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The Internet Story: A Deep Dive into How the Internet Works

Most of us use the Internet every day without giving much thought to how it actually functions behind the scenes. However, with growing debates about network costs, OTT content delivery, and the future of connectivity, understanding the structure of the Internet has never been more important.

In our new video, The Internet Story, we explain the core components that make the Internet work, including:

  • How Internet Service Providers (ISPs) connect users and businesses to the global network
  • The importance of Transit Networks and how smaller ISPs rely on larger ones
  • The concept of Peering—both public and private—and why it is usually settlement-free
  • How Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) improve performance and efficiency
  • The rise of Multi-access Edge Computing (MEC) and how it is reshaping real-time data processing

We also explore real-world case studies such as:

  • The 2016 Netflix and Swisscom peering dispute, often referred to as "NetflixGate"
  • The more recent regulatory case involving Swisscom and Init7 over zero-settlement peering

Through simple diagrams and examples, the video makes these complex topics accessible to anyone, whether you are a telecoms professional, a tech enthusiast, or simply curious about how content like Netflix or YouTube reaches your screen so efficiently.

The slides from the tutorial are available here and the video is embedded below: 

If you have any comments, questions, or insights, we would love to hear from you.

Feel free to share your thoughts below!

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