The much anticipated connectivity to the Academic Internet through the TEIN3 network was established on April 1, 2010. LEARN is now connected by an IPLC (International Private Leased Circuit) of bandwidth 45Mbps to the Mumbai POP of the TEIN3 network.

TEIN3 connectivity provides high-quality, congestion-free network access to academic and research institutions worldwide. This connectivity is provided free of charge to all institutions connected to the LEARN network.

This is a major milestone for LEARN, as this is our first link to the Academic Internet as well as our first direct international link. Although LEARN has been in operation for approximately two decades, up to now we were only connected to the commodity Internet through local commercial Internet service providers.

TEIN3 connectivity for LEARN as well as many other countries in South Asia is made possible by financial support from the European Commission which covers approximately 80% of the associated costs. Without this financial support, it would not have been possible for LEARN to obtain connectivity to the academic Internet.

LEARN also received generous support from University of Oregon's Network Startup Resource Center (NSRC), and Network for Research and Education at Oregon (NERO), who donated us a router interface card for use with the link. Michael Foley, Distance Learning Specialist of the GDLN, World Bank who carried the card from the USA ceremonially handed over the card to Prof. M.T.M. Jiffry, Chairman, LEARN and Dr. Nimal Ratnayake, CEO/CTO, LEARN during the Policy workshop of the SERENE program held in Colombo in February 2010.