Defense Simulation Internet
The Defense Simulation Internet (DSI) was a specialized, wide-area network created to support Distributed Interactive Simulation and videoconferences. It was sponsored by DARPA, and built and operated by BBN Technologies from about 1991-1995.
The DSI evolved from DARPA's earlier Terrestrial Wideband Network, which could provide the realtime multicast with bandwidth guarantees that are essential to distributed interactive simulations. By late 1994, it connected about 100 local area networks around the world. In 1994, DSI program management transitioned to a joint program office of DARPA and DISA, and after the network became fully operational in February 1995, DARPA handed off all management responsibility to DISA.
References
- Distributed Interactive Simulation of Combat, Office of Technology Assessment, DIANE Publishing Company, 1996, page 27.