Abstract Wired drill pipe (WDP) has been used in over 100 wells worldwide to provide high-bandwidth communications between the surface and tools deployed in the wellbore. Such enhanced access to real-time data improves decision making, opens the door for advanced drilling processes such as automated drilling, and gives visibility to downhole conditions where never before possible. WDP creates a high-speed drillstring network at the wellsite that operates independently of drilling fluid, enabling communications for the widest range of drilling applications and conditions. In addition, the network provides real-time memory/wireline-quality data not only from tools in the bottom hole assembly but also from tools that may be arrayed at intermediate points along the drillstring. These and other attributes of a drillstring network are compelling given the drilling challenges encountered in today's wells. Indeed, the numerous deployments in which wired drillpipe has been used have demonstrated that the network provides significant value to the drilling process in terms of drilling safety, efficiency and performance. Learnings and experience gained across these operations have driven the development of a new and enhanced version of the drillstring network. This second generation high-speed drillstring network includes improvements to the design of wired drillpipe, a new generation of distributed network electronics, and a graphical surface network controller. These enhancements and their utility with respect to improving drilling processes are discussed here in detail. These improvements are designed to create a more stable, robust and reliable network system. Further, the enhanced graphical surface controller expands network diagnostic capabilities and reduces the learning curve for network users. Revisions to the wired drillpipe design will result in lower cost of ownership and more cost-effective deployment of the technology, further improving the value the system can provide.