Decoding the Enigma of Internet Connectivity

Welcome to the fascinating world of the internet, where electronic connections create a complex web that connects individuals, knowledge, and ideas from all over the world. From listening to music on Spotify to watching your favorite vlog on YouTube, Internet is being used everywhere. Understanding how the internet functions have become crucial in this day and because we won’t be able to find solutions to the problems caused by the internet when we don’t have an idea about what the problem is. Certain questions you might have thought of

1. Why do we have to pay for the Internet if it is merely a collection of interconnected networks?
2. Why do different internet provider companies have different tariff plans?
3. Why does Internet speed vary time to time?
4. Why are there still so many areas where people lack internet access?

I’m Ravindra Kanitkar, and in this blog, we embark on an exhilarating journey to understand the inner workings of the internet. Together, we’ll peel back the layers of this vast interconnected network, decoding the mechanisms that make it all possible.

THE INTERNET

The Internet is a global network of interconnected computers and devices that communicate and exchange information through a standardized set of protocols, enabling users worldwide to access and share a vast range of resources, services, and information. For most of us, the Internet is a kind of virtual thing where we send and receive emails, watch YouTube videos, listen to podcasts, and much more thing. We can live for some time without food/water, but we won’t be able to live without the Internet. Rather it’s a more abstract term where a lot of functionality happens behind it.

3 TIERS OF ISP

At the heart of the Internet’s infrastructure lies the vital role of Internet Service Providers (ISPs). ISPs operate on three tiers in order to sustain gigantic data flow globally. The 3rd Tier consists of local ISPs (Hathway) which are responsible for providing the internet directly to the end users. The 2nd Tier consists of ISPs which are responsible to maintain and manage the Internet flow within the continent. Tier 1 companies which are indeed the main layer of the Internet infrastructure, have deployed a large network of intercontinental fiber optic cables and managed them. If a fiber optic cable is cut, whether due to reasons like a shark bite or a ship’s anchor, it can disrupt internet access for the people residing in that particular continent. Ultimately, accessing the internet involves a cooperative journey that relies on the combined efforts of three different companies, each operating within its own tier.

At the heart of the Internet’s infrastructure lies the vital role of Internet Service Providers (ISPs). ISPs operate on three tiers in order to sustain gigantic data flow globally. The 3rd Tier consists of local ISPs (Hathway) which are responsible for providing the internet directly to the end users. The 2nd Tier consists of ISPs which are responsible to maintain and manage the Internet flow within the continent. Tier 1 companies which are indeed the main layer of the Internet infrastructure, have deployed a large network of intercontinental fiber optic cables which needs to be managed. If a fiber optic cable is cut, whether due to reasons like a shark bite or a ship’s anchor, it can disrupt internet access for the people residing in that particular continent. Ultimately, accessing the internet involves a cooperative journey that relies on the combined efforts of three different companies, each operating within its own tier.

DATA COMMUNICATION

Now that we have a basic understanding of how the internet is transmitted globally, let’s explore how data flows between devices and through cables. To illustrate this, let’s consider an example: when we share a video reel with our friend on Instagram using our mobile device. Despite happening in a fraction of a second, let’s break down the journey and examine the mechanisms at play in each stage of the data flow process. But before that, let’s understand the concept of IP Address. An IP address is a unique address that identifies a device on the internet or a local network. IP stands for “Internet Protocol,” which is the set of rules governing the format of data sent via the Internet or local network. Think of your home as your personal device, and just like you have a home address that identifies where you live, your device also has a unique address called an IP (Internet Protocol) address. This IP address distinguishes your device from others on the internet, allowing data to be sent to and received by your device specifically, similar to how mail is delivered to your home address.

We know that the computer understands the binary language i.e. the language of 0s and 1s. So, if our reel size of 2 MB then our data (reel) is converted into a series of 0s and 1s. In our case will be 16000000 bits. It’s huge? So, to maintain a fast flow of these data files, our data is broken down into more manageable packets. Consider these packets as a letter in an envelope. Each envelope gets a header that consists of where the packet originated, where it is going, and a bunch of other details. Think of the data transmission process as similar to a postal system with rules and regulations. Like in the postal system, there are certain key points to ensure, such as data integrity and correctness, before transmitting the data. For example, imagine you and your boss are on the same network, and you’re filling out a job application while your boss is browsing Google. Now, imagine a situation where some packets of your job application accidentally end up on your boss’s computer instead of reaching the right destination, potentially revealing confidential information. To prevent such embarrassing situations, error correction techniques like parity bit checks, checksums, and error correction codes like Hamming code are used to maintain the proper flow of data within devices, ensuring accurate and secure transmission.

Once we have the packets, our goal is to transmit them smoothly to their final destination. This is made possible with the assistance of various networking devices that facilitate fast and efficient transmission, ensuring that all the packets reach their intended location in no time. All the networking devices have their own IP address assigned to them by ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) which is a non-profit organization responsible for coordinating the maintenance and procedures of several databases related to the namespaces and numerical spaces of the Internet, ensuring the network’s stable and secure operation.
The data packets are now transferred to your nearby router with the help of radio waves. We assign one frequency for transmitting 0s and a different frequency for transmitting 1s. When these waves reach the router, it identifies and distinguishes the frequencies, effectively recognizing which ones represent 0s and which ones represent 1s.

The router takes these radio waves and converts them into pulses of electrical signals (if the cable is made of copper) or pulses of laser light (if the cable is made of optical fiber) for transmission through cables or wires. You might be wondering why we don’t use radio waves exclusively to access the internet instead of cables. The straightforward answer is that while radio waves can cover a distance of around 30 meters (100 feet) indoors, their range is limited and influenced by factors like frequency, power, and the environment. To enable long-distance communication, optical fiber cables are employed, connecting LANs, internet hubs, and various networking devices. These cables ensure reliable and high-speed transmission over extended distances. The cables at the back of the router connect to wires owned by our ISPs, which ultimately lead to the INTERNET HUB. The hub acts as a central point where different networks owned by various ISPs converge. It helps determine the most efficient route for data packets by analyzing the packet header, ensuring a smooth and effective transfer of information. The reason for having internet hubs is quite simple: when we send a reel from my Instagram to my friend’s phone, and we are using different ISPs, there needs to be a central point where all the wires come together and distinguish the destination address. Internet hubs serve as this central point, ensuring efficient communication between different networks and ISPs.

The reel (data packets) that you sent from your mobile phone reaches successfully to your friend’s mobile and he gets a notification about it. This is how the internet works. But still, we discussed the Tier 1 companies, what is their role of them. Let me reveal an important aspect that I haven’t mentioned before to help explain the process. Imagine you’re sending a reel on Instagram, whose servers are located in the United States to your friend and both of you are living in India. Your reel is stored on Instagram’s servers, and it needs to be sent from there. This is where the Tier 1 company’s cables play a crucial role. Your request travels from your mobile device to Instagram through various servers and networking devices. Once the request is received, Instagram's backend algorithm checks it, and if everything is in order, they send the reel back to your friend’s mobile using the same process. Each ISP has its own network of cables and devices. For example, Hathway operates locally, limited to specific regions. To access the internet, they rely on their peers or Tier 2 companies that have built networks across the continent. However, even these companies have limitations when it comes to transmitting data to far-off areas. That’s why they seek assistance from Tier 1 companies, leveraging the deployed cables to access the internet. This collaborative effort allows for the transfer of your reel within a split second.

MECHANISM BEHIND THE WHOLE INTERNET

Phew! That was a lot of information to absorb. But there’s one final piece to consider. When we browse the web, watch YouTube videos, or send emails, all of these actions involve communication between computer devices like PCs, laptops, or mobile phones. So, there must be a model or process happening on both the sender and receiver sides. And you guessed it right, that model is TCP/IP. The TCP/IP model comprises a collection of protocols that work together to facilitate the transfer of data between different devices. It provides a structured and standardized approach to ensure seamless communication across networks and enables the successful transmission of information from the sender to the receiver.

Before we wrap up, let’s have some fun! I mentioned how data travels through different servers before reaching its destination. Now, there’s a tool or feature right on the computer that lets you track the path your data takes and the servers it passes through. If you’re using a Windows PC or laptop, simply type “tracert www.google.com" in your command prompt. And if you’re on Linux, type “traceroute www.google.com". This command will provide details about the servers your data traveled through. To demonstrate, I used the website https://whatismyipaddress.com/ip-lookup to obtain the names of the servers.

CONCLUSION

You know what? Why bother learning about the inner workings of the internet? We use it every day, and someone else took care of all the processes for us. But despite the vast infrastructure, capital power, and skilled individuals involved, it’s important to realize that the internet, in its essence, is free. Yet, there are still regions in the world where internet access is unavailable. Can you imagine that? It’s simply not there. So, it’s not as easy as just connecting our computer to the outside world with a cable. ISPs have already deployed their networks in certain areas, but building a network from scratch in places without the Internet is a costly endeavor. In such cases, the cost outweighs the potential revenue, so who would venture there?

The truth is no one will. Instead, ISPs generate their revenue from subscribers, and as a result, internet plans change monthly, and costs keep increasing. The demand for the internet is on the rise, and this directly influences the revenue of these ISPs. Remember, I mentioned various problems earlier. By understanding the true concept of the internet, we can surely find solutions to overcome them.

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