Local and distant communications with the computer systems at the Texas Advanced Computing Center are made possible by a series of efficient networks managed by the University of Texas System Office of Telecommunication Services (OTS) and UT-Austin Information Technology Services (ITS) Networking. In addition, TACC manages a private connection to the NSF TeraGrid high speed backbone.

OTS offers IP-based network services via a high-performance backbone network that provides advanced networking capabilities to UT System universities and health institutions across the state. TACC and UT-Austin also connect to Internet2 via THEnet. Through the services of THEnet, researchers anywhere on the Internet can access the advanced scientific computers at TACC.

LEARN is a cooperative effort of 34 institutions of higher education in Texas to provide high-speed connectivity between their institutions as well as to research networks across the country in support of higher education's research, teaching, health care, and public service missions. The LEARN network is intended to enhance Texas' research competitiveness and the state's economic competitiveness and to provide state-of-the-art, cost-effective data communications that enable effective education of students around the state. PacketNet provides nationwide layer 3 IP-based services. A 10-gigabit Ethernet connection to one of the two types of NLR PacketNet services is included as part of all NLR memberships.

UTnet is a campus-wide high speed digital data network that provides network access to all computer users at the University of Texas at Austin. UTNet backbones operate at 100 Mbps, 1GigE and 10GigE. The Pickle Research Campus is connected to the UT Austin main campus over a 10GigE fiberoptic link as part of the Greater Austin Area Telecommunications Network (GAATN). UTnet also peers with THEnet.

Using high-performance network connections, the TeraGrid integrates high-performance computers, data resources and tools, and high-end experimental facilities around the country. Currently, TeraGrid resources include more than 750 teraflops of computing capability and more than 30 petabytes of online and archival data storage, with rapid access and retrieval over high-performance networks. Researchers can also access more than 100 discipline-specific databases. With this combination of resources, the TeraGrid is the world's largest, most comprehensive distributed cyberinfrastructure for open scientific research. TACC's 10Gbps OC192 connection to the TeraGrid traverses the Lonestar Education And Research Network (LEARN) for Texas higher education institutions as well as the National Lambda Rail (NLR).