Definition: ANS

(ANS Communications, Inc, Purchase, NY) An ISP, Internet backbone and provider of private data network services, founded in 1990 as Advanced Network & Services, Inc., by IBM, MCI and Merit (consortium of Michigan universities). The original ANS was formed as a non-profit network services provider for NFSnet, but later added commercial customers through its for-profit ANS CO+RE (COmmercial REsearch) subsidiary.

In 1995, ANS CO+RE was acquired by AOL and changed its name to ANS Communications. The non-profit arm of Advanced Network & Services moved into Internet-based education. In 1997, WorldCom acquired ANS from AOL and completely absorbed it into its UUNET Internet subsidiary. In 2004, WorldCom emerged from bankruptcy as MCI.