In 2018 the GEOFON global seismic network consists of more than 80 active high quality stations with real-time acquisition. The network plays a leading role in global real-time seismology providing valuable data for almost all fundamental and applied global/regional seismological research projects at GFZ and the wider seismological community. The GEOFON network is operated jointly with more than 50 international partners with stations on all continents, but stations are concentrated in Europe and the Mediterranean region, as well as in the Indian Ocean. All data are distributed without restrictions in real time with minimal delay and are accessible from the archive from the first installed station in 1993 to date, using the well-known GE network code. Various communication links (VSAT, BGAN, UMTS, DSL, etc.) are used.