Internet2

Internet2 or UCAID (University Corporation for Advanced Internet Development) is a non-profit consortium which develops and deploys advanced network applications and technologies, for education and high-speed data transfer purposes. It is led by 208 universities [1] and partners with 60 companies in areas from the networking (Cisco Systems), publishing (Prous Science) and technology industries such as Comcast, Intel and Sun Microsystems. "Internet2" is a registered trademark [2].

Internet2 (and its members) created the Abilene Network and was a prime investor ($10 million) in the National LambdaRail (NLR) project [3]. During 2004–2006, Internet2 and NLR held extensive discussions regarding a possible merger [4]. Key to this merger was the condition that Internet2 would operate its successor to Abilene using NLR's infrastructure (NLR has IRUs on actual fiber infrastructure from WilTel, now Level(3), where Internet2 utilizes leased optical wavelengths from Qwest for Abilene). Those talks broke down in the Spring of 2006, and no future talks are expected [5]. Internet2 has since contracted with Level(3) for a similar unlit fiber infrastructure to operate their next generation research network [6]. NLR has cited Internet2's contracts with Level3 as their prime reason for withdrawing from the merger talks[citation needed]. Additionally, many feel that NLR's focus on experimentation made their infrastructure less reliable than what has typically been expected of Abilene[citation needed].

Why was Internet2 and the Abilene network created? These technologies and their organizational counterparts were not only created to make a faster alternative to the internet. More and more applications for Internet2 technology become apparent all of the time. Many fields have been able to use the Abilene network to foster creativity, research, and development in a way that was not previously possible. Students who belong to poor quality libraries, now find themselves downloading not only text but sound recordings, animations, videos, and other resources. Another application is the robust video conferencing now available to Internet2 participants. Neurosurgeons can now video conference with other experts in the field during an operation in a high resolution format with no apparent time lag. The applications of this type of network are endless, and will lead the way into the future of internet use.

History of the next-generation Internet backbone and Internet2

The beginnings of the internet was based on the communications of computers over a network. One of the first major developments of such a network was called ARPAnet. This network was developed by DARPA, or Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. As more networks of this kind were created the need to standardize and make them compatible arose. This is how the internet as we know it began to evolve into what it is today.

In the same way that the internet began in government and University circles, it was realized that these institutions had begun to outgrow the internet. Universities saw the need for a network that would support the data mining, medical imaging, particle physics, and other computer intensive work that was being done. A need for a much higher bandwidth network was evident.

The need for a much higher bandwidth network resulted in the creation of the vBNS, or very-high-performance Backbone Network Service, in 1995. The vBNS was developed by the National Science Foundation, and MCI telecommunications company specifically to meet the needs of the supercomputers at educational institutions. The concept of “the next generation of internet” was born. MCI engineered this backbone for the National Science Foundation, but when their agreement expired the participating institutions wondered where they would continue to get the service that was previously provided by vBNS. When the agreement with MCI expired many institutions decided to join the Internet2 organization.