The internet is a hierarchical system
Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2025 9:05 am
The Global Fiber Optic Skeleton: The internet is a physical thing. The packets of data that make up our digital world travel through a vast, global network of fiber optic cables. These cables, which are made of thin strands of glass, can transmit data as pulses of light at nearly the speed of light.
A massive network of undersea cables connects continent phone number database forming the backbone of the internet. These cables are laid on the ocean floor by specialized ships and are incredibly durable. On land, these backbone networks connect to smaller regional and local networks.
of networks. At the top are the Tier 1 networks, which are large telecommunications companies that own and operate the main arterial routes of the internet backbone. They peer with each other, meaning they exchange traffic without charging each other. Below them are Tier 2 and Tier 3 networks, which are typically ISPs that pay for access to the Tier 1 networks.
Data Centers: The Brains of the Operation: The data, websites, and applications we access online don't just exist in the "cloud." They are stored on physical servers in massive, highly secure buildings called data centers. These data centers are the brains of the internet, housing the computing power and storage that keep the digital world running.
A massive network of undersea cables connects continent phone number database forming the backbone of the internet. These cables are laid on the ocean floor by specialized ships and are incredibly durable. On land, these backbone networks connect to smaller regional and local networks.
of networks. At the top are the Tier 1 networks, which are large telecommunications companies that own and operate the main arterial routes of the internet backbone. They peer with each other, meaning they exchange traffic without charging each other. Below them are Tier 2 and Tier 3 networks, which are typically ISPs that pay for access to the Tier 1 networks.
Data Centers: The Brains of the Operation: The data, websites, and applications we access online don't just exist in the "cloud." They are stored on physical servers in massive, highly secure buildings called data centers. These data centers are the brains of the internet, housing the computing power and storage that keep the digital world running.