Videoconferencing in Dutch Higher Education

SURFnet the Dutch NREN

SURFnet is the Dutch National Research & Education Network (NREN)-Services, innovation, knowledge-Not for profit-Task organisation of Stichting SURF = ICT collaboration of higher education & research

A small operation serving a large community:-85 employees-160 connected institutions-1 million end-users

2

SURFnet is part of the SURF family

SURFnet - We make innovation work3

Two result areas

Network infrastructure A hybrid fixed-wireless network as the basis for all collaboration, providing efficient, unlimited data transport

Collaboration infrastructurea pioneering collaboration environment that seamlessly connects systems, services, tools, and people

SURFnet. We make innovation work4

Researchers, instructors, and students work together simply and effectively

with the aid of ICT

Vision

SURFnet vision on innovation

SURFnet promotes, develops, and operates a trusted, connecting ICT infrastructure that facilitates optimum use of the possibilities offered by ICT. SURFnet is thus the driving force behind ICT-based innovation in higher education and research in the Netherlands.

If a showcase service is successful, the role of SURFnet as a service provider for these temporary ICT services must be taken over by the market.

Videoconferencingat SURFnet

2001 ?

Demo service HDVC

2009 2012

Full service

http://www.surfcontact.nl

?

VC in 2001

VC in 2001

VC in 2012

40 ports HD MCU

VC in 2012

SURFcontact

Functionalities

- Videoconferencing with groups

- Sharing data and applications

- Live streaming and recording

- Videoconferencing through the firewall

Open Standards

- Transport = IP

- Protocol = H323/SIP/H460

- Quality= HD

- Numberplan= GDS/E.164

http://www.surfcontact.nl

Remember our position on innovation?

Market Analysis 2011

- HD Videoconferencing is offered as a service by a number of vendors in the Dutch market

- Managed Videoconferencing services are mostly network agnostic

- Vendors try to be device agnostic as well, but are sometimes forced by hardware suppliers to make certain choices

- Pricing models differ among vendors. SURFcontact is unique in offering flat fee combined with the possibility of guest usage.

SURFcontact 2012

Market analysisMarket analysis

User inputUser input

Continue after April 1th 2012?

Continue after April 1th 2012?

Scenario‘Continue’Scenario

‘Continue’

Scenario‘Stop’

Scenario‘Stop’

YesYes

NoNo

Usage of SURFcontact

Usage of SURFcontact

31 dec 2012 Phase out of SURFcontact

Migrate current users

User profiles Vendor responses Actual migration

6 vendors are offering competitive services

Middleware:Single sign onEnable teamsOpenSocial

Users & Identity providers:InstitutionsVirtual OrganisationsEnd users

Service Providers:CommercialNon commercial

What’s next?

Supporting Services•SURFfederatie•SURFteams•OpenSocial

SURFconext

Dutch Institutions &the use of VC

Example:

Expert op afstand

Dutch Institutions &the use of VC

Example:

LION

Dutch Institutions &the use of VC

Example:

- Combined Master from 3 universities

Dutch Institutions on the use of VC

Some general comments-More and more instutions see daily use of VC-Many institutions use VC in their curricula to collaborate with international partners-VC is also used for int. research collaboration-VC is essential for virtual organisations-Contact with patients via VC-Teleclasses with live feed from operation room-Additional VC classrooms to facilitate larger groups of students-HDVC is superior to Skype regarding group meetings

Dutch Institutions on the use of VC

Some issues-More integration with desktop/mobile clients and high quality VC-Accesibility – everyone should find VC-eq intuitive to use-Flawless operation – too often technical support is necessary-Sound quality in larger rooms-Little interaction between teacher and large groups of students

Albert Hankelalbert.hankel@surfnet.nl

www.surfnet.nl

Presentation released under Creative Commonshttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Be green, read from the screen