ARE-ON

What ARE-ON does

ARE-ON (Arkansas Research and Education Optical Network) is a non-profit membership consortium operating a purpose-built, 2,200-mile fiber-optic network backbone across Arkansas with geographically diverse points of presence in Tulsa, Oklahoma and Dallas, Texas. The organization serves 39+ member institutions and 60+ sites, primarily Arkansas public and private four-year universities, two-year colleges, and select healthcare and public safety organizations. Its core technical platform delivers 1Gbps, 10Gbps, and 100Gbps unlimited-bandwidth connections with direct peering to major content providers (Google, Apple, Microsoft, Netflix), 24x7 Network Operations Center monitoring, DDoS protection, and dedicated multi-gigabit private connections to Amazon AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud via Internet2. As the only provider in Arkansas with direct access to Internet2 and national research networks, ARE-ON is a member of regional collaborations including MUS-IX (founded February 2020), the Great Plains Network, and The QUILT consortium for purchasing leverage.

ARE-ON was founded through state-funded planning in 2005 and formalized as a consortium in December 2009 via MOU among 12 Arkansas institutions; the first institution was connected in December 2006. The network achieved transformational scale in 2010 when ARE-ON received $41.2 million of a $102 million NTIA Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) award to complete connections to remaining higher-education institutions and build the Arkansas e-Link state-wide telehealth backbone in partnership with UAMS. The consortium is governed by a 16-member board of directors composed of presidents and chancellors of Arkansas higher-education institutions, and is administratively supported by the University of Arkansas System while operating as a self-funded, independently governed entity.

The business model is a subscription/membership consortium: members pay recurring fees for core network services and absorb one-time and ongoing costs for fiber construction, circuit leases, and equipment. Revenue is supplemented by optional paid services including managed border routers (available on three- or five-year terms), network design consulting at $150/hour, private member cloud connectivity, and specialized peering services. The go-to-market is enterprise field sales into a highly constrained, captive market of Arkansas anchor institutions, with no external distribution or resale channels and no third-party reseller ecosystem.

Name

ARE-ON

Legal name

Arkansas Research and Education Optical Network

Website

https://areon.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

ARE-ON is a non-profit membership consortium operating a 2,200-mile fiber-optic research and education network across Arkansas, serving 39+ member institutions including public/private universities, community colleges, hospitals, and public safety organizations with up to 100Gbps connectivity, Internet2 access, and managed cloud services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Research and Education Network Services

NAICS

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

SIC

Computer Communications Equipment (3576)

akta.pro primary industry

Rural Broadband & Cooperative Fiber Operators (HDAIACAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wholesale Wavelength, Spectrum & Dark Fiber Providers (IRU/Leases) (HDAIALAI), Rural & Universal Service Fixed Broadband Providers (HDAIABAJ), Structured Cabling & Fiber Backbone Installation (EDAEAHAB)

Keywords

• Research and education networks
• Fiber-optic network services
• High-bandwidth connectivity
• Cloud network access
• Telemedicine network infrastructure

Headquarters

HQ city

Fayetteville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: ARE-ON is self-funded through membership fees and other revenues. Members pay recurring fees for network services, with one-time and recurring connection costs including construction, circuit and fiber leases, and other connection fees being the member's responsibility.
2. Network Connection Services: Revenue generated from providing fiber-connected main sites, dedicated private circuit connections, and additional member site connections with varying bandwidth options (1Gbps, 10Gbps, 100Gbps).
3. Optional Services: Optional paid services including managed border routers ($150 per hour for network design consultation), peering with specialty networks, private member cloud, and cloud provider connections.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

ARE-ON operates a purpose-built, high-throughput fiber-optic research and education network backbone traversing Arkansas with 2,200 miles of fiber covering 58 locations across five states, offering up to 100Gbps unlimited bandwidth connections to member institutions. The service provides direct access to tier-1 internet services, national research networks like Internet2, and low-latency connections to cloud providers (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud) and content providers (Google, Apple, Microsoft, Netflix). Delivered through a membership consortium model for higher education, healthcare, and public safety organizations.

Product overview

ARE-ON is a technology services organization that operates a statewide research and education fiber-optic network in Arkansas. The core offering is the ARE-ON Network, a purpose-built high-throughput network backbone with 2,200 miles of fiber connecting over 60 institutional sites across Arkansas, with points of presence in Tulsa, OK and Dallas, TX. This core network is complemented by Cloud Connections (enabling direct access to AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud), Managed Services (technical support and equipment management), and Membership Services (base benefits including unlimited bandwidth, DOS protection, 24x7 NOC, and access to national research networks like Internet2). The services are delivered through a membership consortium model for higher education, healthcare, and public safety organizations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ARE-ON Network A purpose-built, highly resilient fiber-optic network backbone traversing Arkansas with points of presence in Tulsa, OK and Dallas, TX, delivering up to 100Gbps, 10Gbps, or 1Gbps unlimited bandwidth with direct access to tier-1 internet services and national research networks for member institutions.
• Membership Services Base member benefits package including unlimited bandwidth, access to tier-1 internet carriers, national research networks (Internet2, ESNet), denial-of-service mitigation, 24x7 NOC support, and member-to-member connections.
• Managed Services Technical services including managed equipment services, telecommunications project consultation, and technology deployments provided by ARE-ON's technical staff.
• Cloud Connections Friction-free access to national points of presence for internet content providers through direct peering and partnerships, including private multi-gigabit connections to public cloud infrastructure like Azure, AWS, and Google Cloud.
• Site Connection Services Fiber-connected main sites with dual redundant connections (1Gbps, 10Gbps, or 100Gbps), dedicated private circuit connections, and additional site connectivity options for member institutions.
• Managed Border Routers ARE-ON installs and manages border routers required to connect sites to the ARE-ON Network Platform, available for three or five-year terms with costs dependent on number of sites and connectivity speed.
• Private Member Cloud Private network cloud connectivity from member site to select members or service provider locations, enabling secure private network connections.
• E-Link Telemedicine Network Access to the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences' (UAMS) telemedicine network for healthcare member institutions, providing state-wide telehealth backbone via Arkansas e-Link Network.

Quantifiable outcome

• Connected more than 39 separate member institutions and several dozen healthcare and higher-education sites around Arkansas
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• MUS-IX (Midsouth U.S. Internet Exchange)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 February 2020Regional collaboration of state-based research networks including ARE-ON, LEARN (Lonestar Education and Research Network), Louisiana Optical Network Infrastructure (LONI), and OneNet. Founded in February 2020 to support advanced network connectivity across member states.
• UAMS Institute for Digital Health & Innovation E-Link Telemedicine NetworkflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2010ARE-ON is the founding partner and primary network aggregator for UAMS E-Link network. Founded in 2010 with a $102 million award, ARE-ON continues to provide network services for this foundation telemedicine network in Arkansas.
• Internet2coreTechnology or IntegrationCommunity providing cloud solutions, research support and services tailored for Research and Education. Their trusted, secure network empowers higher education, research institutions, government entities and cultural organizations. ARE-ON is the only provider in Arkansas with access to Internet2.
• Great Plains Network (GPN)coreTechnology or IntegrationARE-ON is a network connector of GPN, supporting advanced network connectivity for Arkansas university partners to the 26 members of GPN and Internet2.
• The QUILTcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCollaborative organization of research and education networks (RENs). ARE-ON is a member providing access to consortium purchasing contracts and extended network reach through the QUILT network.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Merit Network: Michigan-based non-profit research and education network providing fiber connectivity, cybersecurity, and community technology services. Closely comparable mission and member-owned consortium model serving education, healthcare, and government.
• OneNet: Oklahoma's research and education network providing high-bandwidth fiber connectivity to education, research, and healthcare institutions. Direct peer sharing the same consortium model, anchor-institution mission, and MUS-IX regional partnership.
• CENIC (Corporation for Education Network Initiatives in California): California's non-profit research and education network serving universities, K-12, libraries, and research institutions. Larger scale peer with the same consortium model and anchor-institution mission as ARE-ON.
• MCNC: North Carolina non-profit operating the NC Research and Education Network (NCREN). Operates an equivalent state-wide fiber backbone serving education, healthcare, and public safety with similar consortium governance and funding model.
• NYSERNet: New York-based non-profit research and education network providing high-speed connectivity and services to universities, research institutions, and cultural organizations. Equivalent mission and operating model in a different geographic region.
• LEARN (Lonestar Education and Research Network): Texas-based non-profit research and education network operating fiber infrastructure to connect higher-ed, healthcare, and research institutions. Direct peer to ARE-ON as a co-founding member of the MUS-IX regional exchange with a similar consortium model and state-wide scope.
• LONI (Louisiana Optical Network Infrastructure): Louisiana's state-wide research and education optical network serving universities, research institutions, and healthcare organizations. Direct peer operating an equivalent consortium fiber model in a neighboring state and fellow MUS-IX co-founding member.
• Great Plains Network (GPN): Consortium of regional research and education networks across the central U.S., of which ARE-ON is a network connector. GPN provides interconnection and shared services among member RENs, making it a peer network organization in the same ecosystem.

Broad incumbents

• Internet2: National non-profit computer networking community for research and education. ARE-ON relies on Internet2 for cloud connectivity and research network access; Internet2 is the broader national umbrella under which ARE-ON operates for cross-state R&E traffic.
• The Quilt: National coalition of regional research and education networks (of which ARE-ON is a member). The Quilt is not a network operator itself but a peer consortium organization providing collective purchasing, policy advocacy, and shared services to member RENs like ARE-ON.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/theareon
• Facebookfacebook.com/Arkansas-Research-and-Education-Optical-Network-110316024802277
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/arkansas-research-and-education-optical-network

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about ARE-ON