What is the Backbone ?

The network of large mainframe computers which carry large volumes of Internet traffic from one place to another. Like the backbone of a human being, the Internet backbone carries and supports the whole network.

These communications networks are provided by companies such as AT&T, GTE, IBM, MCI, Netcom, Sprint, UUNET and consist of high-speed links in the T1, T3, OC1 and OC3 ranges. The backbones carry Internet traffic around the world and meet at Network Access Points (NAPs).

Internet Service Providers (ISPs) connect either directly to a backbone, or they connect to a larger ISP with a connection to a backbone.

The topology of the "backbone" and its interconnections may once have resembled a spine with ribs connected along its length but is now almost certainly more like a fishing net wrapped around the world with many circular paths.
  • 1 Users Found This Useful
Was this answer helpful?

Related Articles

What is the 100BaseT ?

A networking standard that supports data transfer rates up to 100 Mbps (100 megabits per second)....

What is the 10BaseT ?

One of several adaptations of the Ethernet (IEEE 802.3) standard for Local Area Networks (LANs)....

A Record ?

What is the A Record ? A) An A (address) record is a part...

What is the ADSL ?

ADSL = Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line. A method for...

What is the Anonymous FTP ?

Anonymous File Transfer Protocol allows the public to log into an FTP server with a common login...

Powered by WHMCompleteSolution