Why the Internet only just works

The core Internet protocols have not changed significantly in more than a decade, in spite of exponential growth in the number of Internet users and the speed of the fastest links. The requirements placed on the net are also changing, as digital convergence finally occurs. Will the Internet cope gra...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published inBT technology journal Vol. 24; no. 3; pp. 119 - 129
Main Author Handley, M.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Ipswich British Telecommunications PLC 01.07.2006
Subjects
Computer architecture
Convergence
Internet Protocol
Requirements
Studies
Technological change
Traffic congestion
Online AccessGet full text

Cover

More Information
Summary:The core Internet protocols have not changed significantly in more than a decade, in spite of exponential growth in the number of Internet users and the speed of the fastest links. The requirements placed on the net are also changing, as digital convergence finally occurs. Will the Internet cope gracefully with all this change, or are the cracks already beginning to show? In this paper I examine how the Internet has coped with past challenges resulting in attempts to change the architecture and core protocols of the Internet. Unfortunately, the recent history of failed architectural changes does not bode well. With this history in mind, I explore some of the challenges currently facing the Internet. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]
ISSN:1358-3948
1573-1995
DOI:10.1007/s10550-006-0084-z