APAN (the Asia Pacific Advanced Network) refers to both the organisation representing its members, and to the backbone network that connects the research and education networks of its member countries/economies to each other and to other research networks around the world.

APAN Ltd is the not-for-profit Association that is the legal entity created to undertake the activities on behalf of APAN members. APAN members are the entities representing research and education network interests in the countries/economies of Asia and Oceania.

APAN coordinates activities related to network technologies, services, and applications among its members and with its peer international organisations.

APAN is also a key driver in promoting and facilitating network-enabled research and education activities. These include research collaboration, knowledge discovery and sharing, tele-health and natural disaster mitigation.

APAN was first established as a non-profit international consortium on 3rd June 1997. On 8th August 2009, in order to better meet the challenges associated with the changing environment, APAN was incorporated in Hong Kong as a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee (also known as an association). The Principal Objects of APAN (APAN’s Charter) is found at http://www.apan.net/about/objects. A brief history of APAN can be found at: http://www.apan.net/about/history

APAN organizes two meetings each year where its members and other interested participants come together in working groups, BoFs, committees, plenary sessions, and other meetings to review progress, demonstrate advances in technology and applications, and make plans for the future activities. The meetings venues are moved around the various APAN members. More information can be found on this website under Meetings.

A schematic diagram of the APAN Backbone network is maintained by the APAN NOC and the current version is available at: http://www.apan.net/NetworkMap.php