The Need for a Common Language
As more networks were built, they used different communication methods. They couldn’t “talk” to each other. A universal standard was needed to connect these networks into a true “network of networks.”
The Creation of TCP/IP
In 1974, Vinton Cerf and Robert Kahn published a paper describing the TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol) communications protocols.
TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) ensures data is sent reliably and reassembled in the correct order.
IP (Internet Protocol) routes data packets to their correct destination.
Together, TCP/IP allowed different computer networks to interconnect, regardless of their underlying hardware or software. This was the breakthrough that created the modern internet.
By January 1, 1983, ARPANET officially adopted TCP/IP as its standard protocol. This date is often considered the “birthday” of the modern internet.
NSFNET and Growth
In 1986, the National Science Foundation (NSF) launched NSFNET, a high-speed backbone network connecting academic researchers and supercomputers across the United States.
NSFNET grew rapidly:
- 1986: 5 supercomputer centers connected
- 1990: Over 300,000 computers connected
- 1993: Over 2 million computers connected
NSFNET became the backbone of the internet, and its success led to increasing commercial interest.
Commercialization
In 1995, the NSF decommissioned its dedicated infrastructure, effectively privatizing the internet. Commercial internet service providers (ISPs) like AOL, CompuServe, and Prodigy began offering access to the general public.
This opened the floodgates. The internet was no longer just for researchers and the military – it was for everyone.