Penguin
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Extremely brief history of NetLink

1985

  • VUW Comp Sci provides UUCP access for email/news

1989

  • VUW connects to Internet, permits other agencies to connect if hardware comms costs covered. No traffic charging in place.

1992:

  • U of Waikato starts charging for international traffic, rather than relying on cost sharing
  • VUW holds garage sale to fund a cisco 516CS terminal server to replace pile of PC routers
  • WCC traffic exceeds 1GB/month, with exponential growth at 100% per month. Something Needs To Be Done.
  • December: VUW Internetworking Group formed, charges set.

1993:

  • April: Bills sent out to 7 customers
  • Revenue $100k for year (before expenses)

1994

  • Revenue $250k
  • VUW Finance eyes burgeoning Internet revenues, expecting CSC budget demands to be met. Something Needs To Be Done.
  • "Internet Administrator" position advertised.
  • CTL Comet V-FAST (28kbps) modems used on analogue leased line service. CTL agrees to design a rack-mountable version; first example installed at VUW.
  • Discussions with Victoria Link Ltd (VUW-owned company) to separate Internet operations from CSC.

1995

  • NetLink formed as division of Victoria Link.
  • April: NetLink offers dialup PPP, email and web services, on top of form Internetworking Group leased-line service
  • August: NetLink takes over management of University of Auckland Internet services

1996

  • Expansion into Christchurch (leased-line & dialup) and Dunedin (leased-line only)
  • October: NetLink sponsors General Election web coverage
  • Deployment of NetRadio? wireless Internet service using Proxim equipment (500 kbps)

1997

  • NetLink formed as separate company
  • NetRadio? deployed in Christchurch
  • Colin Wallis appointed as CEO
  • Founding management team, DonStokes & Stuart Wilson resign.

1999

  • October: NetLink sold to TelstraSaturn?