Internet2 provides the increased speed and bandwidth needed to make desktop videoconferencing a valuable communications tool. The video and audio signals are digitized, compressed, packetized, and then transmitted. Some products transmit the audio and video independent of each other, while others send the video and audio packetized together. MCUs require someone to administer them. The administrator can set up sessions in several ways.
Remote locations can also participate via microwave antenna or satellite.
An MCU can process several videoconferences simultaneously, but the number of participants in all concurrent sessions is limited by the MCU software license. Connections for videoconference participants are arranged by an administrator, who can allow only specific participants, a number of open connections, or both. Conferences demonstrate videoconferencing Videoconferencing has been tested extensively, and it is no longer as problematic or expensive as it has been. In October 1999, ACNS participated in another videoconference demonstration at the Internet2 Megaconference. For this demonstration, many distant locations around the world were connected in real-time.