THE NEXT CHAPTER OF IRC STARTS HERE

United Beyond Boundaries.
United Beyond Network.

The spirit of IRC never disappeared. We are bringing it forward with open conversations, shared interests and a fresh space for a timeless community.

Enter the Network ↗ Explore Channels ↓

✳ Open conversations ✳ Themed channels ✳ IRC heritage

UBNET / #ubnet ● LIVE

// Welcome to the network

> Connecting to chat.ubnet.org

✓ Connection established

*** You have joined #ubnet

<community> Welcome to a new era of IRC 👋

<you> Great to be here!

✳ Your next conversation starts here

● SECURE EXPERIENCE IRC, REIMAGINED

1988 IRC was born

16 Channels to explore

∞ Conversations ahead

01 / OUR PURPOSE

Old roots.
New energy.

IRC built something extraordinary: open, real-time communities where anyone could belong.

Over time, parts of the IRC world have felt frozen in another era. UBnet exists to keep its traditions alive while making the experience welcoming, contemporary and worth discovering again.

Our name began as United Beyond Boundaries — an idea about connection without limits. Today it becomes United Beyond Network: a place to carry that idea into every channel, topic and conversation.

“Preserve the culture. Renew the experience. Connect beyond boundaries.”

02 / THE LEGACY

From the first message
to today.

Before modern social platforms, IRC was already connecting the world in real time.

1988

IRC is born

Jarkko Oikarinen creates Internet Relay Chat in Finland, changing live online communication.

1990s

A global movement

IRC networks and channels flourish as communities form around interests and identities.

2000s

The community era

Open-source projects, gamers and countless online groups continue meeting on IRC.

Today

A living protocol

IRC still powers communities across the world, and UBnet aims to welcome the next generation.

Networks that shaped IRC

THE PIONEERS & THEIR LEGACY

EFnet

One of the earliest and most influential IRC networks.

IRCnet

A major network that emerged from IRC's early history.

Undernet

Known for its independent network culture and channel services.

DALnet

Helped popularise nickname and channel registration services.

QuakeNet

An important meeting place for online gaming communities.

freenode / Libera Chat

Important homes for open-source communities, with Libera Chat launched in 2021.

Read the original IRC documentation: RFC 1459 ↗

03 / FIND YOUR PEOPLE

One network.
Every conversation.

Choose a channel and start talking. No endless feeds — just people and ideas.

# Community

#ubnet

Official Network Hub

The official home of the UBnet community.

United Beyond Boundaries. United Beyond Network.

Old roots. New energy.

From the first message to today.

IRC is born

A global movement

The community era

A living protocol

Networks that shaped IRC

One network. Every conversation.

#ubnet

#chat

#linux

#coding

#movies

#philosophy

#football

#music

#poetry

#gaming

#social

#science

#books

#photography

#travel

#help

Your channel. Your community.

Be part of what's next.

Say hello.

United Beyond Boundaries.
United Beyond Network.

Old roots.
New energy.

From the first message
to today.

One network.
Every conversation.

Your channel.
Your community.