Back to basics: everything you need to know about the internet
The internet is crucial to today’s digital landscape. As consumers, we rely on the it daily to communicate with others and navigate the world. For organizations, the internet is the lifeblood to everyday operations, connecting employees and customers, transferring data, and powering critical applications.
But how does the internet really work, and what role does it play in the digital economy currently being defined by generative AI?
What is the internet, really?
The internet is often referred to as “a network of networks.” In other words, the internet consists of interconnected routers, computers and devices between which information is transferred. Each time you use a search engine to learn something new, you are accessing information that has traveled a unique pathway to get to you.
At work, every single chat, email or video meeting is an exchange of information between you and your coworkers in distributed locations, powered by applications hosted in other locations, all traversing the internet. In short, the internet is a part of virtually everything we do.
How does the internet actually work?
- The network backbone is the foundation of the internet. It’s the physical infrastructure—fiber, routers, devices—that connect different locations.
- An Autonomous System is a large backbone or group of backbones that follow a unified routing policy, and each one has a defining number (Autonomous System Number, or ASN).
- Routing policies are the set of rules that define how data is directed across the network.
- Data packets are how information is broken down so that it can travel from one location to another efficiently.
- Hops are taken through a number of routers or devices to get to the end destination.
Let’s look at a common application of the internet to bring all of this together.
At its most basic, when you click “send” on an email at work, it is broken down into data packets and assigned a path of travel based on your Internet Service Provider’s (ISP) routing policy. Your email data takes several hops across the ISP’s network backbone through various routers and devices to get to the intended sender, where the data is reassembled into that single email appearing in your recipient’s inbox. This process happens millions of times a day across millions of different devices and applications. The internet is a steady stream of information-sharing, and it’s powerful.
Why are ISPs so important?
Based on that simple description, it may seem that, since most internet traffic follows a similar process, it doesn’t matter which provider you choose. However, not all internet service providers are created equal, the following commonly differentiate ISPs.
- Reach: The geographic reach of an ISP’s backbone impacts where service is available to you. Providers with limited reach may not be able to accommodate the needs of organizations with many locations.
- Network infrastructure: The quality of the physical infrastructure underpinning the internet directly impacts performance. For example, ISPs relying on older technologies can’t offer as high of bandwidth as those with fiber-optic networks.
- Bandwidth: Internet bandwidth is a measurement of the amount of data that can be transmitted in a given amount of time, typically measured in gigabits per second (Gbps). Higher bandwidth means more data can be transferred simultaneously, resulting in faster internet speeds and better performance.
- Peering: Strong peering relationships between an ISP and other networks help to ensure more direct connections between networks, allowing the ISP to optimize travel paths and reduce the number of hops data must take to get to its end destination.
- Security: An ISP’s security measures are a key factor in the safety of your information as it traverses the internet. Actively blocking malicious attempts to disrupt internet traffic helps to ensure business continuity and provides data and end-user protection.
Better internet performance means employees and customers are more closely connected, collaboration becomes more efficient, applications run smoothly, and data is secure from end to end. As a result, ISPs have a direct impact on an organization’s performance.
The internet and AI
The rapid emergence of so many new and powerful artificial-intelligence technologies further emphasizes the importance of having a reliable ISP. AI-driven applications require robust network infrastructure in order to manage the vast amounts of data they generate. High-bandwidth, low-latency, consistent performance is non-negotiable to support the real-time processing inherent in generative AI models.
Your partner in connectivity
Lumen operates the #1 peered global network.1 With connections to more than 6,500 Autonomous Systems globally and over 2,200 public and private data centers, we provide the reach, connectivity and performance needed to thrive in today’s digital economy. Black Lotus Labs® provides 24/7 network monitoring and mitigation to help protect our customers’ traffic. Lumen is the trusted network for AI and your partner in connectivity.
1The Center for Applied Internet Data Analysis (CAIDA), AS Rank, January 2025.
Learn more about Lumen Internet Services and how we integrate cybersecurity and collaboration solutions to help you streamline and scale your business.
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