The Speed of
The Internet
An interactive journey through three decades of connectivity — from the screech of dial-up modems to the promise of terabit networks.
The Evolution of Speed
From the screeching tones of dial-up modems to multi-gigabit fiber optics, here's how internet speeds have transformed our world.
The World Wide Web
Tim Berners-Lee launches the first website. Most users connect via dial-up modems at painfully slow speeds. Loading a single image could take minutes.
56K Dial-Up Modems
The iconic screech of connecting becomes a cultural touchstone. US Robotics and 3Com battle for modem supremacy. You couldn't use the phone and internet simultaneously.
DSL & Cable Broadband
Always-on internet arrives. No more dialing in. DSL runs over phone lines while cable internet shares TV infrastructure. The broadband revolution begins.
Wi-Fi Goes Mainstream
Starbucks starts offering Wi-Fi. Laptops gain built-in wireless cards. The era of cutting the cord begins, and coffee shop culture merges with internet culture.
Mobile Internet & 3G
The iPhone launches, redefining mobile internet. 3G networks make web browsing on phones actually usable. App stores create a new software economy.
4G LTE Arrives
Real-time video streaming becomes viable on mobile. Netflix, YouTube, and social media explode. Mobile internet usage begins overtaking desktop.
Fiber to the Home
Google Fiber launches in Kansas City, pushing incumbents to upgrade. South Korea and Japan lead with nationwide fiber. Gigabit becomes the new benchmark.
5G Development Begins
Standards bodies begin defining 5G NR. Millimeter wave and massive MIMO technologies promise unprecedented speeds and ultra-low latency for IoT and autonomous vehicles.
5G Rolls Out Globally
COVID-19 makes fast internet essential. 5G networks go live worldwide. Starlink begins satellite internet service, bringing broadband to rural areas.
Wi-Fi 7 & 10G Broadband
Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) brings multi-link operation and 320 MHz channels. Cable providers push DOCSIS 4.0 for 10 Gbps symmetric speeds. The gap between wired and wireless narrows.
The Numbers Behind The Speed
Explore interactive charts that tell the story of how internet speeds have grown exponentially over the decades.
Peak Internet Speed Over Time
Logarithmic scale showing the exponential growth of maximum available internet speeds (in Mbps).
Internet At a Glance
The most fascinating numbers that define our connected world.
From 56 Kbps dial-up (1996) to 46 Gbps Wi-Fi 7 (2024)
67.5% of the world's population is now online
Down from 150ms on 3G — a 30x improvement
Set in 2024 by Japan's NICT over standard fiber
Providing broadband to 100+ countries from orbit
Global data creation expected to reach 500 zettabytes
Speed Comparison
Visualizing the staggering growth in peak internet speeds (logarithmic scale).
The Future of Connectivity
From terabit wireless to quantum networks, these technologies will define the next era of the internet.
6G Networks
Expected 2030The next generation of mobile networks promises terabit speeds, sub-millisecond latency, and native AI integration. Key features include terahertz frequencies, holographic communication, and digital twin networking.
Li-Fi (Light Fidelity)
Commercial 2025–2027Using visible light for data transmission, Li-Fi offers ultra-fast speeds with zero electromagnetic interference. Perfect for hospitals, aircraft, and secure facilities where RF is restricted.
Quantum Internet
2035+A fundamentally new type of network using quantum entanglement for unhackable communication. China has demonstrated satellite-based quantum key distribution over 1,200 km.
Satellite Mega-Constellations
Ongoing (2020–2030)SpaceX Starlink, Amazon Kuiper, and OneWeb are deploying thousands of LEO satellites to blanket Earth in broadband. Starlink V2 satellites will offer 10x more capacity.
DOCSIS 4.0 (10G Cable)
2024–2026 RolloutThe latest cable internet standard brings symmetrical multi-gigabit speeds over existing coaxial infrastructure. Full Duplex DOCSIS enables simultaneous upstream and downstream at full speed.
Terabit Ethernet
Standardization 2025–2028IEEE is developing 800GbE and 1.6TbE standards to meet explosive data center demand driven by AI training, cloud computing, and video streaming at scale.