|  | 2.3 | Comparison of the OSI Model and the TCP/IP Model
| 2.3.1 | The TCP/IP reference model
Although the OSI reference model is universally recognized, the historical and technical open standard of the Internet is Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP). The TCP/IP reference model and the TCP/IP protocol stack make data communication possible between any two computers, anywhere in the world, at nearly the speed of light. The TCP/IP model has historical importance, just like the standards that allowed the telephone, electrical power, railroad, television, and videotape industries to flourish. To get up-to-date information on networking models and standards, visit the following websites:
| Web Links
| The Internet Engineering Task Force Introduction to the Internet Protocols