Birth of the Internet: A historic development in communications

January 1, 1983

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, Updated At : 05:44 PM Jan 01, 2025 IST

Illustration by Sandeep Joshi

On the cold night of January 1, 1983, the world witnessed a quiet but monumental shift in technology and communication — one that would later revolutionise every aspect of modern life. This was the day the Advanced Research Projects Agency Network (ARPANET) transitioned to the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), marking the official birth of what we now call the Internet.

The roots of this groundbreaking moment lie in the Cold War era. The US Department of Defence initiated ARPANET in the late 1960s to create a decentralised communication system that could survive potential nuclear attacks. However, the protocol governing this network, known as the Network Control Protocol (NCP), was becoming outdated by the late 1970s. It could not support the growing complexity and diversity of interconnected networks.

Enter TCP/IP, a revolutionary protocol suite was developed by Vinton Cerf and Robert Kahn. The genius of TCP/IP lies in its ability to standardise communication between different types of networks. This protocol suite divides data into packets, routes them independently and reassembles them at the destination. Such a system ensures reliable, efficient and scalable communication — a cornerstone of today’s Internet.

January 1, 1983, was designated as the ‘flag day’ for the ARPANET's complete transition to TCP/IP. On this day, all connected systems had to adopt the new protocol. It was no small feat: engineers across the globe worked tirelessly to convert existing systems, ensuring seamless communication under the new standard. Once the transition was complete, ARPANET transformed from a closed research network into the foundational layer of the Internet, capable of connecting diverse systems worldwide.

The significance of this transition cannot be overstated. TCP/IP enabled the creation of a ‘network of networks’, laying the groundwork for global connectivity. By allowing different networks to interconnect and communicate, it became possible to transcend geographical, organisational and technological barriers.

The ARPANET’s migration to TCP/IP was only the beginning. Over the next few decades, this nascent Internet would grow to become an indispensable part of human life. From the development of the World Wide Web in the early 1990s to the explosion of social media and e-commerce in the 21st century, the Internet owes its existence to the decision made on January 1, 1983.

Today, as we marvel at how seamlessly we can send emails, stream videos, or collaborate in real time across continents, it is worth remembering the engineers, scientists and visionaries who made it all possible. Their work not only solved the technical challenges of their time but also opened the door to innovations that have transformed how we live, work and connect with one another.

The creation of the Internet on that cold January day was more than a technological milestone; it was the dawn of a new era in human history — one defined by boundless possibilities and interconnectedness.

Birth of the Internet: A historic development in communications

Sanjay Khurana

Tribune News Service

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