WiscNet
WiscNet is a Wisconsin-based nonprofit membership association operating a research and education network that provides unlimited high-speed internet, security, datacenter, and eduroam services to approximately 300 member organizations including higher education institutions, K-12 districts, libraries, municipalities, and hospitals throughout Wisconsin.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1990
- HeadquartersMadison, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What WiscNet does
WiscNet is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) membership association founded in 1990 and headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin, that operates a research and education network serving nearly 300 member organizations across higher education, K-12 school districts, public libraries, municipalities, and hospitals throughout Wisconsin. Its core product is the Network Access Service, which delivers unlimited, unmeasured high-speed internet over a scalable, redundant backbone for a fixed annual subscription, supplemented by 24/7 Network Operations Center monitoring. The platform architecture is a backbone-plus-modules model: the network foundation is augmented by connectivity add-ons (Connect+1 redundancy, BGP multihome, TransitShare, custom private networks, regional peering and caching with Google/Netflix/Microsoft and Akamai), datacenter and colocation services (Madison facility and a shared site with Chippewa Valley Technical College), and a security portfolio (Co-Managed Firewall with Fortinet and Palo Alto Networks, Netsweeper web filtering, VIPRE penetration testing, and Securly student-safety monitoring). eduroam Wi-Fi roaming, vCISO Office Hours, bandwidth graphing, speed testing, and a member Slack community round out the engagement layer.
The business model is direct membership sales with annual subscription fees tied to organization size, mission, and needs; ancillary services are priced separately on annual contracts. WiscNet has no external ownership, no venture funding, and no public revenue disclosure, and is governed by a Board of Directors drawn from member organizations. The organization has no formal sales channel beyond direct membership and supports member engagement through annual WiscNet Connections, regional MiniConnections events, monthly Teach & Learn webinars, and a CEO Tour across Wisconsin. Strategic partners include Internet2, Merit Network, and the Quilt Consortium for research and education networking, alongside technology integrations with Palo Alto Networks, Fortinet, Netsweeper, Securly, VIPRE, and Atlassian Statuspage. Recent moves include the 2024 launch of the WiscNet Secure Platform cybersecurity initiative, the 2026 addition of Palo Alto Networks to the firewall portfolio, a 2025 brand refresh, and the launch of WiscNet Research Year 1 and a Mobile Beacon wireless pilot.
WiscNet firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- WiscNet
- Legal name
- WiscNet
- Website
- https://wiscnet.net
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1990
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- WiscNet is a Wisconsin-based nonprofit membership association operating a research and education network that provides unlimited high-speed internet, security, datacenter, and eduroam services to approximately 300 member organizations including higher education institutions, K-12 districts, libraries, municipalities, and hospitals throughout Wisconsin.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
WiscNet industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Research and Education Network Services
- NAICS
- Wired and Wireless Telecommunications (except Satellite) (5171), Wired Telecommunications Carriers (517111)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Communications Services, Nec (4899)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Managed Wi‑Fi & WLAN Services (Campus/Branch) (HDAIAGAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Network & Connectivity Support (Wi‑Fi, VPN, Dorm/Residence Network) (EDALAMAF), Wireless Network Management (Wi-Fi/RF Planning & Assurance) (HDAFAMAK), Carrier Ethernet Services (E-Line/E-LAN/E-Tree) (HDAIAFAC)
Keywords
Where WiscNet is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Madison
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
WiscNet business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Network Access Membership: Annual membership fees providing unlimited, unmeasured internet usage with scalable, high-speed redundant backbone for fixed annual fee. This is the primary revenue stream and core service offering.
- Ancillary Services: Additional services including Regional Datacenter, BGP Multihome, Security Assessment, Mobile Beacon, Co-Managed Firewall, Web Security/Filtering, Connect+1, Peering/Caching, and TransitShare services, each priced at varying annual rates
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Network Access Service - Core membership offering |
| Subscription | Annual | Regional Datacenter Service |
| Subscription | Annual | BGP Multihome Service |
| Subscription | Annual | Security Assessment Service |
| Subscription | Annual | Mobile Beacon Service |
| Subscription | Annual | Co-Managed Firewall Service |
| Subscription | Annual | Web Security and Filtering (Netsweeper) |
| Subscription | Annual | Connect +1 Service |
| Subscription | Annual | TransitShare Service |
| Subscription | Annual | Digital Student Safety (Securly) |
| Subscription | Annual | Colocation Service |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | MiniConnections Event Tickets |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels8 records
WiscNet product offering
Product offeringCore offering
WiscNet provides unlimited, unmeasured high-speed internet access and research and education networking services over a scalable, redundant backbone to member organizations in Wisconsin for a fixed annual fee. Beyond network access, it offers a portfolio of add-on services including cybersecurity (co-managed firewalls, security assessment, web filtering, digital student safety), connectivity (BGP multihome, TransitShare, Connect+1, peering and caching), datacenter and colocation services, Mobile Beacon 4G/5G, eduroam Wi-Fi roaming, and vCISO Office Hours.
Product overview
WiscNet is a nonprofit membership organization providing research and education networking services to Wisconsin institutions. Its core product is the Network Access Service offering unlimited, high-speed internet with a redundant backbone. The portfolio operates as a platform-plus-modules architecture where the network backbone serves as the foundation, with add-on services including security offerings (Co-Managed Firewall Service with Fortinet and Palo Alto Networks, Security Assessment via VIPRE, Web Security via Netsweeper, Digital Student Safety via Securly), connectivity services (Connect+1, BGP Multihome, TransitShare, Custom Private Network, Regional Peering & Caching), datacenter services (Regional Datacenter, Colocation), and member enablement services (eduroam roaming Wi-Fi, vCISO Office Hours, Bandwidth Graphs, Speed Testing, Member Chat via Slack). Events include annual WiscNet Connections and regional MiniConnections, with monthly Teach & Learn sessions covering technology topics including AI governance frameworks.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- WiscNet Network Access Service Unlimited, unmeasured high-speed internet usage over a scalable, redundant backbone for a fixed annual fee, with no increased data or transport capacity costs, for Wisconsin research and education member organizations.
- WiscNet Connect +1 Service
- WiscNet Regional Datacenter Service
- WiscNet Colocation Service
- WiscNet BGP Multihome Service
- WiscNet TransitShare Service
- WiscNet Custom Private Network Service
- WiscNet Regional Internet Peering & Caching Service
- WiscNet Co-Managed Firewall Service
- WiscNet Security Assessment Service
- WiscNet Web Security and Filtering (Netsweeper)
- WiscNet Digital Student Safety Service (Securly)
- WiscNet Mobile Beacon Service
- eduroam Wi-Fi Roaming Service
- WiscNet vCISO Office Hours
Quantifiable outcome
- Fixed annual pricing with no data cap increases or transport capacity cost increases
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use WiscNet
Customer profileNamed customers16 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
WiscNet technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration11 records
AI capability3 records
Feature4 records
WiscNet partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Chippewa Valley Technical CollegecoreCollaboration offering shared data centers for co-location and expanded opportunities. Members can choose full rack or shared space for disaster recovery, cloud services, and more.
- Internet2coreWiscNet connects Wisconsin to Internet2, a nationwide initiative where organizations from K12 through R1 research universities shape and develop the next generation of the Internet. Provides access to national research networks and collaboration opportunities.
- Quilt ConsortiumminorWiscNet participates in the Quilt Consortium for shared purchasing power, helping members access advanced networking services and solutions more effectively and affordably.
- Xerox IT SolutionsminorPartnership through Quilt Consortium for shared purchasing power of IT solutions.
- Palo Alto NetworkscoreProvides firewall devices for WiscNet's Co-Managed Firewall Service, combining WiscNet's security expertise with Palo Alto's single-pass architecture for advanced threat prevention and centralized management.
- FortinetcoreProvides firewall technology for WiscNet's Co-Managed Firewall Service, combining WiscNet's security expertise with Fortinet's threat prevention capabilities.
- Google, Netflix, MicrosoftcorePeering with major companies ensures faster and cost-effective service by keeping traffic within the WiscNet backbone. WiscNet also hosts caching servers for Akamai and Google content.
- Merit NetworkcoreMerit Network operates eduroam infrastructure that WiscNet supports as Wisconsin's eduroam Support Organization (eSO), facilitating secure global Wi-Fi roaming for research and education.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
WiscNet competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Merit Network: Michigan-based nonprofit research and education network that operates eduroam infrastructure; WiscNet is a documented strategic partner. Merit and WiscNet share the same nonprofit REN business model, member governance, and reliance on Internet2.
- MOREnet: Missouri's research and education network serving schools, libraries, and public institutions. Direct comparable in mission, member structure, and service mix (internet backbone, cybersecurity, eduroam, peering) — a single-state nonprofit REN.
- NYSERNet: New York State Education and Research Network providing high-speed connectivity, peering, and cybersecurity to institutions. Closely comparable as a nonprofit, member-governed REN offering network access, security services, and Internet2 connectivity.
- CENIC (Corporation for Education Network Initiatives in California): California's nonprofit REN serving K-12, higher education, libraries, and research institutions. Direct comparable in member-driven governance, broadband backbone services, cybersecurity offerings, and Internet2 affiliation.
- KINBER: Keystone Initiative for Network Based Education and Research in Pennsylvania. Nonprofit REN providing network connectivity and services to education, healthcare, and research institutions — same model and similar service portfolio as WiscNet.
- OARnet: Ohio's statewide research and education network providing high-speed backbone and member services. Comparable as a single-state nonprofit REN serving education, research, and public-sector institutions with similar Internet2 connectivity.
- LEARN (Lonestar Education and Research Network): Texas-based nonprofit REN providing high-speed networking to schools, universities, libraries, and hospitals. Direct comparable in mission, nonprofit member-driven model, and K-12/higher-ed/hospital customer mix.
- GPN (Great Plains Network): Consortium of Midwestern universities providing research and education networking. Multi-state REN comparable to WiscNet in serving public universities and research institutions with high-speed backbone services.
Broad incumbents
- Internet2: National nonprofit computer networking consortium that WiscNet explicitly partners with for backbone access. Internet2 is the national-level umbrella of which WiscNet and other state RENs are members; broader in scope but architecturally related.
- The Quilt: National coalition of regional research and education networks in which WiscNet participates. The Quilt is a peer consortium aggregating purchasing power across state RENs — directly connected to WiscNet's collective-bargaining model.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
WiscNet social profiles
Digital presenceWiscNet financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
WiscNet leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
WiscNet funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
WiscNet M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about WiscNet
What does WiscNet do?
WiscNet provides unlimited, unmeasured high-speed internet access and research and education networking services over a scalable, redundant backbone to member organizations in Wisconsin for a fixed annual fee. Beyond network access, it offers a portfolio of add-on services including cybersecurity (co-managed firewalls, security assessment, web filtering, digital student safety), connectivity (BGP multihome, TransitShare, Connect+1, peering and caching), datacenter and colocation services, Mobile Beacon 4G/5G, eduroam Wi-Fi roaming, and vCISO Office Hours.
Is WiscNet a public or private company?
WiscNet is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was WiscNet founded?
WiscNet was founded in 1990. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is WiscNet based?
WiscNet is headquartered in Madison, United States, in the North America region.
How does WiscNet make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Network Access Membership is the primary driver. The others are ancillary Services.
Who are WiscNet's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Merit Network, MOREnet, NYSERNet, CENIC (Corporation for Education Network Initiatives in California), KINBER, OARnet, LEARN (Lonestar Education and Research Network) and GPN (Great Plains Network). Broad incumbents are Internet2 and The Quilt.
Does WiscNet have an API?
No public API is recorded for WiscNet.
What industry is WiscNet in?
WiscNet's product category is Research and Education Network Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAIAGAB, Managed Wi‑Fi & WLAN Services (Campus/Branch), with a secondary code of EDALAMAF, Network & Connectivity Support (Wi‑Fi, VPN, Dorm/Residence Network). Its NAICS code is 5171 and its SIC code is 8600.