Editing Packet switching (section)

====Very high-speed Backbone Network Service (vBNS)====
The [[Very high-speed Backbone Network Service]] (vBNS) came on line in April 1995 as part of a NSF sponsored project to provide high-speed interconnection between NSF-sponsored [[supercomputing]] centers and select access points in the United States.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://w2.eff.org/Infrastructure/Govt_docs/nsf_nren.rfp|title=NSF Solicitation 93-52-Network Access Point Manager, Routing Arbiter, Regional Network Providers, and Very High Speed Backbone Network Services Provider for NSFNET and the NREN(SM) Program|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305030153/https://w2.eff.org/Infrastructure/Govt_docs/nsf_nren.rfp|archive-date=2016-03-05|date=May 6, 1993}}</ref> The network was engineered and operated by [[MCI Telecommunications]] under a cooperative agreement with the NSF. By 1998, the vBNS had grown to connect more than 100 universities and research and engineering institutions via 12 national points of presence with [[DS-3]] ({{nowrap|45 Mbit/s}}), [[OC-3c]] ({{nowrap|155 Mbit/s}}), and [[OC-12]] ({{nowrap|622 Mbit/s}}) links on an all OC-12 backbone, a substantial engineering feat for that time. The vBNS installed one of the first ever production [[OC-48]] ({{nowrap|2.5 Gbit/s}}) IP links in February 1999 and went on to upgrade the entire backbone to OC-48.<ref>{{cite journal |url=https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/694354 |title=vBNS: not your father's Internet |first1=John |last1=Jamison |first2=Randy |last2=Nicklas |first3=Greg |last3=Miller |first4=Kevin |last4=Thompson |first5=Rick |last5=Wilder |first6=Laura |last6=Cunningham |first7=Chuck |last7=Song |journal=IEEE Spectrum |volume=35 |issue=7 |date=July 1998 |pages=38–46 |doi=10.1109/6.694354|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

In June 1999 MCI WorldCom introduced vBNS+ which allowed attachments to the vBNS network by organizations that were not approved by or receiving support from NSF.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.verizonbusiness.com/about/news/pr-5449-en-MCI+WorldCom+Introduces+Next+Generation+vBNS%2B+For+All+Higher+Education+And+Research+Organizations.xml|title=MCI WorldCom Introduces Next Generation vBNS+ For All Higher Education And Research Organizations|website=Verizon Business News|date=June 23, 1999}}</ref> After the expiration of the NSF agreement, the vBNS largely transitioned to providing service to the government. Most universities and research centers migrated to the Internet2 educational backbone. In January 2006, when [[MCI Inc.|MCI]] and [[Verizon]] merged,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.verizonbusiness.com/about/news/pr-18593-en-Verizon+and+MCI+Close+Merger,+Creating+a+Stronger+Competitor+for+Advanced+Communications+Services.xml|title=Verizon and MCI Close Merger, Creating a Stronger Competitor for Advanced Communications Services|website=Verizon Business News|date=January 6, 2006}}</ref> vBNS+ became a service of [[Verizon Business]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.verizonbusiness.com/solutions/government/federal/contracts/fts2001_bridge/rg_products/vbns/|title=vBNS+|website=Verizon Business}}</ref>