The Internet is a network that consists of smaller domestic, academic, business, and government networks, that carry various data and services, such as electronic mail, online chat, file transfer, interlinked web pages, and other resources of the World Wide Web (WWW). (www.paulpedia.com.ng)

1. What is the Internet, its History, and Its Features?
The Internet is a network that consists of smaller domestic, academic, business, and government
networks, that carry various data and services, such as electronic mail, online chat, file transfer,
interlinked web pages, and other resources of the World Wide Web (WWW).
What is the Internet?
The term internet, simply called “The NET” is a network of all networks that any person who is
connected online gets easy information.
It is also a global computer network, connecting other networks and devices (computers) from
factories, universities, and other industrial organizations. It’s a global network connecting millions of
computers, and more than 200 countries are linked to exchanges of information, news, goods, and
opinions.
This is most world connecting network, use basically for online business, education, and social
connection, as well as meeting the needs of users. The operator can decide on which internet or local
service can be available to the global society.
The internet has a variety of access, mostly in an online service, such as America, offering some
internet services. It’s also possible to gain access through a commercial internet service provider.
History
In most cases, although many people are only aware of the Internet within the past two decades or
so, its root can be traced back to the late 1950s. The USSR’s launch of Sputnik spurred the United
States to create the Advance Research Projects Agency (ARPA) in February 1958 to regain a
technological lead. Sputnik was a series of robotic spacecraft missions launched by the Soviet Union.
The first of these, Sputnik 1, launched the first man-made object to orbit the Earth. That launch took
place on October 4, 1957, as part of the International Geophysical Year and demonstrated the viability
of using artificial satellites to explore the upper atmosphere.
The surprise launch of Sputnik 1, coupled with the spectacular failure of the United States’ first two
Project Vanguard launch attempts, shocked the United States, which responds with several early
satellite launches, including Explorer 1, Project Score, and Courier IB. All these happened during the
period regarded as the cold war.
In 1962, at the depth of the cold war, the United States Air Force commissioned the Rand Corporation
to do a study on how it could maintain command and control over its missiles and bombers after a
nuclear attack.
However, a communication network could continue to function even if any single component in the
network was lost.
After the commissioning of RAND, and almost two years of study, RAND employ Paul Baran who
submitted what is today known as the RAND proposal. Bara’s goal was to eliminate a single point of
failure or weakness.

2. To this end Baran brought a suggestion, that the network be designed with multiple data paths to
provide fault tolerance should any one path suffer a failure.
Crucial to Baran’s network design was the concept of pack-switching. Baran’s idea was to break the
large stream of Data into small chunks known as Packets. Each packet contains a destination, address,
etc. One can decide whether to send a message to a computer automatically.
Further to his proposal, RAND cited several benefits of using pack-switch technology which include
the following:
1. Error recovery: When a packet fails to arrive at a destination, the particular lost packet can be
resent without resending the entire message.
2. Traffic optimization: Data can be routed over the best route at a given time moment, which can
enhance communication speeds.
3. No single point of failure: Accept the creation of a reliable network that can last.
It is the crisis encountered that led to the creation of the Advance Research Project Agency (now
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) renamed in 1972.
In 1969, ARPA, a part of the Department of Defence (DOD), awarded a contract to the firm of Bolt
Beranek and Newman (BBN) to construct a computer network. This network was used to connect
researchers at Universities with defense contractors, researchers, scientists, and military contractors
so that they can share information and resources.
NSFnet: ARPANET remained in existence until 1989 when the Department of Defense
decommissioned it and transferred all of its sites to the National Science Foundation (NSF), forming a
network of other networks linking the government, the military, universities, and business.
Furthermore, between 1969 and 1983, minicomputers, mainframes, and supercomputers made up
the networks. This network has file transfer capabilities, electronic mail, and mailing list service.
The pack-switching system allows the creation of a Data highway that could handle a large amount of
data including voice, text, video, etc.
Each data packet was given the computer equivalent of a map and time stamp so that it would be sent
to the right destination and the reviewer would know when the message started. At Its destination,
the message would be reassembled from the packet parts so either a machine or a human could read
it.
Advantages of the Internet.
1. It can make learning more accessible.
2. It brings world information to one’s doorstep.
3. It can remove the physical boundaries of the classroom, reduce class scheduling restraints, and
offer easy access to a searchable database and a vast array of other worldwide resources.
4. It is the cheapest global way of advertising (institution, business, or government facility)
5. It is the easiest way of researching for information.
6. The internet is one of the fastest message senders.
7. It is also available for marketing.
Disadvantage of internet

3. 1. It corrupts the minds of the youths, in the sense that some youths go to the internet to watch sex
films, i.e. pornography, instead of searching for information.
2. Wastage of finance. Some students waste their money on the internet by watching films, pop
music, football, etc. which are less important than their studies.
3. It provides room for piracy, whereby some new film programs etc. are free for download, thereby
resulting in copying the exact work of others.
Features of internet
Accessibility
It’s a global network connecting millions of computers, and more than 200 countries are linked to
exchanges of information, news, goods, and opinions. It connects faster and is the top 50 network of
all.
More than 5000 computers can connect to the internet at a time, not determining the largest
computer that connects to it.
Flexibility
It is a global computer network, connecting other networks and devices (computers) from factories,
universities, and other industrial organizations.
Also, it makes the job easy i.e. if you want to translate the word “Internet” to Chinese, you don’t need
to look for a Chinese to translate it, but rather you go to your “Google Translate” for the best choice.
Connectivity
By transmitting, connecting, and sharing networks from universities, companies, and businessmen,
the connectivity of the internet remains faster. (i.e connecting your phone to the computer and
sharing data from a government facility to a university).
Cost
A global network of all, the internet still has the cheapest cost rate in the world. You can share one
million pieces of information using the internet, but guess how much it will cost you as a consumer,
just only a few megabit (MB) to be used.
Benefits of the Internet
1. The internet provides a dramatic resource for learning, as well as an efficient
means of communication.
2. Independent learning and research skills.
3. The internet is also a time-efficient tool for teachers that expand the possibilities
for curriculum.
4. The deployment of Internet infrastructure impacts the economy both directly and
indirectly.

4. 5. Large companies can connect with employees, suppliers, and partners around the
globe, and small businesses can find their customers anywhere in the world at any
time.
6. As internet penetration increases, there will be resulting demand for computer and
home network equipment, software applications, wireless devices, and other
equipment.
7. The internet brings people closer together.
8. In this way, rural clinics and hospitals can have access to the same medical
expertise that is available in the most sophisticated urban hospitals.
9. E-government has become the prime tool for supporting government functions
and interaction with citizens and businesses.
10. More sophisticated Web pages provide interactive facilities so that the user of the
page can provide feedback about the content of the page.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the internet is a global network of all, designed to help share information worldwide,
from universities to businesses, industries, organizations, etc.
It was first built in the United States of America as the Advance Research Projects Agency (ARPA) in
February 1958.
…1962, at the depth of the Cold War, the United States Air Force commissioned the Rand Corporation
to do a study on how it could maintain command and control over its missiles and bombers after a
nuclear attack.