IEEE celebrates 30th anniversary of 802.3 'Standard for Ethernet'

NEW DELHI, INDIA: The IEEE has recognized the 30th anniversary of IEEE 802.3 'Standard for Ethernet'. IEEE 802.3, the foundation for today's world of high-speed communications, was first approved as an IEEE standard on 23 June, 1983 and since then, has been regularly updated to address evolving market demand by delivering increased capacities and features.

"On May 22, we celebrated the 40th anniversary of the invention of Ethernet at Xerox PARC. Now, on June 23, we celebrate the 30th anniversary of Ethernet's standardization by IEEE 802. Of course, Ethernet has been standardized many times since 1983, with IEEE 802.3 incorporating rapid Ethernet innovation, while maintaining a high degree of backward compatibility. From 2.94 Mb/s to 100 Gb/s, from thick coax to thin, to twisted pairs, to fibers, to Wi-Fi, from CSMA/CD buses to switching hubs, to access points," said Bob Metcalfe, Ethernet inventor and now Prof. of Innovation at The University of Texas at Austin.

"By 1983, there were people buying Ethernet, whom I did not know personally. By 1985, there were people whom I did not know inventing Ethernet. And they continue doing so today with great success using the open standardization processes of IEEE. Congratulations, and thank you."

With more than 1.2 billion ports deployed in 2012 alone, Ethernet is a technology that impacts day-to-day life globally. Initially developed in order to standardize connectivity among computers, printers, servers and other devices inside a local area network (LAN), IEEE 802.3 Ethernet touches a tremendous range of established and emerging technologies, including data-center networks, personal computers, laptops, tablets, smartphones, subscribe access, cellular backhaul, power infrastructure and smart meters, personal medical devices, the Internet of Things and connected cars.

Part of the IEEE 802 suite of end-to-end networking standards, IEEE 802.3's success - from its inception through today - has been its open and transparent development process, which is noted for its rigor and rooted in consensus, due process, openness, right of appeal and balance. The standard's ongoing development process is open to anyone, and all stakeholders directly participate in its ongoing refinement.

"Thousands of individuals throughout the Ethernet ecosystem have participated in the development of IEEE 802.3 Ethernet standard over the last 30 years," said David Law, chair of the IEEE 802.3 Ethernet Working Group and distinguished engineer with HP Networking.

"The spectrum of stakeholders in the standard's success is global and diverse, from individuals employed by manufacturers, to individuals employed by users, to individuals in academia, to name just a very few examples. The efforts of all of them have contributed to the standard's amazing success."

Added Paul Nikolich, chair of the IEEE 802 LAN/MAN Standards Committee and IEEE fellow: "The fact that almost all information flowing in the Internet is possible because it is transported over a flexible IEEE 802.3 Ethernet-compliant infrastructure is a tribute everyone who has in some way contributed to the standard's development, refinement and expansion. Throughout its history, the IEEE 802.3 Ethernet Working Group has reacted well to emerging global market needs. I applaud the effort of the thousands of individuals who have contributed through the working group and to the development process itself."

Innovation of IEEE 802.3 Ethernet is incessant. Frontiers of development for the standard address market needs such as reducing the number of wire pairs required to deliver Gigabit Ethernet for in-vehicle networking and infotainment, energy efficiency and power over Ethernet. Ethernet underpins the Internet, Wi-Fi, Big Data, cloud computing, the smart grid, computer gaming, eHealth, industrial automation and numerous other high-tech applications. Also, IEEE in April 2013 announced the launch of an IEEE 802.3 study group to explore development of a 400 Gb/s Ethernet standard to efficiently support exponential network bandwidth growth.

"IEEE 802.3 standardization has always been market-driven and rooted in openness and due process, and its success in contributing to technology innovation and global market growth is indisputable," said Konstantinos Karachalios, managing director of the IEEE Standards Association (IEEE-SA).

"We join the global Ethernet ecosystem in celebrating IEEE 802.3's 30th anniversary, and we look forward to the transformations in the way that humanity lives, works and plays that the standard's ongoing innovation enables in the decades to come."