What is Abilene? Abilene is a nationwide Internet2 backbone network developed by UCAID in partnership with Qwest Communications, CISCO Systems, Nortel Networks, and Indiana University. While providing a high-performance testbed for advanced applications, Abilene is testing and deploying advanced networking capabilities such as multicasting and quality of service. Abilene operates at 2.4 gigabits per second, nearly 45,000 faster than a typical modem, and connects nearly 90 Internet2 universities around the United States. The Abilene network also interconnects with other high performance national networks such as NSF's and MCI/Worldcom's vBNS, NASA's NREN, and DOD's DREN networks, as well as international networks such as Canada's CA*net-3, the Asia-Pacific APAN/Transpac, Netherland's SURFnet, etc.  The Abiline Project is named after a railhead established in Abilene, Kansas during the 1860's. In its time, this ambitious railhead staked a claim on what was then the frontier of the United States. The Abilene Project establishes a foothold from which to explore and develop pioneering networking technology. The links of the last century's railway changed the way people worked and lived. The Abilene Project will transform the work of researchers and educators in the next millenium.