The China Education and Research Network (CERNET) is the first nationwide education and research computer network in China. The CERNET project is funded by the Chinese government and directly managed by the Chinese Ministry of Education. It is constructed and operated by Tsinghua and other leading universities.

CERNET has a four-layer hierarchy (the nation-wide backbone, regional networks, provincial networks and campus networks). CERNET National Center is located in Tsinghua University, which is responsible for operation and management of CERNET backbone nationwide. The ten regional network centers and main nodes are distributed in Tsinghua University, Beijing University, Beijing University of Post and Telecommunication, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Central China University of Science and Technology, South China Institute of Technology, China University of Electronic Science, Southeast University and Northeast University, which are responsible for operation, management, planning and construction of CERNET regional backbones.

CERNET provincial nodes are distributed among 38 universities in 36 cities around the country but Taiwan.

By the end of 2000, bandwidth of CERNET backbone has been up to 2.5Gbps. CERNET has 12 global and regional channels connected with the United States, Canada, the U.K., Germany, Japan and Hokong, the international gateway bandwidth over 250Mbps. The transmission rate of the regional networks has reached 155Mbps. More than 900 education and research institutions, 1.2 million PC's and 8 million users have connected to CERNET.

At present, CERNET has been powered to allow access by most higher education institutions nationwide. CERNET backbone upgrade and expansion have been accomplished in eight regions. The large-scale China Education Information System has been built up. Mirroring systems for discipline-specific information of famous overseas universities, and a full-text search system for higher education and key subject information will soon be set up.

CERNET is an important platform for China's remote learning initiative. To accommodate demands of distance learning program as defined in Education Revitalizing Initiative Oriented to 21st Century, CERNET high-speed backbone was started in 1999. By leveraging the existing fiber infrastructure and resources from state and local treasury, CERNET has completed 40% of the 20,000KM high-speed transmission link crossing 29 provincial capitals, and cut over the 2.5G high-speed trunks from Beijing via Wuhan to Guangzhou, and from Wuhan via Nanjing to Shanghai. Nowadays, the medium-to-high-speed regional network (155M) connecting 21 cities is just under construction. Some 40 to 50 universities and colleges have accessed to CERNET backbone at speed of 10M to 100M.

As a pioneer in Internet study in China, CERNET, a computer network independently designed, constructed and managed by technical personnel at home, is technologically powerful. In network construction, CERNET attaches highest importance to network security. In 1999, CERNET set up China's first network contingency response center called CCERT. Up to date, CCERT has handled more than 2000 network security cases, efficiently ensuring normal operation of CERNET and advancing CERNET management.

CERNET is also the experiment platform for China to proceed with study on next generation of Internet applications. Relying on current network facilities and technical competence, CERNET has set up the IPV6, an experiment platform with nationwide coverage. In 1998, CERNET joined IPV6-6BONE, an experimental IP-based network of next generation, and became a backbone member of it in November. CERNET is the first in China that interconnects with Internet2, the next generation of Internet, providing its users with an easy access to Internet2.

CERNET is an important cultivation base for information and network professionals in China. For example, in the study program for computer information network and its application in the "State Key Sci-tech Breakthrough Project during Ninth Five-Year Plan Period", researchers from CERNET and other partner organizations published more than one hundred academic papers both at home and abroad, representing a significant achievement in IT competence fostering.

CERNET supports and guarantees implementation of a batch of important Internet application projects in China. For example, the on-line enrollment and admission system played a crucial role in the 2000 admission season around the country.

CERNET enhances the information infrastructure in China, shortens the gap between China and the west in information industry, and plays a pioneer role in China's information initiative.