Case Study: SURFnet achieves an automated, open, programmable network for Dutch universities and researchers with Juniper Networks

Surfnet Builds Open, Programmable Network to Better Serve Dutch Universities and Researchers

SURFnet is the Dutch national research and education network serving 190 institutions and 1.5 million students, researchers, and staff. Facing growing demands for reliable, high‑performance connectivity and rapid, on‑demand services, SURFnet set out to build SURFnet8: an open, software‑driven, fully automated network that could support large research data flows and provide self‑service access for diverse educational use cases.

SURFnet deployed a Juniper‑based solution—MX Series 5G Universal Routing Platforms (including MX2008, MX960, MX480, MX240, MX204), Contrail, the NorthStar Controller, vSRX virtual firewall, and tools like AppFormix—using segment routing, TI‑LFA, 100–400 Gbps optical transport, and standardized APIs with in‑house orchestration. The result is automated service deployment, higher service levels and utilization, a multifaceted self‑service portal (including firewall‑as‑a‑service pilots), and a position at the forefront of network automation and programmability.

SURFnet

Ruben van den Brink

Head of Network Services