ESnet

What ESnet does

ESnet (Energy Sciences Network) is the U.S. Department of Energy's sole high-performance science networking facility, operated by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and headquartered in Berkeley, California. Founded in 1986, ESnet functions as the DOE's dedicated "data circulatory system," providing 100 Gbps connectivity to 17-25 national laboratories, 4 supercomputing facilities, 24 user facilities, and approximately 30,000 research organizations globally. The network carries roughly 20 petabytes of scientific data per month and operates at 99.998% availability, with traffic growing at twice the rate of the commercial Internet.

The ESnet product portfolio combines a high-performance IP backbone (currently ESnet6) with a suite of proprietary and open-source networking tools. OSCARS provides on-demand bandwidth reservation and dynamic virtual circuits across multi-domain networks, reducing provisioning time from hours to minutes. Science DMZ is a reference network architecture for optimizing science data transfers at campus and facility level. perfSONAR delivers end-to-end performance monitoring, while Stardust and my.es.net provide operational dashboards. R&D offerings include FABRIC (an experimental network testbed), QUANT-NET (a distributed quantum computing testbed), EJFAT load balancer, ESnet SmartNIC, and TerraNova network mapping software.

ESnet does not generate commercial revenue; it is funded through DOE Office of Science appropriations and provides services at no direct cost to qualifying DOE researchers and institutions. Distribution is via direct network connectivity to DOE facilities, with go-to-market conducted through a Science Engagement team conducting Network Requirements Reviews, technical consulting, and a CI Engineering Lunch & Learn series co-sponsored with NSF since 2017. The customer base is exclusively the DOE scientific ecosystem, with technology standards (OSCARS, Science DMZ, perfSONAR) adopted across 40+ global R&E networks, creating ecosystem-level influence well beyond its direct funding perimeter.

Name

ESnet

Legal name

ESnet (Energy Sciences Network)

Website

https://es.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

ESnet is the U.S. Department of Energy's sole high-performance science network, operated by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, providing 100 Gbps connectivity and specialized tools to DOE national laboratories, supercomputing facilities, and 30,000 research organizations globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Research Network Infrastructure

NAICS

Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (518210), Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (518)

SIC

Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373)

akta.pro primary industry

Carrier Ethernet Services (E-Line/E-LAN/E-Tree) (HDAIAFAC)

Keywords

• High-performance science networking
• Research network infrastructure
• Data transfer services
• Scientific computing networks
• Bandwidth reservation services

Headquarters

HQ city

Berkeley

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations

Revenue model

1. DOE Office of Science Funding: ESnet is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science as a national research facility. It provides services at no direct cost to qualifying DOE researchers and institutions.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

ESnet (Energy Sciences Network) operates the U.S. Department of Energy's dedicated high-performance science network, providing 100 Gbps data transport infrastructure connecting DOE national laboratories, supercomputing facilities, and user facilities. It offers network connectivity services, on-demand bandwidth reservation, performance monitoring tools, and advanced networking research testbeds to support data-intensive scientific research.

Product overview

ESnet (Energy Sciences Network) is the Department of Energy's sole high-performance networking facility, serving as the DOE's 'data circulatory system' for scientific research. It operates as a unified platform providing 100 Gbps connectivity (currently ESnet6) connecting 17 national laboratories, supercomputing facilities, and 30,000 organizations globally. The product portfolio includes OSCARS for on-demand bandwidth reservation and circuit provisioning, the Science DMZ architecture pattern for campus networks, and perfSONAR for network performance monitoring. Supporting offerings include Data Transfer Nodes, the Fasterdata knowledge base, and customer-facing portals (my.es.net, Stardust dashboards, Customer Service Portal). ESnet is currently planning ESnet7 with AI/ML integration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Science DMZ: A scalable network design pattern developed by ESnet for optimizing science data transfers
• OSCARS
• perfSONAR
• Stardust

Products and services

• ESnet6 High-Performance Science Network The Department of Energy's dedicated high-performance science network backbone operating at 100 Gbps, providing data transport connectivity for DOE national laboratories, supercomputing centers, and scientific user facilities.
• OSCARS (On-demand Secure Circuits and Reservation System) Software service that creates dedicated bandwidth channels and dynamic virtual circuits across multiple network domains, enabling scientists to provision reserved bandwidth for time-critical data transfers in minutes rather than hours.
• perfSONAR Network performance measurement toolkit used to test end-to-end performance within ESnet and with peer networks, providing dashboards for throughput, packet loss, and latency testing.
• FABRIC Experimental Network Testbed Experimental network testbed for advanced networking research, enabling researchers to conduct experiments on next-generation networking architectures and protocols.
• QUANT-NET Distributed Quantum Computing Testbed A distributed quantum computing testbed connecting ion-trap nodes across 5 kilometers of fiber optic network, enabling distributed quantum computing research connecting Berkeley Lab, UC Berkeley, Caltech, and University of Innsbruck.
• TerraNova Network Mapping Software Customizable, open-source network mapping software that transforms network parameters into visual topology and automates keeping network maps accurate.

Quantifiable outcome

• Network availability at 99.998%
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

AI capability7 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and strategic.

• CaltechcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 May 2026Collaborates on QUANT-NET, a three-node distributed quantum computing testbed connecting ion-trap nodes across 5 km of fiber, in addition to Berkeley Lab and UC Berkeley.
• University of InnsbruckcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 May 2026International partner in QUANT-NET distributed quantum computing testbed, contributing expertise in ion-trap quantum computing nodes and quantum frequency conversion.
• UC BerkeleycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 May 2026Connected via QUANT-NET testbed connecting Berkeley Lab with UC Berkeley across 5 km of fiber for distributed quantum computing research.
• Lawrence Berkeley National LaboratorycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerESnet is managed by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory as part of its Scientific Networking Division. LBNL provides administrative oversight and institutional support for ESnet operations.
• Internet2coreTechnology or IntegrationCritical intellectual partner in OSCARS development, conducted testing, quality assurance, and packaging. Collaborates on Advanced North Atlantic 100G Pilot project (ANA-100G).
• BrocadestrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with ESnet on SDN demonstration showcasing multi-layer network optimization using OSCARS with Brocade MLXe Core Routers across packet-optical network.
• InfinerastrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with ESnet on SDN demonstration using Infinera DTN-X converged OTN/WDM optical platform with Open Transport Switch software for multi-layer provisioning.
• CienastrategicTechnology or IntegrationProvided photonic equipment including WaveLogic 3 transponder for Advanced North Atlantic 100G Pilot project demonstrating first intercontinental 100 Gbps link.
• Sandia National LaboratoriescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Quantum Systems Accelerator partnership that transfers quantum hardware configurations to the commercial ecosystem.
• National Science Foundation (NSF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsors CI Engineering Lunch & Learn series since 2017. Collaborates on EPOC (Engagement and Performance Operations Center) for community support.
• NORDUnetstrategicTechnology or IntegrationParticipated in Advanced North Atlantic 100G Pilot project (ANA-100G) for first intercontinental 100 Gbps link.
• SURFnetstrategicTechnology or IntegrationParticipated in Advanced North Atlantic 100G Pilot project (ANA-100G). Partner in Enlighten Your Research Global program.
• CANARIEstrategicTechnology or IntegrationParticipated in Advanced North Atlantic 100G Pilot project (ANA-100G).
• GÉANTstrategicTechnology or IntegrationEuropean research network partner in Advanced North Atlantic 100G Pilot project (ANA-100G) and Enlighten Your Research Global program.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Strengths4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• GitHubgithub.com/esnet
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UChIaulc1bccif1Dz4cfZl0w
• Xx.com/ESnetUpdates
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lbl-esnet

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ESnet