Nepal Research and Education Network

What Nepal Research and Education Network does

Nepal Research and Education Network (NREN) is a Kathmandu-based non-profit founded in 2007 that operates Nepal's national research and education (R&E) network backbone. It connects 30+ member institutions—universities, colleges, research bodies, hospitals, and government organizations—to regional (TEIN, APAN) and global (GÉANT) R&E networks via a 45 Mbps TEIN link, with routers, switches, wireless mesh, and VSAT infrastructure reaching remote sites. On top of this network, NREN delivers eduroam as Nepal's National Roaming Operator, the eClass platform (BigBlueButton-based video conferencing for virtual classes and telemedicine), dedicated telemedicine services connecting rural health centers with urban and international hospitals, and a glacial lake monitoring system using high-altitude field servers for GLOF early warning.

NREN's business model is a member-based non-profit: services are provided free to member institutions, and operating support comes from international grants and in-kind donations (EU-funded TEIN/Asi@Connect, APAN, NSRC, PCH) plus sponsorships from telecom providers (WorldLink, Subisu, Nepal Telecom) and equipment vendors (Ruijie). It serves four primary verticals: higher education institutions, hospitals and healthcare institutions, research institutions, and government organizations. Its go-to-market is community-led, relying on MoU signings, workshops (IPv6 deployment, eduroam configuration, telemedicine), and participation in regional events such as APAN55, which it hosted in Kathmandu in March 2023 with 450+ participants. Leadership is governed by an Executive Committee (2024-2026) chaired by Lochan Lal Amatya, and the organization is registered under Nepal's Social Welfare Council.

Name

Nepal Research and Education Network

Legal name

Nepal Research and Education Network

Website

https://nren.net.np

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Nepal Research and Education Network (NREN) is a Kathmandu-based non-profit that operates Nepal's national R&E network backbone, connecting 30+ universities, hospitals, and research institutions to global R&E networks via eduroam, eClass, telemedicine, and dedicated high-speed connectivity, funded through international grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Research and Education Networking

NAICS

Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (518), Computer Training (611420)

SIC

Radiotelephone Communications (4812)

akta.pro primary industry

Digital Learning, EdTech Enablement & Connectivity for Education (BPADAKAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Outdoor & Industrial/Rugged Wi‑Fi Access Points (HDAFACAB), Carrier & Public Venue Wi‑Fi (Hotspot/Passpoint/NGH) (HDAFACAI), Wireless, Mobility & Network Access (Wi‑Fi/NAC) (EDAOAIAM)

Keywords

• Research and education networking
• Academic network infrastructure
• Eduroam roaming services
• Telemedicine network platforms
• High-speed backbone networks

Headquarters

HQ city

Kathmandu

HQ country

Nepal

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: NREN is a non-profit member-based institution. Services are provided to member institutions (universities, colleges, research institutions, hospitals). The FAQ states 'The service is free for NREN members.' Revenue model is primarily membership-based with support from government affiliations and international partnerships.
2. International Funding and Grants: NREN receives funding from international sources including EU-funded TEIN projects, Asi@Connect, APAN, and support from organizations like Network Startup Resource Center (NSRC) and Packet Clearing House (PCH) for equipment donations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

NREN operates Nepal's only dedicated high-speed Research and Education Network backbone, providing connectivity at 45 Mbps via TEIN/APAN to regional and global R&E networks for universities, colleges, hospitals, and research institutions. On top of this backbone, NREN delivers the eClass online classroom and telemedicine platform (BigBlueButton-based), operates eduroam national roaming Wi-Fi services across 100+ countries, and runs specialized projects including Glacial Lake Monitoring and weather stations for climate research.

Product overview

NREN offers a portfolio of interconnected services centered on a dedicated high-speed Research and Education Network (R&E) backbone. The core offering is the national R&E network, which provides 45 Mbps international connectivity via TEIN/APAN and interconnects universities, colleges, hospitals, and research institutions. Built on top of this infrastructure, NREN operates eClass (a BigBlueButton-powered video conferencing platform for online learning and telemedicine) and manages eduroam roaming Wi-Fi services across member institutions. Supplementary offerings include Glacial Lake Monitoring using wireless sensor networks, and High-Speed Backbone Infrastructure deployment. The TEIN connection also enables international telemedicine sessions with partner institutions in Japan, Korea, the US, and Australia.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Eduroam: Secure, world-wide roaming access service for the international research and education community providing wireless network access across participating institutions globally

Products and services

• Research and Education Network (R&E) A dedicated high-speed national and international network backbone connecting Nepalese universities, colleges, research institutions, and hospitals to national, regional (TEIN, APAN), and global research and education networks (GÉANT) for data transfer, collaboration, and resource sharing.
• eClass An online classroom and video conferencing platform powered by BigBlueButton, supporting virtual classes, telemedicine sessions, and inter-hospital knowledge sharing across NREN member institutions. Features dedicated meeting rooms including Distant Learning, Telemedicine, and LectureSeries.
• eduroam Wi-Fi Roaming Service A secure, world-wide roaming Wi-Fi access service for the international research and education community, enabling authenticated network access at hundreds of thousands of hotspots across over 90 countries using credentials from users' home institutions. NREN serves as the National Roaming Operator for eduroam in Nepal.
• Telemedicine Services NREN supports telemedicine initiatives connecting rural health centers with urban hospitals and international medical institutions, enabling virtual consultations, remote training, and inter-hospital sharing sessions via the TEIN network and eClass platform. Includes connections with Kyushu University Hospital (Japan), Seoul National University Bundang Hospital (Korea), and University of Kansas and University of New Mexico (USA).
• Glacial Lake Monitoring System A climate change monitoring project deploying wireless sensor networks and field servers at glacial lakes (Imja Lake, Khopra, Larke) in the Himalayas at altitudes up to 5,400 meters to provide real-time data on meteorological conditions and early warning for Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOF). Includes meteorological sensors, cameras, and solar-powered equipment.
• High-Speed Backbone Infrastructure National fiber-optic and wireless network infrastructure connecting universities, colleges, and research institutions with 45 Mbps international TEIN3 connectivity and dedicated network equipment (HP Procurve switches, access routers) deployed at member sites.
• Nepal COVID-19 Surveillance System and Self-Assessment App A COVID-19 surveillance system and self-assessment mobile application developed jointly by NREN and partner organizations for Kathmandu Metropolitan City, providing self-assessment tools, 14-day health monitoring, GIS-based mapping, and a dashboard for health workers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 45 Mbps dedicated R&E connectivity to international networks
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers11 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

Integration3 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• Policy Research Institute (PRI)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 June 2024MoU signed for comprehensive research and education network, providing access to national and global R&E networks, eduroam, Zoom, and training programs.
• APNICmajorTechnology or Integration · 2 October 2023Collaborated on IPv6 Deployment Workshop in October 2023. APNIC provided instructors and technical support for training network engineers from universities and institutions.
• Telemedicine Society of Nepal (TMSoN)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 March 2019Jointly organized the 2nd National Telemedicine Workshop in March 2019, bringing together medical professionals, IT personnel, and telemedicine practitioners.
• AARNET (Australian NREN)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Supported eduroam implementation project in Nepal through TEIN funding. Provided train-the-trainer workshops and technical guidance for deploying eduroam services.
• Trans-Eurasia Information Network (TEIN)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2010NREN has been connected to TEIN since 2010, providing Nepalese research and education communities with 45 Mbps dedicated connectivity to European, American, and Asian R&E networks. TEIN connects over 45 million users at more than 8,000 research centers globally.
• Network Startup Resource Center (NSRC)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2009NSRC donated HP Procurve network switches and access routers for the High-Speed Backbone project. Provides ongoing technical support and training resources.
• Keio University, JapanmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2007Partner in Glacial Lake Monitoring project. Provided expertise and support for field server deployment and wireless network setup in the Himalayas.
• Asia Pacific Advanced Network (APAN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNREN is a primary member of APAN and connects through APAN's backbone network. NREN hosted APAN55 in Kathmandu in March 2023 with 450+ international participants.
• GÉANT (Europe)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGÉANT is the pan-European data network for research and education. Through TEIN connectivity, NREN provides access to GÉANT's network connecting 38 European NRENs.
• Asi@ConnectmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAsi@Connect supports telemedicine initiatives and network development. Provided video conferencing equipment to hospitals and supports various NREN projects.
• Packet Clearing House (PCH)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDonated access routers for network infrastructure development in Nepal.
• TEMDEC (Telemedicine Development Centre of Asia), JapanmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Kyushu University for telemedicine development. Enables regular teaching and consultative sessions with Japanese hospitals.
• phect-NEPAL/Center for Rural Healthcare & Telemedicine (CRHT)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on telemedicine workshops and rural healthcare initiatives.
• NARC Japan / Japan Aerospace Exploration AgencymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on Imja Glacial Lake monitoring project, receiving data from field servers and providing early warning systems.
• Asian Institute of Technology (AIT)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupported weather monitoring station project at Khopra and Larke hills for climate change research.
• Kyushu University Hospital, JapancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegular telemedicine sessions and medical training conducted with Kyushu University Hospital for Nepalese medical professionals.
• Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, KoreacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for medical tele-collaboration and regular surgery streaming and consultation sessions.
• University of Kansas and University of New Mexico, USAmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational telemedicine and teaching partnerships enabling knowledge exchange with US medical institutions.
• Nepal WirelesscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partner for wireless network implementation in remote areas. Jointly initiated pilot telemedicine project in 2006.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• SURF: Dutch collaborative organization for ICT in education and research, operating Netherlands' R&E network. Comparable as a national NREN providing high-speed connectivity, eduroam, and collaboration services to academic and research institutions.
• GÉANT: Pan-European data network for research and education connecting 38 European NRENs. Directly comparable as a multi-national R&E backbone operator; NREN accesses GÉANT through TEIN connectivity, making it both a partner and operational model.
• Internet2: US-based nonprofit computer networking consortium serving research and education communities. Directly comparable as a national-scale R&E network operator with member institutions, advanced connectivity services, and global peering partnerships.
• AARNet: Australia's Academic and Research Network, operating high-speed R&E infrastructure for Australian institutions. Directly comparable as a national NREN; AARNet supported NREN's eduroam deployment project and provides technical guidance, making it a mature operational peer.
• NORDUNet: Nordic infrastructure for Research and Education serving Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. Comparable as a multi-national R&E network operator providing high-speed connectivity, eduroam, and global peering for member NRENs and institutions.
• CERNET: China Education and Research Network, the national academic backbone connecting Chinese universities and research institutions. Comparable as a large-scale national NREN providing high-bandwidth R&E connectivity and federated services to academic members.
• JANET: UK's research and education network operated by Jisc, providing high-bandwidth connectivity to universities, colleges, and research bodies. Comparable as a mature national NREN offering eduroam, dedicated R&E bandwidth, and member-based services.

Regional players

• PakREN: Pakistan's Research and Education Network, providing connectivity to Pakistani universities and research institutions. Comparable as a South Asian NREN with similar mission, member model, and connection to TEIN regional backbone.
• ERNET India: India's National Research and Education Network, providing dedicated R&E connectivity to Indian academic and research institutions. Directly comparable as a South Asian NREN serving a neighboring country with similar mission, member model, and connection to TEIN/global R&E networks.
• BdREN: Bangladesh Research and Education Network, providing high-speed connectivity to Bangladeshi universities and research institutions. Closely comparable as a fellow South Asian NREN with similar scale, member-based governance, and connection to TEIN/APAN networks.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

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Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Nepal Research and Education Network