E networks across Latin America. It is structurally analogous to Internet2 at a multi-country level and collaborates on eduroam and identity federation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

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• Instagraminstagram.com/internet2social
• Xx.com/Internet2

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Internet2