Editing AARNet (section)

===The early years – building the Internet in Australia===
*1989: AARNet established by the [[Australian Vice-Chancellors' Committee]]
*1990: AARNet national backbone network built from Brisbane to Perth, each link initially at 48&nbsp;kbit/s capacity, starring from a hub at the international Internet landing point at the University of Melbourne. AARNet national network was initially built as a multi-protocol [[layer 3]] network, comprising [[Internet Protocol]] (IP) as well as [[DECnet]] and [[X.25]] so as to accommodate the pre-existing ACSnet and SPEARnet networks. Connections to around 40 universities and CSIRO sites commissioned.
*1990–92: International capacity increased in several rapid increments from 56&nbsp;kbit/s to 1.5&nbsp;Mbit/s, at an average 6&nbsp;month doubling rate. In 1991, the national backbone links were upgraded to 2&nbsp;Mbit/s. By 1992, AARNet connected 40,000 computers.
*1991: 'Affiliate membership' programme and [[Acceptable use policy]] (AUP) established for government and research groups to join the network. By the end of 1993, AARNet provided services to over 300 government agencies and companies, including early Australian [[Internet Service Provider]]s (ISPs) [[Connect.com.au]], [[Pegasus Networks]] and [[Internode (ISP)|Internode]].
*1993: Local links to major customer sites progressively upgraded from low capacity carrier leased lines to microwave links for more capacity, typically 10&nbsp;Mbit/s, at lower costs
*1994: 'Value-Added Reseller' programme established and AARNet's AUP broadened to accommodate growing demand for Internet access from a wider range of users, including ISPs [[OzEmail]] and [[iiNet]]
*1995: The AVCC sold the then entire Australian Internet (AARNet1) as a going concern to [[Telstra]], including staff, infrastructure ([[router (computing)|routers]], etc.), intellectual property and the entire commercial customer base. Telstra then took over operating AARNet1 as its initial [[Telstra#Telstra Internet|Telstra Internet]].
*1996: AARNet2 tender awarded to [[Optus]], accelerating the build of Optus' [[Asynchronous Transfer Mode]] (ATM) and Internet infrastructure, capabilities and services
*1997: AARNet2 [[Asynchronous Transfer Mode|ATM]]-based national network commissioned