20 Years of Internet in Austria / 20 Years of ACOnet Infrastructure
On the occasion of “20 Years of Internet in Austria” and “20 Years of ACOnet Infrastructure” a two-day anniversary celebration was hosted by the University of Vienna in June 2010.
National forum and social event:
20 Years of Internet in Austria
Tuesday, 8. June 2010 from 14:00
at University of Vienna, Festsaal
The event was opened by Georg Winckler, rector of the university, followed by a national panel of Austrian Internet pioneers, including Peter Rastl and Hermann Steinringer who had initiated the first 64kb TCP/IP link between the University of Vienna and CERN in August 1990.
The keynote speech was given by Michael R. Nelson, visiting professor for communication, culture and technology at the Georgetown University in Washington. He was talking about the great success of the Internet, specifically during the last 20 years, and the big challenges we are facing to make sure that sustainable innovation and progress is continuing in this area, highlighting the need for good policies and standards for the "Cloud".
The following lively panel discussion with Austrian representatives from various sectors, like ISPs, Research and Education, Online Media, eGovernment and eCommerce was again conducted by Georg Hahn, who was the first president of the Austrian Internet Service Provider Association (ISPA) back in 1997.
A delicious "Flying Buffet", sponsored by Telekom Austria, at the end of the first day was nicely facilitating the conversation between the 300 guests in a pleasing atmosphere until late in the evening.
Symposium
"Inter/national Research Network Infrastructures - yesterday / today / tomorrow" on the occasion of:
20 Years of ACOnet Infrastructure
Wednesday, 9. June 2010 10:00-17:00
at University of Vienna, Festsaal
The second day, a symposium conducted by Mariann Unterluggauer, was introduced by Christian Panigl, head of the ACOnet department at the University of Vienna, with a brief presentation on the history of ACOnet, the Austrian National Research and Education Network (NREN) infrastructure.
The morning was then continued with a series of excellent presentations, focussing on NREN sustainability, given by international guest speakers: Valentino Cavalli (TERENA), Klaus Ullmann (DFN), Erik-Jan Bos (SURFnet) and Christoph Graf (SWITCH).
The afternoon was organised as an open floor with short presentations, show cases and discussions, giving ACOnet participants the opportunity to share their experiences with the international guests.
The second day concluded with snacks and drinks in the arcaded inside courtyard of the University.
Both events were held in the impressive ambience of the Vienna University’s festival room and accompanied by the excellent buffet service of “Amon’s Delicious Catering”.
We would like to thank all people and sponsors who were involved in making this two-day event such a nice and informative experience!
Background
In 1990 ACOnet was established as a private X.25 network infrastructure based on PTA leased lines, interconnecting the Austrian universities. Also in 1990, the first TCP/IP based dedicated 64kbps line was established between the University of Vienna and Geneva (CERN) in the context of IBMs "European Academic Supercomputer Initiative”, interconnected with NSFnet (USA) and connecting Austria to the Global Internet. Independently also the preparations for the formation of the EUnet GmbH proceeded, constituting in the following years the first commercial ISP in Austria.
References
Futurezone article: 20 Jahre Internet in Österreich
Futurezone article: 20 Jahre Internet in Österreich: die Zukunft
ACOnet History
Es begann an der Uni Wien: 10 Jahre Internet in Österreich
10 Jahre Vienna Internet eXchange
