Imagine a world without the Internet. Nowadays, two-thirds of humanity are connected to this global network. Stackscale, a leader in infrastructure, private cloud, and bare-metal with data centers in Madrid and Amsterdam, offers us a deep look into the history and impact of the Internet with these 12 essential facts.
1. Origins of Internet
Internet traces its roots back to 1957, following the launch of Sputnik by the USSR. In response, the United States created the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA). Twelve years later, Arpanet was born, the military precursor to the Internet, designed to be highly resilient and decentralized. In 1974, this system of “interconnected networks” was officially recognized as “Internet.”
2. Internet Structure
Currently, Internet in Spain is composed of over 1,200 identifiable autonomous subnetworks using Autonomous System Numbers (ASN), with over 70,000 worldwide. These subnetworks include ISPs, telecommunications companies, social networks, streaming services, and e-commerce. Internet Exchange Points (IX) are vital for the efficient operation of these networks. Stackscale, thanks to Grupo Aire, with its robust infrastructure in Madrid and Amsterdam, facilitates these essential interconnections.
3. Number of Websites
There are approximately 1.1 billion websites today, although only 200 million are active. The first website was created on August 6, 1991, by Tim Berners-Lee at CERN, Switzerland.
4. Volume of Emails
By 2024, 131.4 trillion emails will be sent and received, equating to over 360 billion per day. It is estimated that nearly half of these emails will be spam. In 2026, the volume of emails is projected to increase to 143.3 trillion.
5. Internet Users
In 2023, 5.4 billion people were connected to the Internet. Since 2005, the number of users has been growing annually by 10%. With a global population of 8 billion, two-thirds of humanity are online.
6. Domain Registrations
By the end of 2023, there were 360 million registered domains, with an average annual growth of 8.9 million. The most popular domains are .com, .cn, and .de. The first registered domain was symbolics.com in 1985.
7. Data Volume
In 2023, 126 zettabytes of data were generated, stored, and processed globally. By 2027, this figure is expected to rise to 284 zettabytes. According to DE-CIX, the data traffic at the company’s global Internet exchanges reached 59 exabytes in 2023. At AMS-IX, one of the largest Internet exchange points in the world, annual traffic reached 22 exabytes in 2023.
8. Impact on Daily Life
Internet has transformed life in Spain. In 2023, 95.3% of Spaniards aged 16 to 74 used the Internet in the last three months. Common activities include social networks, email, online videos, and games.
9. Digital Economy
The direct impact of the digital economy on Spain’s GDP was 12.3% in 2023. Digitization continues to increase, bringing Spain closer to the most digitalized economies in the EU, China, and the US.
10. Ownership and Reliability of Internet
Internet is a decentralized network owned by multiple entities. ICANN coordinates the allocation of domains and IP addresses. Although it is impossible to completely shut down the Internet due to its over 100,000 autonomous subnetworks, local or regional disruptions can occur. Stackscale’s robust and secure infrastructure in Madrid and Amsterdam helps maintain the reliability and continuity of services on the network, thanks to its partnership with Grupo Aire.
11. Cloud Usage
In Spain, the use of cloud services has significantly increased. According to Eurostat, in 2023, 37% of Spanish companies were using cloud computing services, reflecting a notable increase in technology adoption compared to previous years.
12. E-commerce
E-commerce has experienced explosive growth in Spain. In 2023, 76% of Internet users made online purchases, driving the digital economy and highlighting the growing importance of the Internet in the commercial sector.
Internet has revolutionized communication, economy, and daily life. These facts underscore its significance and the magnitude of its global impact. Stackscale, with its leadership in infrastructure and private cloud and bare-metal services, continues to be an essential pillar in this digital ecosystem.