Abilene is a project of the University Corporation for Advanced Internet Development (UCAID), carried out in partnership with the major telecommunications vendors.  UCAID is also known as the Internet2 organization.  UAB joined UCAID, then Internet2, in January of 1997.

Abilene Frequently Asked Questions

The Abilene network technology is IP over SONET. The first Abilene nodes went live in September 1998.  

View a map of the Abilene Network

Abilene Network Launches Operations March 1999

Abilene, the most advanced and far-reaching network for research and education in the U.S., last week officially began operations as an Internet2 backbone network.  Abilene has been developed in partnership with Qwest Communications, Cisco Systems, Nortel Networks, and Indiana University.  An event held at Union Station in Washington, D.C. commemorated the milestone by demonstrating advanced applications over Abilene.  For the announcement and more information on the Abilene network, see: http://www.internet2.edu/abilene/home.html

For pointers to some of the media coverage, see: http://www.internet2.edu/html/i2_press.html