REUNA

REUNA
Name	REUNA
Founded	1994
Headquarters	Santiago, Chile
Services	Research and education network, Internet connectivity, Grid computing
Region served	Chile

REUNA REUNA is a Chilean national research and education network established in 1994 to interconnect universities, research centers, and educational institutions across Chile. It provides high-capacity network infrastructure, advanced services for scientific collaboration, and participation in regional and international research networks. REUNA supports initiatives that link Chilean institutions with organizations across the Americas, Europe, and Asia, enabling projects in astronomy, earth sciences, health research, and high-performance computing.

History

REUNA was created amid Latin American efforts to build dedicated academic backbones similar to Internet2 and GEANT. Early milestones included linking major Chilean universities such as Universidad de Chile and Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile to regional networks like RedCLARA and continental initiatives such as ALICE2. Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, REUNA expanded its footprint by deploying dark fiber and leased lines to connect cities including Santiago, Valparaíso, Concepción, and Antofagasta. Important collaborative events involved partnerships with international organizations like National Science Foundation projects, exchanges with European Commission research programs, and participation in meetings with Latin American Internet Addresses Registry stakeholders. Over time, REUNA evolved its services from basic connectivity to advanced offerings including IPv6 transition, multicast, and identity federation compatible with eduGAIN frameworks.

Organization and Governance

REUNA operates as a non-profit association governed by a board representing member institutions such as Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Universidad de Valparaíso, and specialized research centers like Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María. Governance structures include technical committees, membership assemblies, and an executive director accountable to the board and stakeholders including ministries such as Ministry of Science, Technology, Knowledge and Innovation (Chile). Policy development has been informed by standards bodies and organizations like Internet Engineering Task Force, International Telecommunication Union, and regional consortia such as RedCLARA’s governing council. Advisory relationships have been maintained with national regulators including Subsecretaría de Telecomunicaciones (Chile) and international funders like World Bank programs supporting digital infrastructure.

Network Infrastructure and Services

REUNA built a metropolitan and national fiber backbone interconnecting research campuses, data centers, and observatories such as ALMA partner sites and facilities supporting Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory collaborations. Core services include high-bandwidth IP transit, dedicated lambda circuits, virtual private networking used by projects like LHC data transfers and grid computing linked to EELA initiatives. REUNA offers identity and access management interoperable with eduGAIN and supports collaboration tools, remote instrumentation, and data repositories used by institutions such as Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso and Universidad Austral de Chile. The network design incorporates routing and switching practices from standards promoted by IETF and network monitoring consistent with RIPE NCC and ARIN operational norms. REUNA also provides peering and interconnection with commercial carriers and research backbones like RedCLARA and AmLight to improve latency for trans-Pacific and trans-Atlantic research traffic.

Collaborations and Partnerships

REUNA has forged collaborations with regional research networks including RedCLARA, continental projects such as AMPATH, and international partners like Internet2 and GEANT. Scientific collaborations leverage partnerships with observatories and institutes including European Southern Observatory, National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, and university consortia such as Consortium for the Advancement of Research Computing. REUNA engages with funding and capacity-building partners such as Inter-American Development Bank, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, and technology vendors including Cisco Systems and Juniper Networks for infrastructure projects. Academic collaborations span institutions like Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of California, Berkeley, University of Oxford, and regional universities throughout Latin America to support research in astronomy, climate science, and bioinformatics.

Impact and Contributions

REUNA’s infrastructure has enabled Chilean participation in major international science projects such as ALMA, gravitational wave follow-ups with networks linked to LIGO, and large-scale climate modeling collaborations with centers like CICERO. By providing low-latency links and data services, REUNA has facilitated publications and data sharing among institutions including Universidad de Concepción and Universidad de La Frontera, contributing to increased research output and international collaborations. Educational impacts include support for distance learning programs at universities such as Universidad de Antofagasta and teacher training initiatives tied to national STEM efforts with ministries and agencies. REUNA’s technical capacity building has strengthened national expertise in network engineering, cybersecurity practices aligned with FIRST, and federated identity management used by academic portals and digital libraries.

Funding and Membership

REUNA’s funding model combines membership fees from universities and research institutions, grants from national agencies including Agencia Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo (ANID), and project-based financing from international donors such as World Bank and regional development banks. Membership includes public and private universities, research centers, and cultural institutions; notable members encompass Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, Universidad Católica del Norte, and national laboratories. Strategic investments have been supported by partnerships with commercial carriers and equipment vendors under procurement frameworks compatible with Chilean public procurement laws and multilateral funding conditions.

Category:Research and education networks