The early computer network called ARPANET, which is considered to be the progenitor of the internet of our days, was developed for DARPA by J. C. R. Licklider, Robert Taylor and other researchers, and was put into service 45 years ago, on 21 November 1969. The first link was created between two super-computers at UCLA and Stanford Research Institute (Menlo Park). The image below shows the first ARPANET IMP log:

In 1973, the government of the United States commissioned Vinton Cerf and Robert E. Kahn to develop a national computer network. The network was intended to serve military, governmental and institutional communication.

ARPANET was initially designed for the exchange of files only, but users soon requested to have electronic mailing and mail lists, and their requests were fulfilled. It became obvious that the network played a key role in terms of scientific collaboration and advancement. Since the network could only be used by institutions contracted with US Department of Defense, a solution had to be found for other universities as well. In 1983, when the military section (MILNET) was separated from the network, what was left was similar to the internet, the backbone of which would be formed by ARPANET. However, the problem remained as ARPANET was originally the network of the Department of Defense. It was in the late 1980s that the National Science Foundation created its NSFNET network to replace ARPANET, which was discontinued in 1990.