The main objective of the CERNET project is to establish a nation-wide education and research network infrastructure to support education and research in and among universities, institutes and schools in China using the up-to-date telecommunication and computer techniques. Its specific aims are as follows:

(1)Establish a nationwide backbone which connects eight regional networks and connect them to the global Internet.

(2)Set up a national network center.

(3)Set up ten regional network nodes.

(4)Adopt TCP/IP as the network protocol and establish network management systems.

(5)Provide Internet applications and develop China's information resources and applications.