Technical foundations for business

The Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) develops standards, documented in RFCs, that are freely available and widely adopted by Internet users, network operators, and equipment vendors, and define the technical foundations of the Internet.

IETF standards, and the processes by which they are developed, ensure Internet technologies are open, globally interoperable, reliable, and secure. Anyone—engineers and entrepreneurs—can build with and build on IETF standards. Open IETF processes ensure technically robust standards so that independently developed software and tools work globally.

Major innovations developed in the IETF over the past three decades have enabled new capabilities, fostered new services, and created new industries around the world. In a world where every corporation relies on the Internet both for internal administration and connecting with customers, every corporation has a stake in the IETF.  Whole industries have been built with IETF specifications at their core, and some far-sighted companies recognize this by supporting the IETF:

• Internet equipment and services: Cisco, Juniper, Ericsson, Huawei
• Internet operators: Nokia, Comcast, Hurricane Electric
• Internet services: Akamai, Oracle, Cloudflare 
• Domain names: Verisign, ICANN, Identity Digital
• IP addresses: ARIN, RIPE NCC, LACNIC
• Media: NBC Universal, Netflix
• Social Media: Meta, Google

“The IETF is tackling real-world issues at a global scale, and the standards it develops are critical to innovation. For business models reliant on an open, ever-evolving Internet, the IETF is an invaluable resource of experts unlike any other. Ericsson is proud to support the work of the IETF to ensure both the future of the IETF and the Internet as one of our most valuable technical resources.” 

- Gonzalo Camarillo, Head of Data, IT Standardization, Ericsson

The reason the IETF’s collaborative, bottom-up model for creating standards works is because the industry participates. Individuals volunteer their time, employers often fund individuals’ participation in in-person meetings, and organizations sponsor the IETF’s efforts. Companies and other organizations of all sizes from everywhere in the world support the IETF through:

Direct participation: Contributing to the IETF’s work as an individual is a simple process. Anyone can join a working group mailing list and watch what's going on there, contribute and review documents, provide feedback, and share ideas.

Supporting participation: Organizations contribute to the IETF by supporting staff who participate. This support can involve giving employees time off to attend meetings and paying for their travel expenses.

Sponsoring the IETF: Another way organizations contribute is through financial support. The IETF uses sponsorship funds to help cover meeting costs, to pay for communications platforms and other infrastructure surrounding mailing lists, and to compensate a Secretariat that provides administrative, management, and coordination services.

In return for active participation and support, industry reaps the benefits of a stable, reliable, always-improving Internet that incorporates its requirements and experience into its technical foundations.

Being involved in the IETF’s work keeps individuals and organizations in touch with changing technologies – and gives them a hand in developing those technologies.

Support for the IETF helps ensure a global community and open processes that produce technically excellent standards.