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The Defense Department's exploding use of the Internet has put such a squeeze on network bandwidth that it threatens new strategies to use information technology systems to manage the Pentagon's business and fight wars.
Although the Defense Information Systems Agency has more than doubled capacity on its Non-Classified Internet Protocol Router Network (NIPRNET) during the past year, adding almost 20 terabytes of capacity, DISA still cannot keep up with demand, said Pete Paulson, chief of networks at the agency, which serves as the Pentagon's Internet service provider and phone company.
Although NIPRNET does not handle classified traffic - a secret and secure intranet sends highly classified messages as well as military images - the network carries traffic vital to what top commanders call "network-centric warfare," which relies on IT systems to fight battles and supply U.S. forces around the world.
NIPRNET also hosts the military's thousands of World Wide Web sites, delivering e-mail and...