On this day, 29th October: The first-ever message was sent over ARPANET - 1969

The October 29, 1969 ARPANET transmission was a milestone in digital communication, marking the moment when computers successfully exchanged data over a network. This transmission, sent between UCLA and the Stanford Research Institute, was intended to transmit the word "LOGIN" but crashed after the first two letters, resulting in "LO." Despite this, the achievement demonstrated the feasibility of long-distance computer networking, a concept initially funded by the U.S. Department of Defense. ARPANET evolved rapidly, setting the stage for packet-switched networking and inspiring the development of the Internet as we know it.

This simple two-letter message unlocked a new era, ultimately shaping every aspect of modern connectivity—from email to social media and beyond.

The message, sent between computers at UCLA and the Stanford Research Institute, was meant to read "LOGIN" but crashed after the first two letters, transmitting only "LO." Despite this minor glitch, the successful transmission demonstrated the potential of networked communication, laying the groundwork for today’s global internet infrastructure and transforming how people communicate, share information, and access knowledge worldwide.

By connecting major universities and research institutions, ARPANET facilitated collaboration among scientists, laying the groundwork for protocols that are still fundamental to today’s internet, like TCP/IP, which ARPANET adopted in 1983. As ARPANET grew, it inspired similar networks around the world, eventually merging into a global system that would become the internet.