Internet2 or UCAID (University Corporation for Advanced Internet Development)

 

Internet2 is a consortium being led by 207 universities working in partnership with industry and government to develop and deploy advanced network applications and technologies, accelerating the creation of tomorrow's Internet. Internet2 is recreating the partnership among academia, industry and government that fostered today´s Internet.

 

What is the purpose of Internet2?

 

          To create a leading edge network capability for the national research community.

 

          To enable revolutionary Internet applications.

 

          To ensure the rapid transfer of new network services and applications to the broader Internet community.

 

An important component of Internet2 is Abilene.  The Abilene Network is an Internet2 high-performance backbone network that enables the development of advanced Internet applications and the deployment of leading-edge network services to Internet2 universities and research labs across the country. The network has become the most advanced native IP backbone network available to universities participating in Internet2.

 

The Abilene Network supports the core focus for Internet2:

 

Virtual laboratories

Digital libraries

Distance education

Tele-immersion

Advanced networking capabilities

 

 

Abilene is now operating at a pace of 10 gigabits per second with a goal of 100 megabits per second.  This is in comparison to Ethernet or a Cable Modem which is operating at a maximum of 10 Mbps.

 

A major application of Internet2 is currently Megaconference Jr. This allows elementary and secondary students throughout the world to communicate with real time video conferencing.

 

Related Projects and Organizations

 

ARENA (Advanced Research and Education Network Atlas)

 

100 x 100 Project or “100 Megabits to 100 Million Homes”

 

Global Lambda Integrated Facility (GLIF)

 

HOPI (The Hybrid Optical and Packet Infrastructure Project)

         

          Supported by Meriton Networks, a major corporation involved with Internet2

 

National Lambda Rail, Inc. (NLR)

 

National Research and Education Fiber Company (FiberCo)

 

PlanetLab

 

TeraGrid

 

 

Credits:

 

The Philadelphia Inquirer

“A 'revolution' on the way - Making the Internet WICKED FAST”

Date: September 22, 2005

 

www.internet2.edu

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet2