"To deal with the Sino-US game, we must reshape the foundation of the network. Reshaping the foundation of the network is not a new start, not an emergency, but a technological upgrade. The purpose is to ensure the smooth flow of my country's Internet and international interconnection, and promote an open and interconnected Internet spirit." At the Second China Internet Basic Resources Conference (CNIRC 2020) held on November 15, Mao Wei, director of the National Engineering Research Center for Internet Domain Name System (ZDNS), said.
The Sino-U.S. game has touched the interconnection of the foundation of the network
To understand the concept of "network foundation", we must start with the architecture of the Internet. The architecture of the Internet can be roughly divided into three levels: physical facility layer, basic resource layer, and business application layer. The Internet basic resource layer includes basic resources such as domain names, IP addresses, and related service systems such as domain name systems and routing systems. The domain name and IP address are the core basic resources of the Internet. Without an address, the Internet cannot be connected. Any Internet business application must pass through the basic resource layer to be interconnected, so that various businesses can be developed and realized. And the Internet root server we often say is also at this layer, so we compare the Internet basic resource layer to the network foundation.
Due to historical reasons, the United States has an absolute advantage in the global Internet governance system. It holds the "root zone control" of the Internet domain name system, the vast majority of "root server operation rights", and the configuration rights of most domain name resolution software. The seemingly open and equal Internet actually has a "center", and it can take advantage of its advantageous position in the "information center" of global interconnection and adopt various network deterrent methods. Not long ago, the United States launched a "net-net plan" against China. Mao Wei believes that the so-called "clean network" is "disconnection", which has touched the foundation of the network, that is, the basic resource layer of the Internet, affecting the interconnection and interoperability of the Internet, and shaking the Internet.
Technology upgrades create historical opportunities for reshaping the foundation of the network
Reshaping the foundation of the network is a measure that must be taken to deal with the current international situation, and it is also an inevitable choice for technological upgrading. Mao Wei pointed out that the widespread application of 5G, Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, big data and other technologies puts forward higher requirements for network-based technologies. Network-based technologies will play an important role in supporting my country’s Internet and even the development of the country. effect.
At present, new technologies in the field of basic Internet resources emerge in endlessly, such as root zone file service technology, root server expansion technology, blockchain technology, IP routing information control authentication technology, and so on. The application of these new technologies, on the one hand, greatly improves the efficiency and security of network foundation operations, and at the same time objectively helps break the traditional monopoly of network foundation control and change the network foundation global governance structure. Therefore, grasping the historical opportunity of technological upgrading and effectively and orderly promoting the reshaping of the network foundation has become a top priority. Mao Wei suggested that a government-driven, enterprise-led, and technology-driven model can be considered. In key industries and fields related to the national economy and people's livelihood, priority deployment and upgrades are encouraged, application demonstrations are formed through first trials, and then normalized implementation is gradually promoted.
Finally, Mao Wei emphasized that reshaping the foundation of the network is not about starting anew. It is not a temporary emergency, but to conform to the inevitable trend of global network technology upgrading. The purpose of reshaping the foundation of the network is to ensure the safe and stable operation of my country’s Internet and international interconnection. And in this process, we also hope to learn from advanced international experience, share more Chinese scientific and technological achievements with the world, and make more "Chinese contributions" in the tide of reshaping the foundation of the network.
The 2nd China Internet Basic Resources Conference is guided by the National Internet Information Office and hosted by China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC) and Computer Network Information Center (CNIC) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. It focuses on the technological frontiers in the field of basic Internet resources and promotes the development of basic Internet resource technology systems. perfect. Academicians Hu Qiheng, Zhou Hongren, Wu Hequan, He Dequan, Shen Changxiang, Wu Jianping, Qian Hualin and well-known experts in the industry attended the conference.