Case Study: HEAnet achieves high-speed broadband for 350,000 pupils and enhanced digital learning with Juniper Networks

HEAnet provides high speed broadband to over 350,000 pupils in Ireland

HEAnet, Ireland’s national education network, was tasked by the government to deliver enhanced digital learning to 730 secondary schools—bringing reliable, symmetrical 100 Mbps broadband and mandated web-filtering to urban, rural and island schools. The challenge was to do this cost-effectively across dispersed sites, meet strict child‑protection filtering requirements, and leverage HEAnet’s existing backbone within a €40M national ICT investment.

HEAnet selected Juniper Networks and partner Agile to deploy an end-to-end solution (SRX and MX platforms, Junos Space, Secure Analytics and cloud filtering) with a carefully staged rollout and pilot of 78 schools. The project resolved integration issues through close R&D collaboration, included training for HEAnet staff, and was delivered on time and under budget—now supporting improved teaching and learning for over 350,000 students and 26,000 teachers and staff.

HEAnet

Ronan Byrne

CTO, HEAnet