ILAN is a network owned and operated by Machba - the Israeli Interuniversity Computer Center (IUCC). Machba is an association owned by the eight principal universities in Israel. ILAN, the IsraeLi Academic Network, was formed in November 1988 as an outgrowth of the Bitnet network that existed in Israel. The initial network, established in 1984, has been dedicated since then to universities, academic and research institutes as well as non-profit research institutes.