DANTE (Delivery of Advanced Network Technology to Europe) was established in 1993 to coordinate pan-European research and education (R&E) networking on behalf of Europe's National Research and Education Networks (NRENs). Since then our role has evolved to that of a true services innovator, incorporating network planning, procurement, build and operation, as well as coordination of research programmes and development of innovative services. Working with NREN partners and the European Commission (EC) in the GÉANT programme, the high speed networks that we build and operate connect NRENs to each other, and to the rest of the world, enabling scientists, academics, innovators and students to collaborate across dedicated networks regardless of their location.
These networks are built using leading-edge technologies to create advanced, high bandwidth infrastructure and end-to-end services that meet the needs of our partners and of their data-intensive R&E communities, facilitating collaboration and discovery by researchers around the world. As leaders in networking technology, the networks that we build and operate also act as testbeds for innovations, providing vital experiences that drive their successful adoption by commercial providers.
The research and education community is increasingly “cutting the cord” and research and education users are rapidly adopting mobile devices and a “nomadic” work style, both on and off campus. They want to be able to go online anytime and anyplace. However, the current mobile services (3GP; 3G and 4G services) supplied by commercial providers in many countries do not offer sufficient value: subscription costs are too high, data bundles (i.e. the data traffic permitted) are too low, and the mobile services are not connected to the research and education IT infrastructure. This limited and fragmented experience impedes the research and education community in their work.
Smartphones have increasingly become a standard (used by up to 80 %) with higher education students. This procurement process aims to significantly lower the costs of Smartphone usage in five countries representing 3.2 million end users.
NRENS are DANTE's principal partners in creating and providing new services for users across the research and education community. National Research and Education Networks (NRENs) are specialised internet service providers dedicated to supporting the needs of the research and education communities within their country. NRENs are usually the places where new Internet protocols and architectures are introduced before deployment within the Public Internet.
DANTE is a limited liability company and a not-for-profit organisation, owned by a group of 15 European NRENs (see Shareholders). The GÉANT network, our flagship project, not only provides a blueprint for networking and service innovation, but also showcases excellence in project management, with DANTE now managing and coordinating very large-scale projects all over the world.
DANTE is working with five NRENs (see below) on a pilot to provide mobile connectivity solutions in their countries for users within the research and education domain.
DANTE is seeking to facilitate the award of a contract between each of the five NRENS and one or more mobile connectivity service providers.
Each of the five NRENS taking part in this pilot shall be considered as a separate lot. These are:
1. Czech Republic - CESNET.
2. The Netherlands - SURFnet and SURFmarket.
3. Portugal - FCCN.
4. Spain - REDIRIS.
5. Sweden - SUNET.
DANTE have placed a voluntary OJEU notice to inform the market of this opportunity and commence procurement on behalf of the five NRENS involved. It is intended that the conclusion of the procurement procedure will result in the award of up to five Agreements between the NREN and Preferred Bidder(s). These agreements will set out the terms on which services are to be made available to R&E end users (e.g. discounts) and any obligations incurred by the NRENs in facilitating this arrangement. The End User will then sign a separate contract with the Preferred Bidder.
The procurement falls outside of public sector procurement regulations, but as DANTE and the NRENS are bodies operating in the General Interest the procurement process will follow the principles of EC Public Procurement Directives.