The development of the network comes out of a realization that the fundamental technology underlying today's Internet could not support these applications. For example, one of the most critical technologies for enabling a new generation of applications is QoS, which introduces the concept of prioritizing data traffic. QoS ensures that time-sensitive voice or video packets don't get held up behind emails or Web downloads. QoS also makes it possible to reserve bandwidth, allowing a remote medical specialist to assist in a medical operation over the Internet without having to contend with degradation in the quality of the connection as home users check sports scores. As an analogy, today's Internet can be compared to a socialist environment.
Every user receives an equal share of the available bandwidth.
If 100 people are using the network, each will receive one hundredth of the available bandwidth. In contrast, the Internet2 is capitalist in nature. Users willing to pay more are able to receive a better service, similar to first class, business class and economy class on an airplane. This fundamental change allows economics to ensure that bandwidth resources are used more efficiently, and the QoS technology developed and tested on the Internet2 will affect how the Internet operates over the coming decade. The IUCC was established in 1988 as a consortia of Israel's eight public universities, tasked with coordinating and enhancing the country's university network.