AARNet Pty Ltd (APL) is the not-for-profit company that operates Australia's Academic and Research Network (AARNet). The shareholders are 38 Australian Universities and the CSIRO. AARNet provides high-capacity, leading-edge networking and communications services to the nation's universities, health and other research organisations, schools, vocational training providers and cultural institutions. Over two million end users access the network and services through shareholder and other customer institutions. AARNet has been effective in making representations to government on policy, legislation, strategy and programs to improve the telecommunications facilities and services available not only to the education and research sector but also to the whole Australian community.