EBONE (standing for European Backbone) was a pan-European Internet backbone. It went online in September 1992 and was deactivated in July 2002. Some portions of the EBONE were sold to other companies and continue to operate today.

History

Formation

The first meeting to discuss the formation of EBONE occurred on September 1, 1991. The final link in the initial backbone design of EBONE was made on Sunday September 26, 1992, between London and Montpellier. Ebone had a variety of offices around Europe, with technical center and control center in Hoeilaart Belgium and Sales & Management offices in London.

Operation

EBONE became one of Europe's leading broadband optical and IP network service providers, a Tier 1 carrier. On July 12, 1999, Global TeleSystems Group, Inc. (GTS) became full owner and operator of EBONE.

Shutdown

In October 2001, KPNQwest acquired EBONE and the Central Europe businesses of GTS and completed their EuroRings network.

Following the Dot com crash and various investigations, KPNQwest declared bankruptcy. In June 2002, it was announced that the EBONE Network Operations Center would be shut down, and the EBONE would be deactivated.

Employees in the EBONE Network Operations Center and elsewhere attempted to keep the network running for many weeks after the last possible sale of the company fell through, but eventually were told to shut down the network and abandon the building, which they did on July 2, 2002.

External links

• EBONE, Defined
• Official Announcement of the Completion of EBONE
• GTS Increases its Stake in Ebone to 100 Percent
• KPNQwest Purchases EBONE
• Archives of the Closure of EBONE

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Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia; from the article "EBONE". Image Credit.