The Ethernet spec was first drafted on this day in 1980
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- The Ethernet specification version 1.0 was published on September 30, 1980, by DEC, Intel, and Xerox (DIX), nearly three years before the modern internet existed.
- The DIX standard allowed any vendor to implement Ethernet hardware, fostering industrywide adoption and replacing earlier LAN connectivity reluctance from computer manufacturers.
- Ethernet evolved from coaxial cable at 10 Mbps in 1980 to RJ45 connectors and twisted-pair cabling in 1990, with speeds increasing tenfold to 100 Mbps by 1995 and 1 Gbps by 1999.
- Modern Ethernet ports support 2.5G and 10G speeds using Cat6a or better cabling, while data centers use 800 Gbps+ Ethernet over fiber optics.
- Wired Ethernet remains preferred for speed, low latency, and stability despite Wi-Fi advances, leading users to adopt USB-C to Ethernet dongles on devices lacking RJ45 ports.