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The changing relation between the NREN and the government in Hungary

The changing relation between the NREN and the government in Hungary. Bálint Lajos, NIIF Institute <lajos.balint@niif.hu>. TERENA TF-MSP meeting Alcala de Henares, 6-7 May 2013. Contents. NIIFI & Hungarnet status and history Embedding and wider environment

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The changing relation between the NREN and the government in Hungary

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  1. The changing relation betweenthe NREN and the government in Hungary Bálint Lajos, NIIF Institute <lajos.balint@niif.hu> TERENA TF-MSP meeting Alcala de Henares, 6-7 May 2013

  2. Contents • NIIFI & Hungarnet status and history • Embedding and wider environment • Recent overall changes in Hungary • Recent overall changes in NREN roles / functions • Warning signals to NRENs in Europe • The bomb in Hungary at late 2010 • NIIFI’s 2011-2012 fight for freedom and liberty • Final (?) outcome early 2013 • Advantages and disadvantages • Lessons to learn

  3. NIIFI & HungarNet status and history • NIIF Institute • top-down hierarchy • government control, funding (100 % … 50 %) • independent execution (development & operation) • HungarNet • bottom-up hierarchy • membership control, no funding • independent representation of user interest • status • independent legal entities • close cooperation, joint actions • history • periodic fighting for survival (changing governments …) • alternate focus on NIIFI or HungarNet – depending on risks

  4. Embedding and wider environment Government control and funding of NIIFI • Changing umbrella ministry in every 4 year (Education, Industry, Economy … Academy … Development) • Repeated informal govt. testing of NIIFI loyalty and fairness • Repeated trial of discontinuing / commercialising / merging NIIFI • Central funding increased until late 90’s, decreasing since then Changing relations to commercial operators (partnership / competition) • Technology and macro market (since TEN-34)  • Micro market (10K … 700K … 2500K users)  Good luck: • Definite continuous willingness of keeping political neutrality • Single organisation (NIIFI) comprising complete e-Infrastructure (networking, grids, clouds, HPC, VRC, data …)

  5. Recent overall changes • Recent overall changes in Hungary • General elections every 4 years (latest: Mid-2010, abs.majority) • Intention of increasing government control • Deprivatisation, mergers … decreasing freedom in operations • Recent overall changes in NREN roles / functions • Vertical opening (new e-Infrastructure functions, wider portfolio) • Horizontal opening (widening user community: govt., health, PPP) • Changing attitude / habit (focus on innovation, friendliness …) • Changing priorities (sustainability, stability, business models) • Warning signals to NRENs in Europe • RoEduNet, FuNet, FCCN … (govt. reactions to crisis etc.) • different responses (from fighting to resignation …)

  6. The late 2010 bomb in Hungary Draft Government Decree 346/2010: • Intention of integrating all public ICT functions (govt., taxation, army, police, fire brigade, ambulance, …) • NIIFI among the involved organisations (!) Fight for jointly acceptable / agreeable solution (freedom & liberty): • Immediate start early 2011 • NIIFI not alone trying to escape • Dozens of actions during 2011-2012: • letters, discussions • modification requests, suggested alternative text versions Our major weapons (references): • International relations (eligibility), projects (contracts), funds (eg.SF) • Internal responsibilities (research, education), risks (degradation) • HungarNet in the background

  7. Final (?) outcome early 2013 Background parallel happenings: • Discontinued ICT support by incumbent (govt. intention) • Plans for separate govt.network on MVM DF background (el.comp.) • NIIFI discussions with MVM on DF IRU Outcome: • NIIFI CEF DWDM optical backbone on MVM DF • NIIFI equipment + NIIFI mgmt. – free capacity (60%) offered to MVM • MVM free capacity (managed by NIIFI) offered to govt. (expertise!) • Independent NIIFI operation, limited contribution to govt.backbone Additional elements of the early 2013 solution: • Schoolnet (Sulinet in Hungary) overtaken by NIIFI (5000 / 1,8M) • Community net (Koznet in Hungary) of libraries, e-Hungary nodes too • Modified 346/2010 (on govt.networks) govt.decree approved • Modified 5/2011 (on NIIFI) govt.decree approved

  8. Advantages and disavantages + Lessons Of course nothing is perfect … • Advantages: • stable e-Infrastructure • promising sustainability • Disadvantages: • staff shortage • Jolly Joker functions • horizontal opening questionable (children rather than innovators) Lessons learned / to learn: • ”never give up” • ”be continuously alerted” • ”act/react immediately” and ”apply your weapons” • ”try to keep political independence”

  9. Here we are at the moment … Challenging but difficult …  Difficult but challenging … 

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