The Internet2 backbone network in Abilene now reaches at least one university in each of the 50 states in the United States. Operating at speeds up to 2.4 gigabits per second, or 45,000 times faster than a typical modem, Abilene provides high performance network services that enable advanced applications such as high-definition television, telemedicine, and remote access to scientific instruments. It also provides advanced networking services such as multicasting and IPv6.

"This milestone in advanced networking opens possibilities for researchers, students, and teachers at universities across the country to collaborate with each other and to access resources in ways not possible using the commercial Internet," said Steve Corbató, Internet2 director of backbone network infrastructure. "Abilene provides a unique leading-edge network environment that enables people to experiment with and test new capabilities that can make their way into the global Internet."

More than 187 Internet2 universities and research laboratories now have access to the Abilene network. In addition to other high performance research and education networks within the United States, Abilene also interconnects with over a dozen research and education networks from countries around the world. Partnerships with Internet2 universities and regional networking organizations also provide thousands of institutions such as elementary schools, secondary schools, community colleges, museums, and libraries with access to the national high-performance network.

The Alliance for Higher Education is a 37-year old non-profit distance education and research technology transport organization located in the new high-tech Center near The University of Texas at Dallas. The Alliance is one of only two GigaPoPs, or points of presence, for Internet2 in Texas and 28 in the United States.

The bandwidth available through participation in the Alliance GigaPoP will provide universities, K-12, corporations, libraries, hospitals, and others almost unlimited capacity to move vast quantities of data for research and distance education internationally. The Alliance connection to Abilene provides high performance network services that enable advanced applications such as HDTV, telemedicine, and remote access to scientific instruments. For more information about the Alliance GigaPoP, please visit http://www.allianceedu.org

Abilene is an Internet2 backbone network that provides nationwide high-performance networking capabilities for over 187 Internet2 universities. It was developed in partnership with Qwest Communications, Cisco Systems, Nortel Networks, and Indiana University. For more information on Abilene please visit http://www.internet2.edu/abilene/

Internet2 is developing and deploying advanced network applications and technologies for research and higher education, which is accelerating the creation of tomorrow’s Internet. Internet2 recreates the partnership of academia, industry, and government that has helped foster today’s Internet in its infancy. For more information about Internet2 please visit http://www.internet2.edu/