The Internet is a global network of interconnected computer networks that uses the Internet Protocol Suite (TCP/IP) for communication. It encompasses various networks, including private, public, academic, business, and government networks, ranging from local to global scope. These networks are linked by diverse electronic, wireless, and optical technologies. The Internet provides access to a vast array of information resources and services, such as the World Wide Web (WWW) with its interlinked hypertext documents and applications, electronic mail, internet telephony, and file sharing.
1945: Early Usage of "Internet"
The term "Internet" appeared as early as 1945 in a US War Department radio operator's manual, referring to interconnected networks.
1965: Packet Switching Research
Research into packet switching, a key Internet technology, began independently by Paul Baran and Donald Davies in 1965.
1967: ARPANET Design Influence
In 1967, following the Symposium on Operating Systems Principles, the ARPANET design integrated packet switching and routing concepts from the NPL network proposal and Baran's research.
October 1969: First ARPANET Nodes
The first two nodes of the ARPANET were connected between UCLA and SRI in October 1969, marking a pivotal moment in Internet history.
1971: ARPANET Expansion
By the end of 1971, the ARPANET grew significantly, connecting 15 sites and demonstrating its potential for broader connectivity.
1972: "Computer Networks" Film
The 1972 film "Computer Networks: The Heralds of Resource Sharing" documented the early development of the ARPANET.
1973: First International ARPANET Connections
In 1973, the ARPANET expanded internationally with connections to Norway and University College London, marking the start of global internetworking.
1974: "Internet" as Shorthand
In 1974, the term "Internet" became shorthand for "Internetwork".
1974: "A Protocol for Packet Network Intercommunication"
Vint Cerf and Bob Kahn published their proposal, "A Protocol for Packet Network Intercommunication," in 1974, using "internet" as shorthand for internetwork and laying groundwork for TCP/IP.
1981: NSF Funds CSNET
The National Science Foundation (NSF) funded the Computer Science Network (CSNET) in 1981, broadening access to the ARPANET.
1981: IPv4 Defined
IPv4, defining an IP address as a 32-bit number, was designed in 1981.
1982: TCP/IP Standardization
The standardization of the Internet Protocol Suite (TCP/IP) in 1982 played a crucial role in the global expansion of interconnected networks.
1986: NSFNet Launch
The launch of NSFNet in 1986 provided researchers with access to supercomputer sites, initially at speeds of 56 kbit/s.
1988: NSFNet International Expansion
Between 1988 and 1989, NSFNet expanded its reach to academic and research institutions across Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan.
1989: Rise of Commercial ISPs
Commercial Internet Service Providers (ISPs) began emerging in 1989 in the US and Australia, signaling the growing commercialization of the Internet.
1989: MCI Mail and Compuserve Connect to the Internet
In mid-1989, MCI Mail and Compuserve connected to the Internet, providing email and public access to around 500,000 users.
January 1990: PSInet Launches Commercial Internet Backbone
On January 1, 1990, PSInet launched a new commercial Internet backbone, marking a significant step towards the commercialization of the Internet.
March 1990: First High-Speed Transatlantic Internet Link
In March 1990, the first high-speed T1 link was established between Cornell University and CERN, significantly improving communication speeds between the US and Europe.
1990: ARPANET Decommissioning
The ARPANET was decommissioned in 1990, having fulfilled its role in the development of the global Internet.
1990: WorldWideWeb Development Begins
Tim Berners-Lee started developing the first web browser, WorldWideWeb, and its supporting tools like HTTP and HTML, in 1990.
1991: Commercial Internet eXchange (CIX) Founded
The Commercial Internet eXchange (CIX) was founded in 1991, enabling communication between commercial networks like PSInet, CERFnet, and Alternet.
1992: Internet Society (ISOC) Founded
The Internet Society (ISOC) was founded in 1992 to ensure the open development and evolution of the Internet.
1993: Internet Carries 1% of Telecommunicated Information
In 1993, the Internet carried only an estimated 1% of information flowing through two-way telecommunications.
October 1994: First Online Banking Service Launched
Stanford Federal Credit Union became the first financial institution to offer online Internet banking services to all members in October 1994.
1995: Full Commercialization of the Internet in the U.S.
The Internet became fully commercialized in the U.S. in 1995 with the decommissioning of NSFNet, lifting restrictions on commercial traffic.
1995: Internet Impacts Culture and Commerce
Since 1995, the Internet significantly impacted culture and commerce with the rise of email, instant messaging, VoIP, and the World Wide Web.
1996: OP Financial Group Launches Online Banking
In 1996, OP Financial Group became the second online bank globally and the first in Europe.
1998: IPv6 Standardized
IPv6, using 128-bit IP addresses, was standardized in 1998 to address IPv4 address exhaustion and improve routing efficiency.
2000: Internet Carries 51% of Telecommunicated Information
By 2000, the Internet's share of telecommunicated information increased significantly to 51%.
November 2005: World Summit on the Information Society Establishes IGF
In November 2005, the UN-sponsored World Summit on the Information Society in Tunis established the Internet Governance Forum (IGF).
2005: Kiva Launches Peer-to-Peer Microlending
In 2005, Kiva launched the first web-based service for peer-to-peer lending with a focus on charitable purposes. It connected lenders with microfinance organizations who posted borrower profiles, enabling individuals to contribute small amounts to specific projects and receive repayments.
November 2006: Internet Declared a Wonder
In November 2006, the Internet was recognized for its global impact and added to USA Today's list of New Seven Wonders.
2007: Internet Dominates Telecommunications
By 2007, the Internet carried over 97% of all telecommunicated information, solidifying its dominance.
2008: Submarine Cable Disruption
In 2008, a submarine cable disruption led to significant Internet blackouts and slowdowns across large areas.
2011: IPv4 Address Exhaustion Enters Final Stage
In 2011, the global IPv4 address allocation pool reached exhaustion due to the Internet's rapid growth.
2011: Armenia's Internet Disruption and Egypt's Internet Blockade
Two separate incidents occurred in 2011: an accidental severing of a land cable causing major Internet disruption in Armenia, and a government-imposed Internet blockage in Egypt during anti-government protests.
2011: Estimating the Internet's Energy Consumption
In 2011, studies estimated that the Internet consumed a small fraction of the total energy used by humanity, including energy used for building, operating, and replacing devices like laptops, smartphones, and servers.
2012: Mobile Internet Drives Increased Access
Mobile internet connectivity played a key role in expanding internet access, especially in Asia, the Pacific, and Africa, between 2012 and later years.
2014: Debate over Internet Electricity Usage
A 2014 research paper highlighted the wide range of estimates for Internet electricity usage, with discrepancies attributed to factors like year of reference and inclusion of end devices in analysis.
October 2016: Mobile and Tablet Internet Usage Exceeds Desktop
In October 2016, global internet usage on mobile and tablet devices surpassed desktop usage for the first time.
October 2016: IANA Stewardship Transition
On October 1, 2016, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration transitioned its final approval over DNS root zone changes.
2016: Capitalization of "Internet"
By 2016, the capitalization of "Internet" diminished, reflecting its increased familiarity, with style guides recommending lowercase usage.
2016: Malware Variants Numbered in the Hundreds of Millions
In 2016, the number of malware variants was significantly lower than in 2017, as reported by Symantec in their 2018 Internet Security Threat Report.
2016: 4.8 Billion Mobile Cellular Subscriptions Globally
The number of unique mobile cellular subscriptions reached 4.8 billion in 2016, representing two-thirds of the world population.
2017: 48% of Individuals Regularly Connect to the Internet
By the end of 2017, the ITU estimated that 48% of individual users regularly connected to the Internet, up from 34% in 2012.
2017: Malware Variants Increase
Symantec's 2018 Internet Security Threat Report indicated that the number of malware variants reached 669,947,865 in 2017, double the amount from 2016.
2018: 80% Global 4G Network Coverage
As of 2018, 80% of the world population was covered by a 4G network.
2018: Cybercrime Costs and Malware Targeting Infrastructure
In 2018, Symantec reported a substantial increase in malware variants compared to 2016 and 2017. It was also predicted that cybercrime, including malware attacks, would cost the world economy trillions of dollars with increasing rates annually. Additionally, malware started targeting critical infrastructure systems.
2018: CO2 Emissions from Internet Data Transfer
A 2018 study estimated that a noticeable portion of global CO2 emissions were linked to data transfers and infrastructure, with online video streaming being a significant contributor. The study advocated for regulations to reduce the environmental impact.
2020: Projected 5.7 Billion Mobile Subscriptions
The number of mobile subscriptions was projected to reach 5.7 billion users by 2020.
2021: Projected Cybercrime Costs and Infrastructure Attacks
By 2021, cybercrime, encompassing malware attacks, was projected to inflict a substantial cost on the global economy, reaching trillions of dollars. Furthermore, malware began targeting computer systems crucial for critical infrastructure operation, like electricity distribution networks.
March 2011: 2 Billion Internet Users Worldwide
As of March 31, 2011, the estimated number of Internet users reached 2.095 billion, representing 30% of the global population.