The History of Internet 2 in California and North America

• Internet 2 is best thought of as a "private" high-speed network that links universities together throughout North America.
• Network traffic to and from non-Internet 2 organizations cannot travel on this network (e.g. e-mail from Microsoft to IBM).
• Internet 2 in California began several years ago based in part on a grant from NSF. Charter institutions included the UC campuses, Cal Tech, USC, Stanford, etc.
• Today, an "umbrella" organization (CENIC, The Corporation for Education Network Initiatives in California) coordinates Internet 2 for California.
• Internet 2 in California is connected to other Internet 2 networks throughout the country via the "Abilene" national backbone.