Have you heard about Internet 2? Chances are, if you’re a routine broadband Internet user, then you haven’t!
Most Internet users access “Internet 1,” also know as “the commodity Internet.” This is the Internet we use at home and in some of our businesses. Internet 2 is a much faster version of the Internet that was developed around 1994 by academics at research universities as a noncommercial prototype; it wasn’t meant to be used by the public at large.
How is Internet 2 Different?
First of all, Internet 2 is much faster than the “regular Internet.” It also has fewer users, as it is mainly used at universities and research facilities, and a scattered handful of companies. Whereas Internet 1 is put together by a series of telephone lines, Internet 2 uses a series of large-capacity fiber-optic cables. Internet 2 moves data at speeds of 10 gigabytes per second! Compare that to the 4 megabits you’ll work with when using a cable modem. This means that Internet 2 can move data around on the Internet at speeds 100 to 1,000 times faster than the regular Internet.
Internet 2 – Who Uses it?
Each and every day, more than 200 universities, 70 private companies, 45 government agencies, and 45 international organizations log onto Internet 2. In order to use it, organizations must first show that they need Internet 2 to serve a research-related purpose. They must then pay a fee and meet the minimum technical requirements so that their organization does not bog down Internet 2’s performance.
Internet 2 – The Controversy
Of course, when a super-fast version of the Internet becomes available, especially to young people and to college students, not everyone is going to use it for strictly research-related purposes. Reportedly, Internet 2 speeds can allow users to download a DVD-quality copy of a movie in less than 30 seconds. As of June 2005, at least two separate lawsuits have been announced regarding students who allegedly shared music using an Internet2-specific file-sharing site called i2hub.com. Cases like these are likely to increase as the number of people who know about Internet 2’s existence rises.
As all of this information suggests, Internet 2 users do not want the public sector to become aware of their super-fast connection’s existence. Luckily, though, before too long, cable companies may be able to offer Internet-2 speeds to their regular customers, which will, once again, revolutionize the way we use the Internet. Here’s to hoping!
