arpanet

from The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (8 July 2008)

Advanced Research Projects Agency Network
ARPANET

   <networking> (ARPANET) A pioneering longhaul {wide area
   network} funded by {DARPA} (when it was still called "ARPA"?).
   It became operational in 1968 and served as the basis for
   early networking research, as well as a central {backbone}
   during the development of the {Internet}.  The ARPANET
   consisted of individual {packet switching} computers
   interconnected by {leased lines}.  {Protocols} used include
   {FTP} and {telnet}.  It has now been replaced by {NSFnet}.

   [1968 or 1969?]

   (1994-11-17)

from V.E.R.A. -- Virtual Entity of Relevant Acronyms (June 2006)

ARPANET
       Advanced Research Projects Agency NETwork (USA, network)