Internet backbone
<communications, networking> High-speed networks that carry Internet
traffic.
These communications networks are provided by companies such as AT&T, GTE, IBM,
MCI, Netcom, Sprint, UUNET and consist of high-speed links in the T1, T3, OC1
and OC3 ranges. The backbones carry Internet traffic around the world and meet
at Network Access Points (NAPs).
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) connect either directly to a backbone, or they
connect to a larger ISP with a connection to a backbone.
The topology of the "backbone" and its interconnections may once have resembled
a spine with ribs connected along its length but is now almost certainly more
like a fishing net wrapped around the world with many circular paths.
[Map?]
(1998-07-02)
Nearby terms:
internet address « Internet Architecture Board «
Internet Assigned Numbers Authority « Internet
backbone » Internet Chess Server » Internet
Control Message Protocol » Internet Corporation for
Assigned Names and Numbers
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