Extranet

A continuation of the Human Internet, the Extranet is a intergalactic system of interconnected computer networks that use the Extranet protocol suite (ETCP/EP) to link devices worldwide. It is a network of networks that consists of private, public, academic, business, and government networks of local to intergalactic scope, linked by a broad array of networking technologies.
== Function ==
The Extranet carries a vast range of information resources and services with little to no content regulation across the Milky Way. Unlike the Internet, the Extranet utilizes expensive hyperspace comm buoys that can daisy-chain a transmission via lasers. Each individual buoy is connected to a partner on another buoy in the network, forming a corridor of low-latency space. Tightbeam communications lasers are piped through these "tubes" of FTL space, allowing virtually instantaneous communication to anywhere on the network.
With this system, the only delay is the light lag between the source or destination and the closest buoy (assuming the network has bandwidth available and the client is not suffering from priority restrictions). So long as all parties remain within a light-second of buoys, seamless real time communications are possible. Ships only suffer communications lag when operating off established deep space routes, around uninhabited outer system gas giants, and other unsettled areas.
=== Bandwidth Priority ===
While comm buoys allow rapid transmission, there is a finite amount of bandwidth available. Given that trillions of people may be trying to pass a message through a given buoy at any one time, access to the network is parceled out on priority tiers via the Second Intergalactic Assembly.
The Second Intergalactic Assembly and the ADF have absolute priority; if they are using all the bandwidth, everyone else must wait. Individual governments and their militaries enjoy the next-highest tier. Below the governments and militaries, bandwidth priority is sold to the highest bidder. Media conglomerates purchase higher priority to provide their viewers with timely information. Corporations that require timely information and response capability also invest heavily in priority access. The funds acquired through sales of bandwidth are used to maintain and expand the communications infrastructure.
While everyone with a computer has guaranteed free and unlimited access to the galactic Extranet, they are last in line for bandwidth and may have to wait for their requests to be processed. Bandwidth resale corporations use investment capital to purchase blocks of high priority access, made available by paid subscription.
=== Andromeda ===
Lead Scientist Galen Antuma created the Extranet 2.0, a small scale recreation of the Extranet that allows colonists to access Initiative-sponsored sites run on the Aether, before leaving for the Andromeda Galaxy. On the Andromeda Havens, it's as if nothing changed, but in the rest of Andromeda, networking is incredibly limited.
Category:Technology