The first backbone network of the next-generation Internet was announced to go into formal operation on Dec. 25. This is another breakthrough achieved by the Tsinghua-based CERNET networking center. The significant achievement has been listed among the Top 10 National Scientific News as well as Top 10 National Educational News.
CERNET2 is the biggest next-generation Internet network in operation in the world and connects 25 universities in 20 cities. The speed in the backbone network reaches 2.5 to 10 gigabits per second and connects the universities at a speed of 1 to 10 gigabits per second.
A trial on CERNET2 between Beijing and Tianjin on December 7 achieved a speed of 40 gigabits per second, the highest in the world in real applications.
CERNET2 is also the first network based on pure Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6) technology, one major characteristic between the current Internet and the next-generation Internet.
