DrukRENBhutan

DrukREN Bhutan

NREN Governor: Karma Jamyang

131

Total staff (2025)

311

Connected institutions

1 Gbps

Highest bandwidth

100%

University market share

Hybrid

Operations model

Services + advanced

–

Research data (In+Out)

–

Max TEIN bandwidth

Distinction: Full (100%) national university coverage · Comprehensive governance framework

Appears in 30 figures

Contributed spotlights (4)

NREN Spotlight · Scaling a national NREN team

DrukREN Bhutan

Since its establishment in 2018, DrukREN has undergone an extraordinary transformation, growing from a small team of dedicated professionals to an organisation of more than 100 staff by 2025. DrukREN is operated and managed by the Government Networks Division, Department of Digital Infrastructure, Government Technology Agency. This growth represents one of the most significant organisational expansions within the Asi@Connect community and reflects Bhutan's commitment to building a robust digital ecosystem for research and education. Today, DrukREN is operated and managed by the Government Networks Division under the Department of Digital Infrastructure, Government Technology (GovTech) Agency. Besides DrukREN, the Government Networks Division also operates and manages the Government Network (GovNet) infrastructure connecting around 1500+ government agencies. The main factor in DrukREN’s ability to scale its workforce so dramatically was the strategic capitalization of manpower across government mandates. The 100+ staff members do not work in isolation; instead, they are cross-functional. They manage and support both government agencies connected to the broader GovNet infrastructure and individual DrukREN members. This rapid growth directly reflects Bhutan's commitment to building a robust digital ecosystem for research, education, and public administration. DrukREN's journey has been guided by a clear vision to provide secure, reliable, and high-speed connectivity and digital services to Bhutan's research and education institutions. Over the years, the organisation has expanded its national network and strengthened its operational and technical capabilities to provide high-speed connectivity to support collaboration, teaching, learning, and research. The Royal Government of Bhutan has been instrumental in this journey. Through sustained policy support, strategic guidance, and investment, the Government recognised the importance of a National Research and Education Network (NREN) as a critical enabler of quality education, innovation, and research. This commitment has enabled DrukREN to broaden its mandate, strengthen organisational capacity, and extend services to universities, colleges, schools, and research institutions across the country. International partnerships have also played a pivotal role in DrukREN's success. Through the Asi@Connect programme and collaboration with NSRC, TEIN*CC, and National Knowledge Network (NKN), other regional and global NREN partners, DrukREN has benefited from technical assistance, capacity-building programmes, knowledge exchange, and collaborative projects. These partnerships have strengthened staff expertise, improved organisational governance, introduced international best practices, and enabled the deployment of modern network technologies that meet global standards. A key lesson from DrukREN's experience is that sustainable growth requires more than expanding infrastructure. Equal attention must be given to developing human capacity, strengthening governance, fostering strategic partnerships, and ensuring financial and operational sustainability. Emerging NRENs can benefit from adopting a phased approach to growth, aligning organisational development with national priorities while remaining responsive to the evolving needs of the research and education community.

NREN Spotlight · Women in the NREN workforce

DrukREN Bhutan

DrukREN is committed to fostering an inclusive workplace where women have equal opportunities to contribute and grow in both technical and non-technical roles. Recruitment is based on merit, with an emphasis on creating a supportive and inclusive work environment that encourages women to pursue careers in ICT and research networking. To support retention and professional growth, DrukREN invests in continuous learning through training, mentorship, and participation in regional programmes offered by Asi@Connect, NSRC, TEIN*CC and other partners. These initiatives have enabled women staff to strengthen their technical skills, build professional networks, and take on leadership roles. An important lesson for other NRENs is that gender inclusion should be embedded in organisational culture rather than treated as a standalone initiative. Providing equal access to training, leadership opportunities, and regional collaboration can help attract, develop, and retain talented women across all roles.

NREN Spotlight · Building national school connectivity

DrukREN Bhutan

As of today, DrukREN has connected around 195 schools across Bhutan, including primary, middle, and higher secondary schools, expanding from a very limited baseline since 2020 to near nationwide coverage. This expansion has been driven by the Royal Government of Bhutan’s strong commitment to equitable access to digital education and reducing the rural–urban digital divide, in line with national development priorities. The policy direction and funding support were enabled through the government, with DrukREN positioned as the national platform for research and education connectivity. Close coordination with the Ministry of Education and Skills Development and other stakeholders ensured alignment with Bhutan’s ICT and education strategies. Operationally, DrukREN implemented a phased and centrally coordinated rollout approach. Schools were onboarded in batches using standardised network designs, supported by structured site readiness processes, coordinated installation, and collaboration with local education authorities. Capacity building for school ICT focal points and ongoing technical support have been essential to ensure effective adoption and sustained use of services. This experience highlights that Bhutan’s school connectivity scale-up has been enabled by strong government leadership, coordinated implementation, and a practical, scalable rollout model adapted to the country’s geography and dispersed school system.

NREN Spotlight · Achieving full national coverage

DrukREN Bhutan

Complete university penetration in Bhutan was achieved through a nationally coordinated approach led by the Royal Government of Bhutan, which positioned DrukREN as the dedicated National Research and Education Network (NREN) responsible for serving all tertiary education institutions. From the outset, policy decisions focused on centralising research and education connectivity under a single national platform rather than fragmented institutional arrangements. This ensured that all universities and colleges were brought onto a common, secure, and managed network, enabling consistent service delivery, cost efficiency, and equitable access to digital resources. Sustained connectivity has been supported through continued government commitment, including funding for core infrastructure and operational support. Strong institutional coordination between DrukREN, the Ministry of Education and Skills Development, and other relevant agencies has been critical in ensuring full coverage and ongoing service reliability. Organisationally, DrukREN’s ability to maintain university penetration has depended on building in-house technical capacity, establishing standardised service models, and maintaining close user support relationships with institutions. The most important success factors have been strong government ownership, a centralized national model for R&E connectivity, sustained investment in infrastructure and people, and continuous capacity building. Together, these elements have ensured not only full university connectivity but also its long-term sustainability and relevance to Bhutan’s higher education and research ecosystem.