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<h2 id="satellite-global-networks">Satellite global networks</h2> <p><a href="/facts/Communication_satellite/y5RXPMDT">Communication satellites</a> are an important part of global networks. However, there are specific <a href="/facts/Low_Earth_orbit/rq1TwayJ">low Earth orbit</a> (LEO) global <a href="/facts/Satellite_constellation/mbTpGjbg">satellite constellations</a>, such as <a href="/facts/Iridium_satellite_constellation/cB4n6MbQ">Iridium</a>, <a href="/facts/Globalstar/4Tq51wvu">Globalstar</a> and <a href="/facts/Orbcomm/lzpwFdCb">Orbcomm</a>, which are comprised by dozens of similar satellites which are put in orbit at regularly spaced positions and form a <a href="/facts/Mesh_network/XnVSy5rK">mesh network</a>, sometimes sending and receiving information directly among themselves. Using <a href="/facts/VSAT/L4HjYjAu">VSAT</a> technology, <a href="/facts/Satellite_internet_access/wQaMm4X3">satellite internet access</a> has become possible. </p> <h2 id="mobile-wireless-networks">Mobile wireless networks</h2> <p>It is estimated that 80% of the global mobile market uses the GSM standard, present in more than 212 countries and territories. Its ubiquity makes international <a href="/facts/Roaming/SEfznzxD">roaming</a> very common between mobile phone operators, enabling subscribers to use their phones in many parts of the world. In order to achieve this, these networks must be interconnected by way of <a href="/facts/Peering/z6nNepq7">peering</a> arrangements, and therefore the GSM network is a truly global one. </p> <h2 id="network-interconnection">Network interconnection</h2> <p>The telegraph and <a href="/facts/Telex/AuCxRu2C">telex</a> communication networks have been phased out, so <a href="/facts/Interconnection/3BMeTFXp">interconnection</a> among existing global networks arise at several points, such as between the voice <a href="/facts/Telephony/2GwTTepw">telephony</a> and digital <a href="/facts/Data_network/3w5RM99p">data networks</a>, and between these and satellite networks. Many applications run now on several networks, such as <a href="/facts/VoIP/5QGBbXYg">VoIP</a> (voice over IP). <a href="/facts/Mobile_communication/pFqFCDyl">Mobile communication</a> (voice and data) networks are also intimately intertwined, because the majority of 21st century <a href="/facts/Cell_phone/H3EcqD9h">cell phones</a> have both voice and data (internet navigation and <a href="/facts/Email/6pD9GLtI">emailing</a>) capabilities. </p><p>Digital global networks require huge carrying capacity in the main <a href="/facts/Internet_backbone/osqxo7y2">backbones</a>. This is currently achieved by <a href="/facts/Fiber-optic_cable/1kD3lpot">fiber-optic cables</a>. </p> <h2 id="social-and-economic-impact">Social and economic impact</h2> <p>The Canadian <a href="/facts/Sociologist/d2Fd0N87">sociologist</a> <a href="/facts/Marshall_McLuhan/XztxTCpM">Marshall McLuhan</a> was the first to forecast the huge impact of the matrix of global networks upon <a href="/facts/Society/PulvrYfa">society</a>, coining the term <a href="/facts/Global_village/T5V4I8TW">global village</a>. His work, however, related to radio and television networks, which are <a href="/facts/Broadcast/AV1f3dGy">broadcast</a> (unidirectional) networks, thus predating the much larger impact of the internet.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:2" href="#fn:2"><sup>2</sup></a> </p><p>Global networks have revolutionized human communication several times. The first to do so was the electrical telegraph. Its impact was so large that it has been dubbed the <a href="/facts/Victorian_Internet/RLeeUzWu">Victorian Internet</a>. It was expanded many times in its coverage with the advent of <a href="/facts/Radiotelegraphy/g1p5PaPA">radiotelegraphy</a>, and with text messaging using <a href="/facts/Telex/AuCxRu2C">telex</a> machines. </p><p>The Internet and mobile communication networks have made possible entirely new forms of <a href="/facts/Social_interaction/DU3HW2Ah">social interaction</a>, activities and organizing, thanks to its basic features such as widespread <a href="/facts/Usability/zuAnqu9Q">usability</a> and access, and instant communication from any connected point to another. Thus, its <a href="/facts/Internet/Xw1rVvJU">social impact</a> has been, and still is, enormous. Finally, the impact on governance have been significant facilitating the emergence of 'transnational policy networks' <a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:3" href="#fn:3"><sup>3</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="see-also">See also</h2> <ul><li><a href="/facts/History_of_telecommunication/4fGd9dHP">History of telecommunication</a> <ul><li><a href="/facts/History_of_the_Internet/frRuaPrU">History of the Internet</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/History_of_radio/mUVdF8nP">History of radio</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/History_of_television/LcAyDGd7">History of television</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/History_of_the_telephone/QthUyv2M">History of the telephone</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/History_of_telegraphy/JhRYDSDu">History of telegraphy</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/facts/Mobile_telecommunications/pFqFCDyl">Mobile telecommunications</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Computer_networking/3w5RM99p">Computer networking</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Communication_protocol/5uady7cB">Communication protocol</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Network_architecture/b9IWEJIU">Network architecture</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Global_network_positioning/vBBK0Cxa">Global network positioning</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Quantum_Internet/ErpXsoJn">Quantum Internet</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Telephony/2GwTTepw">Telephony</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Fiber-optic_cable/1kD3lpot">Fiber-optic cable</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Telegraphy/JhRYDSDu">Telegraphy</a></li></ul> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>"Global Internet Usage Stats" (PDF). KoMarketing Associates. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2022-12-19. Retrieved 2022-09-29. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20221219210701/https://2016.export.gov/northcarolina/build/groups/public/@eg_us_nc/documents/webcontent/komarketingpresentation065541.pdf" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20221219210701/https://2016.export.gov/northcarolina/build/groups/public/@eg_us_nc/documents/webcontent/komarketingpresentation065541.pdf</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:2"><p>Harasim, L. (Ed.) - Global Networks: Computers and International Networks, 1993 <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=9RAnJzaiqvMC" target="_blank">https://books.google.com/books?id=9RAnJzaiqvMC</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:3"><p>Stone, Diane. Knowledge actors and transnational governance: The private-public policy nexus in the global agora. Palgrave Macmillan, 2013. <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> </ol>