To wonder who pays for the internet

[BreathesOutSlowly]

Who is paying for the massive data centres that support the internet? The ton of energy that it costs to have bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies? It must be us but how? In our mobile phone tariffs, via general taxes?

It's worldwide but who pays for it in other countries. Do any refuse?

Does anyone know the answer? It's been bugging me for ages

Thanks 😊

Tech is different though. By that logic, smart phones wouldn't have been invented. We all might still be listening to CD's on indestructible Sony Discmans and watching 5 channels on our robust analogue TVs.
.That wouldn't be so bad though:-)

Do they do a non digital version of Mumsnet talk do you think?

Yes, ut used to be called "a coffee morning".

I can’t answer the data questions so specifically but others here have.

I plan broadband infrastructures - massive ones. I did a tally not long ago (for a work review) and estimated that during my career I’ve planned those services to millions of homes (I’ve been doing this for 25+ years). I’m happy to answer questions about how the physical infrastructure works - in generic terms.

how light travels down a fibre optic cable is actually quite interesting 😂

Can you imagine if coffee mornings were actually as aggressive as Mumsnet?!? You'd have to wear riot gear rather than a floaty skirt, pearls and twin set.

I am sure it is and I for one cannot wait to find out but before you explain can you please answer one question:
Were you aware that in improving the internet you were complicit in making us The Lunch?

It's a good question.

Those that are taking the piss are horrible, OP. Most people wouldn't even ask the question, let alone answer it.

There are a lot of organisations who support the structure of the global Internet. Who they are depends on the location, the purpose, etc.

Facebook (Meta), Apple, Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Alibaba and Tencent in Asia all spend billions on internet infrastructure and services. And have a lot of control because of it.

Those that are taking the piss are horrible, OP Well they won't be invited to my off grid, internet free coffee morning anyway

Joking aside the whole connectedness of it all worries me. That's even before thinking about being The Lunch.
a) because someone could presumably switch it off and then we'd all be toast (<--- NB breakfast not lunch)
b) it is a fast track to mass homogenisation through one means or the other.

We're all so busy enjoying the fact that stuff is practically free and accessible that we forget that there is a cost. I understand that data servers are heating up the world as well as coal fired power stations whilst also needing the energy from coal fired stations to sustain themselves. It's all a bit scary IMO

Various Bitcoins are independent enterprises trying to establish online currencies, how legitimate, or safe they are is very debateable. They are nothing to do with the rest of the internet, theoretically they or their potential miner/owners pay for the huge amount of power used to mine bitcoin type currencies, but often they are 'stealing' power or computer usage one way or another. Do not invest unless you are happy to potentially lose all your money. Also used on the black economy, drugs etc, for difficult to trace money transfers.

Increasingly big servers are being located in cold climates to heat buildings, or the heat is being used to warm huge greenhouses so the heat is not wasted. It is worrying that you don't know which country the server hosting your data is located. The server is under the laws of that country which could impact your privacy.

Keep proper paper copies of your financial information, just in case the internet goes down seriously.

If you can't see what the product is you are!

Data centres are a form of real estate - investors and companies across the world invest in the land and the site - and can lease the data machinery out to other companies that need them

I know the above professionally

and eventually that end cost will always pass onto the consumer somehow

I think Amazon own a big chunk don't they? About 3/4 of Amazon profit is Amazon Web services and they host about 40% of websites.