The rapid progress made in the field of Information Technology has revolutionized the world of communications. The world is gradually becoming a global village as interaction among people all over the world has become more frequent than ever before. The widespread and efficient use of computers in the field of telecommunications has made the world a smaller place to live in. ISD, FAX, Electronic Mail, Paging Service and now Internet – all are the gifts of this revolution. Internet has aroused much interest in recent days as it has become a very powerful medium of communication. But what is Internet and how does it operate?

          Internet is the world’s largest computer network. A computer network is basically a bunch of computers connected together in some way or other. It is just like a radio or TV network that links various radio or TV stations so that they can share a common programme. The major difference is that in TV networks the same information programme is sent to all stations whereas in computer network, each particular message is usually routed to a particular computer. Some computer networks consist of a central computer and a bunch of remote stations that report to it – for example, the centralized railway reservation system which links many terminal counters to a centralized computer. But other networks like the Internet permit any computer on the network to communicate with any other. Actually, the Internet is not really a network; it’s a network of networks – all freely exchanging information.

          Through Internet people from all countries can now share information, ideas, stories, data and opinions – the functions that are now generally carried out by letters, telephones and other modes of communications. It has become the fastest and most reliable way to move or exchange information. For example, during the 1991 Soviet coup, a tiny Internet network provided all the information to the rest of the world when all other communication systems were shut off. Medical researchers all over the world use the Internet to maintain data bases of rapidly changing data.

          The Internet facilities are provided through a large set of different services. Though to mention all the services would make the list exhaustive, some examples can be given. Electronic mail is the most widely used Internet service. Electronic mailing lists enable one to join in group discussions and meet people over the Net. Online conversation, Information retrieval, Bulletin boards and Games and gossip (challenging other players who can be anywhere in the world) are some other kind of Internet services.

          India’s access to the Internet has ushered in a new phase of computer communications in the country. Originally a small electronic community in the American Defence Department as a way for military researchers to contact with each other, Internet is now the world’s largest electronic network.