The second goal is to encourage experimentation with new networking technologies. Logically, the more technologies are tested and experimented with, the faster they can be developed for use. The NGI Initiative plans to create and operate two testbeds that can be used for testing new applications. The first of these testbeds, the 100x, will connect at least 100 research sites at speeds 100x faster than the Internet currently is. The 100x sites will include organizations such as universities and Federal research labs. It will be supported by networks such as the vBNS of the NSF, the Research and Education Network (NREN) of NASA, and the Defense Research and Education Network (DREN) of the Department of Defense. The second testbed, the 1000x, will connect around 10 sites at speeds 1000x faster than the Internet. The 1000x testbed will include networks such as the multi-agency Advanced Technology Demonstration Network (ATDnet) and the DARPA ACTS ATM Internetwork (AAI), which utilizes NASA's Advanced Communication Technology Satellite. (ACTS)
The third goal is to demonstrate the use of advanced high-speed networks to support applications for use in important areas such as scientific research, health care, national security, long-distance education, and environmental monitoring. Some of these applications technologies which will be made possible by NGI are collaboration technologies, digital libraries, distributed computing, privacy and security, and remote operation and simulation. The speed of the NGI testbeds is the key factor that will enable the development of these technologies, which require high data transfer rates to function properly. Many Federal agencies are already planning projects that can be accomplished with use of NGI.
This page was created by Erin Piateski.
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