How the Internet Got Started
The Internet was born from an idea. The idea was to chop up messages and send them through a network of computers in a series of transmissions, which the destination computers would then reassemble and send. American engineer Paul Baran and Welsh scientist Donald W. Davies are credited with this revolutionary idea, which was later incorporated into the Internet by the Pentagon’s Advanced Research Projects Agency. The Pentagon hired scientists from leading universities to develop the concept.
Today, hundreds of thousands of miles of cables crisscross the globe, and more are laid on ocean floors. The modern internet is supported by more than 300 such cables, which are each about as thick as a garden hose. Most of these cables are made of hair-thin fibre optics, which transmit data at the speed of light. The internet, then, can function across countries in a matter of seconds. There are three main types of cables: submarine cable and terrestrial cable.
ARPAnet originated in 1969. The purpose of ARPA was to facilitate immediate communication within the Department in case of war. The project began with the installation of computers at U.S. universities involved in defense-related research. As time went on, the internet moved from military to scientific use. The government began handing over the administration of the ARPAnet to a variety of organizations, including the National Science Foundation. Since then, the Internet has evolved into the commercially funded Internet that millions of people use every day.
Some parts of Africa are catching up fast, with more than half of the population now online. Some of the fastest growing countries in Africa are South Africa, Morocco, and Uganda, while the average internet access in the rest of the continent is between seven and eleven percent. For comparison, in the UK, internet access is prevalent in 99% of 16-to-34 year-olds. For countries like Egypt and Nigeria, internet access is still limited and expensive, even for those with better infrastructure.
As 3G networks became more widespread in other countries, the speed of the internet increased. In Nepal, it took nearly four years for the 200 millionth 3G subscriber to connect to the network. In addition to internet users, 3G networks are also being used to power medical devices, fire alarms, and ankle monitors. This is one of the first times that the cellular networks have been used to connect millions of people to the internet. The 3G network revolutionized the way we connect to the internet.
However, while there are many benefits to 3G, the cost of this technology is high. Using this technology requires a lot of power, which means it’s no longer feasible to use in many rural areas. As a result, 3G will soon become obsolete. As the network transitions to 5G, the cost of electricity will drop significantly. It’s important to note that 3G networks are also expected to close. The US is also preparing for the 3G shutdown.
