What does a public data Internet do?

Public data Internets (PDIs) provide the capability for their customers to exchange information with other firms, government agencies, and research institutions throughout the world via the Internet. The author provides an overview of the PDI industry and current status. Although the percentage of PDI traffic over the Internet is small, PDI use will grow as more and more corporations and institutions discover the benefits of internetworking with their customers and collaborators across the globe. The TCP/IP protocol, PDI interconnections, and network information service centers available to assist users in locating and obtaining information throughout the Internet are discussed