eduroam (education roaming) is a global roaming access service developed for the international research and education community. It provides reliable and convenient wireless internet access to students, researchers, and staff at participating institutions in over 100 countries around the world. 

The Department of Science and Technology – Advanced Science and Technology Institute (DOST-ASTI), through the Philippine Research, Education, and Government Information Network (PREGINET), was the first to deploy eduroam services in the Philippines in the early 2000s. As the country’s national research and education network (NREN), PREGINET has been connecting state universities and colleges like the University of the Philippines Diliman (UPD), the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU), and the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), among others, to the Internet via eduroam. 

According to UPD Professor Dr. Manuel C. Ramos, Jr., “eduroam is very useful for faculty visiting academic institutions abroad as they get instant Wi-Fi connectivity without the hassle of asking the host for Wi-Fi details. You [can] open your laptop and seamlessly get an internet connection. No fussing around with additional Wi-Fi SIDs and passwords.” 

Photo 1. eduroam locations in UP Diliman 

Photo 2. eduroam locations for UP Los Baños and UP Open University 

eduroam was recently rolled out in UPLB early this year. UPLB Information Technology Center Head Asst. Prof. Paolo Rommel Sanchez expressed that “[their] experience with eduroam has been exceptionally smooth and reliable.” He added that “colleagues effortlessly connected to the internet using their UPLB NetID accounts. Overall, eduroam has proven to be a reliable and efficient solution, reinforcing connectivity across [their] academic spaces with commendable ease of use and consistent performance." 

UPOU also effectively deployed eduroam for their students and staff.  

“We choose eduroam as it allows seamless Wi-Fi access at any partnering institution using their home organization credentials. It not only saves time but also ensures a consistent and secure connection,” Mr. Nikko Paolo Racelis, UPOU Senior Network Administrator said. 

      
Photos 3 & 4. Ms. Neyzielle Cadiz presenting in Singapore; A screenshot of her phone being connected to eduroam 

eduroam also makes it convenient for students and researchers who travel for conferences, study abroad programs, or research collaborations. While attending a research presentation in Singapore, Ms. Neyzielle Cadiz, Project Technical Specialist IV at DOST-ASTI, had a poor Internet connection despite buying a roaming SIM card. Fortunately, the DOST-ASTI PREGINET team was able to connect her to the Internet via eduroam—her in Singapore and them in the Philippines—providing her with fast and uninterrupted internet connectivity. 

How do we connect to the Internet via eduroam? 

You can connect to the Internet via eduroam using the credentials provided by your home institution. Your credentials will be verified by the server to check if you are affiliated with another participating institution. Once verified, the host institution can grant you connectivity through their network. 

Is eduroam safe? 

eduroam keeps information safe, even on public Wi-Fi. When connecting to public Wi-Fi, there’s the worry of a possibility of someone snooping on your device activity, but eduroam uses security measures to keep information safe. Using eduroam is like creating a stable line between your device and your home. Only your home institution can see your network activity, no matter where you connect to eduroam in the world. 

While eduroam protects your information, the overall Wi-Fi experience might differ depending on where you connect. Each eduroam hotspot might have its security settings and internet access limitations based on the Institutional host, so it is best to keep in mind that you might not have the same level of freedom as you do on your home network. 

What are PREGINET’s plans related to eduroam?
As the country’s research and education network, PREGINET aims to connect more institutions in the country through eduroam. This is to provide a more efficient academic experience through seamless access to the Internet anywhere, as well as boost the science and education community for more collaborations, research opportunities, and conferences as network access has become hassle-free.  

State universities, colleges, and research institutions interested in eduroam through DOST-ASTI’s PREGINET may send an email to info@asti.dost.gov.ph.