GN4-3N Project Nominated for the EU Digital Connectivity Awards
The European project that revolutionised the GÉANT network, GN4-3N, has been nominated for the prestigious European Digital Connectivity Awards 2025, an initiative promoted by the European Commission to reward projects contributing to Europe’s connectivity goals. At GARR, we are pleased to share this nomination, which recognises the innovative capacity of the national research and education networking community.
A cutting-edge network across Europe
Co-funded by the European Union and the national research and education networks (NRENs) with a total budget of €50.5 million, between 2019 and 2023 GN4-3N delivered the most significant upgrade of the GÉANT backbone in the past decade. Thanks to a shared and forward-looking vision, GN4-3N transformed the network into a “terabit-capable” infrastructure, able to sustain the projected annual data traffic growth of 30% over the next 15 years.
The project also contributed to building a more inclusive and resilient network infrastructure, playing a key role in bridging the digital divide and promoting equitable access across all GÉANT member countries. As a result, GN4-3N has provided a network infrastructure that significantly strengthens European digital autonomy.
The project’s figures speak for themselves: 69 new routes completed, more than 26,000 km of dark fibre and spectrum lit, fibre connectivity extended from 14 to 34 countries, 405 new nodes installed and 50 legacy links decommissioned.
GARR’s contribution
GARR actively contributed to the design of the new network model and played a strategic role in strengthening the European optical backbone. The connection with GÉANT was upgraded from 200 to 600 Gbps, with direct links to CERN in Geneva and CNAF in Bologna.
Shared vision and innovation
GN4-3N embodied the concept of the network as a common good: flexible, open, resilient. The active participation of European NRENs enabled the extension of coverage from 14 to 34 countries, ensuring a minimum capacity of 100 Gbps for all networks involved and strengthening European digital cohesion.
Looking ahead to the European Digital Connectivity Awards final
The European Digital Connectivity Awards initiative, organised by DG CONNECT, aims to recognise successful infrastructures and projects that contribute to the development of digital networks in Europe, thus supporting the objectives of the European Digital Decade.
Alongside GN4-3N, a further eight candidates have been selected across three categories: Excellence and Innovation in Gigabit-Ready Infrastructure Deployment, Champions in Tackling the Digital Divide in Rural and Remote Areas, and Cross-Border and International Connectivity, the category in which the GÉANT project has been shortlisted.
The winners will be announced during the awards ceremony that will be held in Brussels on 7 October 2025 from 16:15 to 17:30). The event will be live streamed via the Streaming Service of the European Commission and will subsequently be featured on the Shaping Europe’s Digital Future website.
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