The Internet originates in technology developed for the purpose of military research. During the Cold War era, the United States conducted research on a decentralized computer network, resulting in the development of the ARPANET in 1969, the predecessor of today’s global Internet.
As the ARPANET grew out of military purposes, it came into use for academic research by connecting itself to the NSFNET developed by the National Science Foundation.
In the 1990s, commercial use of the Internet was promoted. With the invention of the World Wide Web, the number of Internet users increased explosively.
In Japan, researchers from the Tokyo Institute of Technology, Keio University and the University of Tokyo joined together to launch the experimental network JUNET (Japan University NETwork) in 1984, paving the way for today’s digital environment.
The following explains the history of the Internet in more detail. However, this is just a brief summary, so if you are interested in its history, surf the web or visit libraries for more information.
The predecessor of the Internet is the ARPANET launched in 1969 by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) of the United States Department of Defense as part of its military research. (The original name of DARPA was simply the Advanced Research Projects Agency.) The creation of the ARPANET was based on the idea that decentralizing military data works better than the integrated control of information by one large computer: In the event of nuclear attack, it can keep damage to a minimum, or in other words, it increases preparedness for crises.
In 1973, DARPA made the TCP/IP model available to the public for free. Network technology developed on the ARPANET was transferred from military control to the National Science Foundation (NSF) in the 1980s, developing into the NSFNET designed for the purpose of academic study by universities and research institutions. At that point, however, it was not allowed to be used for other purposes.
In Japan, the prototype of the Internet started with joint research by the University of Tokyo, Keio University and Tokyo Institute of Technology. In 1984, they played a leading role in the launch of JUNET, which later developed into the WIDE project by realizing interconnection with overseas networks. In 1991, the Commercial Internet Exchange (CIX) was established, and the agreement was reached among several parties to put no restrictions on commercial use of the Internet. As a result, the number of Internet users increased by leaps and bounds.
The 1992 establishment of IIJ, an Internet service provider for commercial use, opened the way for Internet connections by private business organizations and individuals. After the launch of IIJ, many others poured into the Internet service providing business, boosting the number of providers to 2,661 in March 1998, up 56% from the previous year. Behind its growth were the deregulatory measures to promote the telecommunications business since 1985. The introduction of competition into the telecommunications market and the privatization of the Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Public Corporation that happened in the same year contributed to the remarkable development of the telecommunications industry later on. Incidentally, the Internet provider business includes Type I, General Type II, and Special Type II telecommunications carriers authorized by the Telecommunications Business Law.
In July 1998, the number of worldwide online computers reached 36.73 million, a year-on-year increase from 16.15 million, up as much as 127.4 %. In Japan, the number increased from 960,000 to 1.35 million, up 40.6 % from the year before. By international standards, however, it remains on a lower level.