Taiwan: Snapshot of the Internet around 1990

2012.6.2510.13

[by Vincent Chen]

2012.6.2510.13

[by Vincent Chen]

In April 1985, Taiwan Ministry of Education Computer Center (MOECC) established Teaching Services Stations (IBM host-based Terminals) in the Universities Campus. It’s the earliest prototype of the Inter-Campus Network in Taiwan. Then VAX-Based InFormation NETwork (IFNET) and CDC-Based UNIversity NETwork(UNINET) projects are established host-based computer networks among the major national universities during late 1980’s. In August 1987, the first Taiwan BITNET node, TWNMOE10, connected to SUT (Science University of Japan) by 9.6kbps and transited to USA. BITNET (Because It’s Time NETwork), world-wide IBM RSCS protocol-based academic network, was the first international academic network in Taiwan. In July 1989, .tw ccTLD (Country-code Top Level Domain) registered by MOECC to ISI (Information Sciences Institute, University of Southern California). ISI was the predecessor of the IANA, Internet Assigned Numbers Authority.

In July 1990, MOECC started the ideas for TCP/IP-based island-wide Taiwan academic network. TANet project had born and its backbone bandwidth was 9.6 kbps in the initial stage. Taiwan MOE Science and Technology Office also funded its 2nd phase Campus Network Development project, focused on FDDI-based Campus backbone and Ethernet-Based LAN architecture. In July 1991, TANet completed its cross-campus Infrastructure among major universities and upgraded its backbone to T1 (1.544Mbps). Three-tier network architecture of TANet was ensured including Campus-level, Regional-level and International-level. In December 1991, TANet connected to Princeton University JvNCnet (John Von Neumann Computer Network, Internet hub on US western area) based on Internet TCP/IP protocol by 64kbps leased line. December 3, 1991 was the first day of Internet Connection of Taiwan.

1. In July 1992, SEEDnet started an earliest trial project, for enterprise Internet connection. Due to Telecommunication Law’s restriction, SEEDent was forced to indirect connection to Internet, transited by III (Institute of Information Industry).

2. In December 1992, TANet upgraded its international Internet bandwidth from 64kbps to 256kbps connecting to US JvNCnet.

3. In January 1994, HiNet formally established and opened for trial test. HiNet also launched the Taiwan 1st international commercial information highway to US. At the same time, HiNet also connected to TANet by 64kbps link. It was the first peering link in Taiwan. TWNIC trial plan was born for commercial Internet services, including domain name registration, IP address allocations. This trial plan’s committee was convened by Director of MOECC and it members were comprised from government, enterprise and non-profit organizations.

4. In March 1994, TANet management committee decided to extend TANet Ifrastructure to senior high school, junior high school and elementary school for promoting information education. TANet also decided to help creating Education Network Center in each county and city level.

5. In October 1994, TANet upgraded its international Internet bandwidth from 256kbps to512kbps connecting to US JvNCnet.

6. In April 1995, HiNet formally launched its commercial operation. Its trial account reached about 3,558 and also upgraded its international link bandwidth to T1.

7. In July 1995, MOECC ceased the international connection of BITNET and BITNET went into the history of Taiwan academic network.

8. In October 1995, TANet upgraded its international Internet bandwidth from 512kbps to 1544kbps (T1) connecting to US JvNCnet.

9. In January 1996, due to have doubts about threatening US president, MOE announced the draft implicated regulation of BBS and Web site in campus. This announcement was protested by campus Internet communities seriously. Legislative Yuan passed “three laws of telecommunications”, new telecommunications law, DGT Organizational Law, ChungHwa Telecom Organization law. It opened up the new era of telecommunication industry in Taiwan.

10. In May 1996, TANet upgraded its international Internet bandwidth from one T1 to two T1 links and change its connecting eastern partner from US JvNCnet to western partner US GLOBAL-ONE.

11. In January 1997, TWNIC started studying the possibility of the interconnection rules for Internet Exchange in Taiwan. It also suggested to establish TWNIC CIX, operated by CIX task force or outsourcing to operators within one or two years.

12. In November 1997, TWIX started its peering services for ISP operators. TWIX provided T1 and T3 options for peering connection.

12. In January 1998, TWNIC started charging fee for com.tw, org.tw and net.tw domain name registration. The fees are NT$500 for initiation setup service first year and NT$1000 for management services annually.

13. In March 1998, Taiwan public Internet populations were broken through more than two millions.

14. In November 1998, TANet upgraded its international link to T3 (45Mbps) and co-funded the link fees and shared the bandwidth by MOECC, ASCC and NCHC.

15. In December 1998, for government extending domestic demand policy, TANet members decided to adopt CHT’s ADSL solutions for school internet connection based on the resolution of Alishan meeting. This resolution impacted the ADSL broadband solutions in Taiwan significantly.

16. In May 1999, DGT attended the 2nd ICANN GAC (Government Advisory Committee) Berlin meeting as an observer status. This official participation was urged by NCHC, MOECC and related Internet experts after their attendance of the 1st ICANN and its GAC meeting at Singapore on March, 1999.

17. In June 1999, NBEN (National Broadband Experimental Network) was established by task force of National Telecommunications Project. It opened up the window for Inetnet2 connection with US NGN (Next Generation Network) communities.

18. In October 1999, to meet the local Internet requirement, an Internationalized Domain Name pilot system was design by a project lead by Academic Sinica Computing Center (ASCC). This iDNS project started the way for TWNIC’s participation to global IDN (Internationalized Domain Name) standard procedures.

In the 1990s, during the rapid development of Taiwan's Internet, it lays a solid foundation for Taiwan broadband, mobile network in the early 2000s. But the development of the Internet in Taiwan still needs a more active construction, in order to cope with the increasingly complicated, the increasingly important global trend of economic development.