# Bergen Linux User Group's pigeon-carried IP packet sells for $20,480 at auction

> **Key takeaway:** A framed datagram carried by carrier pigeon in a 2001 BLUG networking experiment sold at Christie's for $20,480, far exceeding the $3,000 estimate.

**Published:** 2026-10-19T02:00:12+00:00 
**Source:** Hackaday Hardware 
**Category:** open-hardware 
**Canonical URL:** https://fosswire.org/news/bergen-linux-user-groups-pigeon-carried-ip-packet-sells-for-.html 

## Summary
The Bergen Linux User Group's 2001 experiment in avian IP networking has concluded with a Christie's auction result of $20,480 for the framed data packet. The Norwegian group sent the datagram via carrier pigeon as a deliberate contrast to slow ADSL speeds of the era. The winning bid dramatically exceeded the auction house's $3,000 estimate.

## The pigeon datagram experiment
- In 2001, BLUG sent an IP packet via carrier pigeon from one Linux user to another in Bergen, Norway
- The experiment was a commentary on the slow 1-2 Mbps ADSL speeds available at the time
- The datagram was later framed and offered at Christie's with a $3,000 pre-sale estimate
- Final hammer price was $20,480, nearly seven times the estimate
- The event is a notable piece of open-source community history and internet folklore

## Why it matters
The auction result elevates a classic piece of hacker culture into the realm of collectible tech history, potentially drawing broader attention to early open-source community creativity.