Future trends in the Internet (within the US) will tend towards implementing the Internet as a primary data communications component of the US National Information Infrastructure (NII). While the concept of the NII is still somewhat loosely defined, the impact on the Internet will be seen in two areas: higher bandwidth and greater interconnectivity between Internet components.
The vBNS program is being implemented. This will provide a limited, high-bandwith network linking key facilities (supercomputer centers and the three NAPs). If successful and funding permits, a much larger program -- the National Research and Education Network [16]-- will be undertaken by the US Federal Government. This proposed network (ambitious and somewhat doubtful due to budgetary constraints), if built, will provide a truly national high-speed data transfer capability within the US.
The second major trend within the US Internet is towards greater Internet connectivitiy through MAEs acting as alternate de facto NAPs. The five MAEs listed previously -- plus two others recently implemented by MFS Communications [17] in Houston, TX, and New York, NY, provide interconnectivity between NSP backbone systems, Regional Systems, and ISPs. Though these interconnections are of lower overall capacity than a primary NAP, the trend is for more and more major metropolitan areas to implement MAE or other forms of MAN offering NSP interconnectivity at locations other than a primary NAP. This increased interconnectivity between NSPs should improve the ability of the US Internet to carry data more reliably and, through load balancing that such interconnectivity provides, with better quality of service than is present today.