The changing relation between
the NREN and the government in Hungary
Bálint Lajos, NIIF Institute
<[email protected]>
TERENA TF-MSP meeting
Alcala de Henares, 6-7 May 2013
ContentsNemzeti Információs Infrastruktúra Fejlesztési Intézet
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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
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NIIFI and the government
TF-MSP 6-7 May 2013
Alcala
NIIFI & HungarNet
status
andFejlesztési
history
Nemzeti Információs
Infrastruktúra
Intézet
 NIIF Institute
o top-down hierarchy
o government control, funding (100 % … 50 %)
o independent execution (development & operation)
 HungarNet
o bottom-up hierarchy
o membership control, no funding
o independent representation of user interest
 status
o independent legal entities
o close cooperation, joint actions
 history
 periodic fighting for survival (changing governments …)
 alternate focus on NIIFI or HungarNet – depending on risks
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NIIFI and the government
TF-MSP 6-7 May 2013
Alcala
Embedding
and
wider
environment
Nemzeti
Információs
Infrastruktúra
Fejlesztési Intézet
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 …)
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NIIFI and the government
TF-MSP 6-7 May 2013
Alcala
Recent overall
changes
Nemzeti Információs
Infrastruktúra Fejlesztési Intézet
 Recent overall changes in Hungary
o General elections every 4 years (latest: Mid-2010, abs.majority)
o Intention of increasing government control
o Deprivatisation, mergers … decreasing freedom in operations
 Recent overall changes in NREN roles / functions
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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 …)
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NIIFI and the government
TF-MSP 6-7 May 2013
Alcala
The late Nemzeti
2010Információs
bomb in
Hungary
Infrastruktúra
Fejlesztési Intézet
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:
o letters, discussions
o 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
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NIIFI and the government
TF-MSP 6-7 May 2013
Alcala
Final (?)Nemzeti
outcome
early
2013 Fejlesztési Intézet
Információs
Infrastruktúra
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
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NIIFI and the government
TF-MSP 6-7 May 2013
Alcala
Advantages
disavantages
+ Lessons
Nemzetiand
Információs
Infrastruktúra Fejlesztési
Intézet
Of course nothing is perfect …
 Advantages:
o stable e-Infrastructure
o promising sustainability
 Disadvantages:
o staff shortage
o Jolly Joker functions
o horizontal opening questionable (children rather than innovators)
Lessons learned / to learn:
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8
”never give up”
”be continuously alerted”
”act/react immediately” and ”apply your weapons”
”try to keep political independence”
NIIFI and the government
TF-MSP 6-7 May 2013
Alcala
Here we are
atInformációs
the moment
…Fejlesztési Intézet
Nemzeti
Infrastruktúra
Challenging but difficult … 
Difficult but challenging … 
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NIIFI and the government
TF-MSP 6-7 May 2013
Alcala