Vancouver-based Non-profit organization International Association of Virtual Reality Technologies announced to build a network called Neuronet purely to support virtual-reality game and business applications. Neuronet, which is planned to be separate from the Internet will be world’s first public network capable of meeting the data transmission requirements of emerging cinematic and immersive VR technologies.

The first-generation Neuronet is scheduled to go live in 2007, but consumer applications are not to be expected before 2009. IAVRT is overseeing the registration of Neuronet domain names, the group said. Trademark holders can get an early start from February 5 to June 1; the general public is set to get access after June 4. IAVRT membership is open to companies, educational groups and individuals, but the group doesn’t identify its current backers by name.

Aside from this thrilling announcements and smartly designed webpage, honestly i am not convinced about “The Neuronet”. First they said–

The massive overcapacity of fiber optic cable left over from the dot-com era makes the new network feasible with minimal investment…..

That means they are indicating that existing network technology(which is Internet) will be used, so that Neuronet become a minimal investment project. On the other hand they also mention this in one part of their site–

Neuronet domains are not compatible with the Internet, nor will Internet domains be compatible with the Neuronet. The Internet was not designed to support the data transmission requirements of real-time VR data so the Neuronet is being created as a separate and distinct network.

Which i seriously consider mis-information. We already have seen- SecondLife, World Of warcraft offered near life-like character renditions. VR can be developed and transmit through Internet even more efficiently, with lesser effort and cost then creating a new network only for VR. Besides IAVRT is not yet ready for migration of VR into a new network (as you can see in their website, they are still seeking members for IAVRT Committees and no sign of Advisory board).