JPNIC
 | |
| Type: | Non-profit |
| Industry: | Internet |
| Founded: | 1991 |
| Headquarters: | 6F Kokusai-Kougyou-Kanda Bldg. 2-3-4 Uchikanda, Chiyodaku, Tokyo 101-0047 |
| Country: | Japan |
| Website: | JPNIC |
| Key People | |
| Dr. Shigeki Goto, President | |
Japan Network Information Center (JPNIC) is the national registry of Japan responsible in providing allocation and registration services of IP addresses, AS numbers and supervises the operations of the JP domain names for public interest. JPNIC also serves as coordinator of relevant information and activities of ICANN to the Japanese internet community. JPNIC is a non-profit, membership-based corporation.[1]
History[edit | edit source]
Based on the history of the Japanese Internet, four networks has been instrumental in the establishment of JPNIC. The networks include Japanese University Network (JUNET), Widely Integrated Distributed Environment(WIDE), Todai International Science Network (TISN), and JAIN.[2]
In 1984, Jun Murai, a computer scientist known as the Father of Japanese Internet established JUNET which serves as the cornerstone of Japan's Internet. In 1988, Murai created the WIDE Project a research group to further develop JUNET, and it serves as a foundation for research, development, operations and industrial innovations in computer communications.WIDE became the backbone of Japan’s Internet and it was the first transfer control protocol/Internet protocol (IP) network in the Asia-Pacific region.[3]
In 1989, TISN was set-up as a volunteer-based research WAN interconneting research institutes for science and technology. It is linked to WIDE and JAIN, with communication speeds of 48-64 Kbps. TISN connects to the internet in the US through the Universoty of Hawaii by 128 Kbps cable.JAIN was developed the same year by a research group for the interconnection of campus LANs in Japan.[4]
The expansion of Japanese Internet paved the way to establishment of JNIC in 1991 for registration and information services of JP domain names using specific documented rules.In 1993, JNIC was reorganized as JPNIC, an organization with internet service providers as members. JPNIC was established to anticipate the mushrooming of the commercial use of internet in the future.Jun Murai was the first president of JPNIC. In 1997 The Japanese government officially recognized JPNIC as a non-profit organization responsible in handling IP adress and domain name registration operating for the benefit of the public.[5]
Due to the increasing number of Internet use and demand for domain names,the Japan Registry Service Co., Ltd (JPRS) was created in 2000. During that year, JPNIC also entered an agreement with the Industrial Property Arbitration Center and implemented the JP Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (JP-DRP). The organization also hosted the ICANN Yokohama meeting.[6]
Subsequently in 2002, JPRS signed the ccTLD sponsorship agreement with ICANN and JPNIC officially transferred the responsibility of management and registration of the JP domain names to JPRS. In 2004, the Internet Governance Task Force (IGTF) [7] and VoIP/SIP System Interoperability Task Force [8] were established. In June 2005, Dr. Shegeki Goto succeeded Jun Murai as President of JPNIC. Murai received the 2005 Jon Postel Award.In 2007 the JP-DRP was amended.[9]
Services[edit | edit source]
JPNIC primary services include management of internet resources such as IP addresses(IPv4, IPv6 and AS number), provide IRR service,delegation of reverse DNS zone, provide IP address and ASN related information (Whois database and Statistics),internet infrastructure development which include surveys and trainings,follow-up research information services, ensure that the registry for JP domain name is carried out for public interest as per ICANN-JPRS ccTLD sponsorship agreement; develop the JP Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (JP-DRP), provide data escrow services for JP domain names as well as the coordination of worldwide policy development of to main names.[10]