Internetas

Internetas is the global system of interconnected computer networks that use the Internet protocol suite (TCP/IP) to link billions of devices worldwide. It enables a wide range of services, including the World Wide Web, email, file transfer, and real-time communications.

Origins trace to research networks in the United States in the 1960s, notably ARPANET, which adopted packet switching and TCP/IP. The network grew through the 1970s and 1980s, and in 1983 the ARPANET switched to TCP/IP, becoming the dominant standard. The World Wide Web, invented by Tim Berners-Lee at CERN in 1989, popularized the Internet in the 1990s.

Core architecture consists of end-user access networks connected to backbone networks via routers and switches. Data is transmitted in packets using the TCP/IP suite. The Domain Name System translates human-readable names to numeric addresses. The Web runs primarily over HTTP/HTTPS, but the Internet supports many protocols, including SMTP, FTP, and streaming protocols.

Governance and standards are maintained by organizations such as the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) and the Internet Society (ISOC), which coordinate technical standards. The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) and ITU oversee policy and coordination, while many regional and national bodies implement infrastructure and regulation.

Impact: The Internet has transformed communication, commerce, education, and media. It enables global markets, online services, and information access, but also raises concerns about privacy, security, digital divide, data governance, and cyber threats. Access remains uneven, with disparities in infrastructure, affordability, and digital literacy.

Infrastructure: Global reach depends on submarine cables, data centers, and wireless networks. IPv6 introduction addresses address exhaustion and supports scalable addressing; ongoing deployment and peering arrangements influence performance and resilience.