Internet2 Turns 10!

By Sean Corbett in News on Dec 5, 2006 9:49PM

What’s the need for another internet you ask? Back in 1996 the Internet2 consortium sprang from the desire of major universities to have control over their own communications destiny. This means no fears of telecommunications companies deciding who gets access to which data when, and that communications between Internet2 sites are several times faster than possible over the normal internet. Or in their own words:

We have only begun to discover the potential of Internet technology, not only to the important work of the research and education community, but to commerce and business, to healthcare and science, to the arts and humanities and beyond.

Chicagoist digs that. The Internet2 is not actually a network to communicate over, but a group of people in charge of information and communications at various universities. They have banded together to find ways to communicate better and without artificially imposed limitations. By partnering, universities are able to share the costs associated with having thousands of miles of fiber optic cable running across the country. The currently operating Internet2 network is known as Abilene, but it is gradually being replaced by a new faster and cheaper network.

This week marks the 10th anniversary of the formation of the consortium, and they are back in Chicago to discuss. What’s new for the Internet2? Check out the musings of fellow blogger Chris Robb as he documents his work upgrading the network.