Whoever started the internet was a genius! Just think for a second how life could be without the internet!

Thanks to  Vinton Cerf and Bob Kahn, the guys who are believed to have invented the modern internet we have now.

Wait, have you ever wondered who OWNS THE INTERNET? Is it the government or a certain person?

Moreover, the answer is not as simple as naming a single entity or organization. The Internet is owned and operated by many different actors, each with roles and responsibilities.

The internet is such a big system of networks that it seems impossible to choose who has full control over it.

To understand who owns the internet, let us look at the layers that make up the Internet system.

These layers include:

1.The physical layer:

This consists of cables, wires, routers, switches, satellites, and other devices that transmit and receive data across the world.

The physical layer is owned by telecom companies | cable providers| and satellite operators.

Examples of the largest Telecom companies are: AT&T Inc. (USA) | China Mobile| Vodafone (United Kingdom | Etisalat (United Arab Emirates | MTN(Africa)

The largest cable providers are: Charter Communications (USA)| AT&T Inc. (USA)

Examples of the largest satellite operators are: SES| Viasat, Inc.| Intelsat | Eutelsat

These companies are responsible for:

1. Maintaining and upgrading their networks
2. Interconnecting with other networks to form global internet connections.

2.The logical layer:

This consists of the protocols | standards | and software. All together it enables the communication and exchange of data between different devices and networks.

The logical layer is governed by several non-profit organizations, such as

•  Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF)
• Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN),
• World Wide Web Consortium (W3C).

These organizations manage the technical specifications and rules that control the internet.

3.The content layer:

This consists of the websites| applications| services| and information that users access and create on the internet.

The content layer is owned by various private and public entities, such as:

Web developers| Content creators |Online platforms| Media outlets| and Governments.

These entities are responsible for producing and distributing their own content, as well as complying with the laws and regulations of their governments.

Conclusion

As you can see, there is no single owner of the internet. Rather, there are many stakeholders who contribute to the operation and development of the internet in different ways.

This decentralized and distributed nature of the internet is what makes it so strong, diverse, and advanced.

Please check out: Free Public Wi-Fi is Risky Until These 5 Tips.