Different parts of the Internet work differently, but they all use the same network of computers and transmit information in the same way. As they work their way to their destination, the packets bounce separately like pinballs from peer to peer around the Internet. They are directed around the Internet by computer routers, which determine the best and fastest route for each packet. Our air traffic controllers can learn from the routers. They are the real beauty of the Internet.
Routers reroute information around any system problems or shutdowns.
If the traffic is too heavy in New York City, your information may arrive via Philadelphia with some packets arriving via Denver. It's simply a matter of finding the most efficient route. Physical distance means nothing in cyberspace. The Internet was developed in 1969 by ARPAnet, the Advanced Research Projects Agency of the U.S. Department of Defense. It was designed to allow the Department of Defense and universities to do defense-related research on different computers around the country.