[AusNOG] [ISOC-AU-mems] Happy Birthday ... AARNet

[Roger Clarke]

At 19:42 +1100 13/3/09, Narelle wrote:
>I just realised that AARNet turns 20 this year. It seems like yesterday.

Unlike the birth of the Web, which is ambiguous, the statement 
'AARNet turns 20 this year' is very difficult to argue about.

But I've only ever nailed down a limited amount of detail:
http://www.rogerclarke.com/II/OzI04.html#8589

"in March 1989, Geoff Huston was transferred from the ANU's payroll 
to the AVCC's to work as the Technical Manager for what was called 
the Australian Academic & Research Network (AARNet).

"He prepared a financial, technical and business plan, and approval 
to proceed was given in about May 1989.

"In May/June 1989, a NASA / University of Hawaii program came to 
fruition with a 56Kbps satellite circuit funded by Australian 
organisations at the Australian end and by the University of Hawaiii 
and NASA at the U.S. end.  [tech quote from Geoff].

"The connection was effected on 23 June 1989 in Robert Elz's 
laboratory at the Uni. of Melbourne."

[I followed developments through 1989, keeping my ANU dept (full of 
accounting and finance people with zero tech skills) off email until 
Geoff assured me in about October 1989 that reliability was "at least 
as good as Australia Post".  Those were words my colleagues could 
understand ... ]

Congrats to all concerned!!

And please send me any corrections and new info, references, evidence.


-- 
Roger Clarke                                 http://www.rogerclarke.com/
			            
Xamax Consultancy Pty Ltd      78 Sidaway St, Chapman ACT 2611 AUSTRALIA
                    Tel: +61 2 6288 1472, and 6288 6916
mailto:Roger.Clarke at xamax.com.au                http://www.xamax.com.au/

Visiting Professor in Info Science & Eng  Australian National University
Visiting Professor in the eCommerce Program      University of Hong Kong
Visiting Professor in the Cyberspace Law & Policy Centre      Uni of NSW