Fundamentally, the Internet relies on independent networks connecting to one another and, all together, these form the global Internet. This is the heart of the Internet way of networking; however, in part because of its distributed nature, measuring any aspect of the Internet on a global scale is difficult. Expert researchers know where to find specialist data sources and analysis but more casually interested observers, such as policymakers or journalists, have no reliable place to find answers to questions about the current state of the Internet. In short, there is no single site or tool that brings together the multiple measures required to understand the Internet’s evolution and health.

What Will This Project Address?

This project addresses the need to have a single, easily identifiable place to go to find up-to-date data about trends that are shaping the Internet’s infrastructure and the health of the Internet way of networking itself. The project will be based on consuming and processing third-party measurement data, and will use that data to generate and present easy-to-find and -understand information. A Web-based dashboard will present these trends and contextualize indicators within an overall narrative of Internet evolution and promotion of the Internet way of networking. The information will be tailored to help a variety of stakeholders—including policymakers, researchers, and journalists—better understand the growth and evolution of the Internet along a variety of dimensions.

The goal is to make available information that can be used when dealing with questions around issues such as new technology deployment and connectivity, and reliability issues in regions around the world. In addition, the information collected and organized by this project will help inform other Internet Society projects, such as Community Networks.

Internet Shutdowns

Internet shutdowns is another initial use case for this project. To establish the Internet Society as a key source for information about the impact of Internet shutdowns and disruptions through data, information, and insight, we plan to deliver a dashboard that will identify, track, and analyze such events. This will bring transparency to shutdowns through measurement, analysis, and reporting, and highlight the impacts both locally and to the broader Internet. This will allow us to illustrate how Internet shutdowns are a threat to the Internet way of networking, and to support a shared goal to reduce the number of Internet shutdowns.