Ontario Research and Innovation Optical Network

The Ontario Research and Innovation Optical Network, commonly known as ORION, is a not-for-profit high-speed optical network serving Ontario's research, education and public-interest institutions. It was established in 2001 with support from the Government of Ontario, initially under the name The Optical Regional Advanced Network of Ontario, or ORANO. The organization was developed to provide advanced connectivity for institutions whose requirements extend beyond ordinary commercial Internet access, including research collaboration, digital learning, data-intensive scientific work and links to national and international research networks. ORION's service area covers Ontario and includes virtually all of the province's universities, most colleges, numerous school boards, teaching hospitals, medical research centres, public research facilities and library-related institutions. Its network spans approximately 6,000 kilometres and reaches 28 communities. The reference description identifies almost 100 organizations and special projects connected directly to ORION, including 21 universities, 22 colleges, 34 school boards representing approximately two million students, and 13 teaching hospitals and medical research centres. These connections create a shared infrastructure for institutions that need dependable, high-capacity communications for education, research, healthcare-related collaboration and innovation. The network is part of a broader Canadian and international research-and-education ecosystem. ORION connects with other Canadian and international research networks through CANARIE, Canada's national research and education network. The exchange with CANARIE takes place at the Toronto Internet Exchange, giving participating Ontario institutions access to wider research infrastructure beyond the province. ORION was initially funded by the Government of Ontario, with additional support from CANARIE and contributions from public- and private-sector organizations and institutions. Its operating model is self-sustaining rather than dependent solely on continuing government appropriations. Revenue is generated from connected institutions through user-access fees and network-based services. Governance is provided by a board that includes representatives from education, research and business, reflecting the network's cross-sector role. In April 2023, Greater Toronto Area Network, commonly known as GTAnet, merged with ORION. The merger further aligned Ontario's research and education connectivity infrastructure under the ORION organization. ORION also hosts the annual THINK Conference and presents ORION Leadership Awards, recognizing individuals and groups that have advanced the use of collaborative and advanced technologies in research, education, innovation and discovery. The organization therefore functions not only as a connectivity provider but also as a convening and recognition platform for Ontario's digital research and learning community.

ORION was created in 2001 as The Optical Regional Advanced Network of Ontario, abbreviated ORANO. Its formation was supported by the Government of Ontario under Premier Mike Harris, which helped establish a province-wide optical network dedicated to research and education. The initiative reflected the need for Ontario institutions to share high-capacity communications infrastructure and to participate in national and international research networking. After its creation, the organization operated as a not-for-profit corporation rather than as a conventional commercial telecommunications provider. Its governance structure included representatives from education, research and business, giving participating sectors a role in overseeing the network. Initial financial support came from the Government of Ontario, supplemented by CANARIE and by public- and private-sector organizations and institutions. ORION subsequently adopted a self-sustaining operating model in which connected institutions provide revenue through access fees and network-based services. The network developed into a major institutional communications platform for Ontario. Its optical-fibre infrastructure spans approximately 6,000 kilometres and connects 28 communities. Directly connected participants include universities, colleges, school boards, teaching hospitals, medical research centres, public research facilities and library-related organizations. The stated network population includes 21 universities, 22 colleges, 34 school boards representing approximately two million students, and 13 teaching hospitals and medical research centres, as well as other educational and research projects. ORION's role extends beyond provincial connectivity. Through CANARIE, it links Ontario institutions to research and education networks elsewhere in Canada and internationally. The interconnection with CANARIE occurs at the Toronto Internet Exchange, providing a route into the wider global research-and-education networking environment. The organization has also supported collaboration and community-building around advanced network use. It hosts the annual THINK Conference and presents ORION Leadership Awards. These activities recognize the use of collaborative technologies in research, education, innovation and discovery, and give the organization a role in highlighting projects and leaders associated with Ontario's digital infrastructure. A significant organizational change occurred in April 2023, when GTAnet merged with ORION. The merger brought the Greater Toronto Area research and education network into the ORION organization and represented a consolidation of regional and provincial connectivity capabilities. ORION remains a not-for-profit research and education network serving Ontario institutions and connecting them to broader Canadian and international infrastructure.

1. 2023GTAnet merges with ORION

   In April 2023, Greater Toronto Area Network, or GTAnet, merges with ORION, bringing the two organizations' research and education networking activities together.

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2. 2001ORION is established as ORANO

   The Optical Regional Advanced Network of Ontario, or ORANO, is founded with support from the Government of Ontario to provide optical networking for research and education institutions.

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A shared, not-for-profit advanced network infrastructure provider for Ontario's research, education, healthcare-related research and public-sector communities, differentiated from ordinary commercial connectivity by its institutional focus and integration with national and global research networks.

• ORION optical research and education networkOptical telecommunications network2001

  ORION's core offering is a high-speed optical-fibre network for Ontario's research and education community. The network spans approximately 6,000 kilometres and connects 28 communities. It provides participating universities, colleges, school boards, hospitals, research facilities and other institutions with shared advanced connectivity and access to broader Canadian and international research networks.

• Research and education network interconnectionNetwork interconnection service

  ORION connects Ontario institutions with research and education networks elsewhere in Canada and internationally through CANARIE, Canada's national research and education network. The connection exchanges with CANARIE at the Toronto Internet Exchange and extends the reach of participating organizations beyond ORION's provincial infrastructure.

• THINK Conference

  Ontario · Canada

  ORION hosts the annual THINK Conference as a forum associated with advanced and collaborative technologies in research, education, innovation and discovery.

  Outcome. The conference provides a recurring platform for the Ontario research and education community; specific attendance, programming and outcome figures are not available in the supplied sources.

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• 2023Integration of GTAnet through mergerM&A

  GTAnet and ORION both operated in the research and education networking environment, creating an opportunity to consolidate related connectivity infrastructure and organizational capabilities.

  What changed. ORION merged with Greater Toronto Area Network in April 2023.

  Aftermath. The merger placed the combined research and education networking activities under the ORION organization. Detailed operational, financial and staffing consequences are not specified in the supplied sources.

  Source

• 2023GTAnet merges with ORION

  In April 2023, Greater Toronto Area Network, known as GTAnet, merged with ORION, consolidating the two organizations' research and education networking activities under the ORION organization.

  M&AOther
  Source

1. ORION (research and education network)
2. ORION official website