Internet backbone - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Internet backbone - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: "The Internet backbone refers to the principal data routes between large, strategically interconnected networks and core routers on the Internet. These data routes are hosted by commercial, government, academic and other high-capacity network centers, the Internet exchange points and network access points, that interchange Internet traffic between the countries, continents and across the oceans of the world. Internet service providers (often Tier 1 networks) participate in Internet backbone exchange traffic by privately negotiated interconnection agreements, primarily governed by the principle of settlement-free peering."

'via Blog this'

• What, exactly, is the "backbone" of the internet? 
• How long has it existed? 
• Why is this structure so important, and what impact does it have on our way of life?