The Dot-Com Boom and Bust (1990s–Early 2000s): The internet goes public. And wireless.
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{This is the 2nd in a series of posts that explore the impact of the network on our world to mark the 40th anniversary of Cisco, previous chapters can be found here}
The 1990s brought the internet into our homes, marking the start of its transformation from a niche tool to an everyday essential. The introduction of the World Wide Web in 1991 by Tim Berners-Lee started to make accessing information simpler and more intuitive. Soon, companies like AOL and CompuServe connected millions, allowing people to shop online, email, and read the news. Films like Hackers (1995) brought the possibilities and vulnerabilities of a connected world to the social imaginary just as network and security started to become part of the same conversation.
By 1997, the IEEE 802.11 standard for wireless networking opened up new possibilities to be connected and mobile at the same time. Innovations like Cisco Aironet used radio technology to untether existing local area networks (LAN) from a physical cable. These were our first steps towards hybrid work, giving people the ability to check emails, browse the Internet, and log onto networks from virtually anywhere. Widespread adoption and the recognisable Wi-Fi branding would come in the early 2000s.
Voice over IP (VoIP) emerged, shifting phone calls from traditional lines to the internet, cutting costs and expanding possibilities for global communication. Early video conferencing tools like CU-SeeMe showed the network could handle multimedia, setting the stage for the real-time collaboration tools we rely on today. Cisco’s Catalyst switches helped businesses expand their networks to handle the internet’s rapid growth, enabling e-commerce platforms and data centres to flourish.
Transforming the 20th century:
The dot-com bubble was a reality check. While the internet didn’t transform the world overnight, it created the foundation for today’s digital giants, from Amazon to Netflix, and redefined business and communication.
Convergence point:
By absorbing telephony, video, and wireless connectivity, the network became more than infrastructure – it was becoming a unifying platform, that would continue to integrate the emerging technologies that were about to shape our future.
Next: Chapter 3: The Social and Mobile Web Era (2004–2010): Always connected
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