The transition from Abilene to the new network began in the fall of 2006. With the objective of minimizing disruption to existing connectivity and services, the deployment plan, developed in concert with Regional Optical Networks and existing network connectors, started in the northeast and will follow a generally westward geographical sequence. The network's optical capabilities are being used to transition connections in the near term and to allow a measured upgrade pace to the dual 10 Gbps connections that will enable connectors to offer both IP and Dedicated Circuit services.
On December 5, 2006 at the Fall 2006 Internet2 Member Meeting, the first major segment of the new network was officially "lit". The link between New York City; Washington, D.C.; and Chicago demonstrated dynamic provisioning capabilities and the world's only 100 Gbps interface. NYSERNet, the research and education network consortium serving New York State, was the first regional network to migrate to the new Internet2 Network infrastructure and helped demonstrate the connection with a live presentation from their point of presence in Manhattan to the Internet2 meeting in Chicago. The network deployment is expected to be complete in July 2007.