In 1983, the creation and implementation of the Transfer Control Protocol/Internetwork Protocol (TCP/IP) marked the official birth of the Internet as we know it today. TCP/IP, developed by Vint Cerf and Bob Kahn, provided a robust and scalable framework for data communication across interconnected networks. This protocol suite enabled disparate computer networks to communicate with each other, laying the foundation for the global Internet. For amateur radio operators, the adoption of TCP/IP opened new possibilities for digital communication, including packet radio and Internet-linked repeater systems like EchoLink and IRLP. This pivotal development in networking technology revolutionized global communication, fostering unprecedented connectivity and collaboration.
