Internet2 is a non-profit consortium led by over 200 US universities and partners from the networking and technology industries (such as AT&T, Intel, Sun Microsystems, and Cisco Systems). It develops and deploys advanced network applications and technologies (such as: IPv6, IP multicasting and quality of service).

Internet2 members created the Abilene Network and are a major supporter of the National LambdaRail project.

Mislabeling of Internet2

In light of a recent series of lawsuits filed by the RIAA against university students attending several of the major participants in Abilene, there has been a recent trend in the media to report on a network called "Internet2." Some sources go so far as to suggest Internet2 is a network wholly separate from the Internet. This is a misuse of terms since Internet2 is in fact a consortium and not a computer network. It is possible that many news sources have adopted the term Internet2 because it seems like a logical name for a next-generation Internet backbone. Articles that reference Internet2 as a network are in fact referring to the previously mentioned Internet backbone known as the Abilene Network. This forms a high speed backbone by deploying many of the technologies developed by Internet2. Abilene is not an isolated network and its members are usually accessable in some way through the public Internet.

The official website of Internet2 clearly states what the consortium is and its purpose on their "about" page.[1]

External links

• Internet2's homepage
• internetnews.com: Scientists Set Internet2 Speed Record