Editing Packet switching (section)

====NSFNET====
[[File:NSFNET-traffic-visualization-1991.jpg|thumb|right|NSFNET Traffic 1991, NSFNET backbone nodes are shown at the top, regional networks below, traffic volume is depicted from purple (zero bytes) to white (100 billion bytes), visualization by [[National Center for Supercomputing Applications|NCSA]] using traffic data provided by the [[Merit Network]].]]

The [[National Science Foundation Network]] (NSFNET) was a program of coordinated, evolving projects sponsored by the NSF beginning in 1985 to promote advanced research and education networking in the United States.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nsfnet-legacy.org/|title=NSFNET: The Partnership That Changed The World|date=November 2007}}</ref> NSFNET was also the name given to several nationwide backbone networks, operating at speeds of {{nowrap|56 kbit/s}}, {{nowrap|1.5 Mbit/s}} (T1), and {{nowrap|45 Mbit/s}} (T3), that were constructed to support NSF's networking initiatives from 1985 to 1995. Initially created to link researchers to the nation's NSF-funded supercomputing centers, through further public funding and private industry partnerships it developed into a major part of the [[Internet backbone]].