Guest blog: Have You Ever Considered What the Internet Really Looks Like?

Bringing the Invisible Network to Light: Understanding the Internet’s Physical Foundations

Ask yourself, have you ever truly paused to reflect on what “connection” really means and what the internet actually looks like?

As someone who has been in the industry over 15 years – it’s one of the things that I feel proudest of when I think about the connections we have enabled as an industry. But it is not something many people think about often – if at all ever – despite it being the thing they likely rely on the most.

With strides in AI and technical advancements such as quantum computing still being developed, we are on the brink of a new era for humanity. However, we often overlook the immense physical infrastructure—composed of cables and wires—that makes this possible.

And that unearths an uncomfortable truth: without the right infrastructure, there is no internet.

That’s why we at Equinix have launched this striking new visual campaign to help shift perceptions and shine a much needed light on this often misunderstood and hidden material that weaves together our lives in digital.

Arthur C. Clarke once said, “Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.” This neatly sums up the internet in my view. Beneath its surface lies a complex architecture that goes unnoticed: undersea cables, fiber cables, data centres, servers, telecommunication towers, and countless individuals dedicated to building and maintaining the systems that facilitate the daily flow of vast amounts of information worldwide.

But how did we lose sight of this fact? A significant part of the answer lies in our language. Phrases like "cloud computing" and "wireless networks" conjure images of something intangible, as if it exists “in the air” or in a virtual realm without physical limitations. This abstract terminology has contributed to the misconception that the Internet is immaterial. Users, too, perpetuate this illusion by accessing the Internet with a simple click on a link or swipe on a smart phone, which essentially distances them even further from the physical infrastructure that supports it.

And so, as we approach the Intelligent Age, a key topic at the World Economic Forum in Davos for 2025, a crucial question arises: why is it so important for people to recognise the Internet's physicality?

In parts of Europe, strict energy laws, strained power grids, limited capacity allocations, and shortsighted regulations are stifling digital growth and hindering economic progress. Policymakers must recognise that increased digital necessitates more physical infrastructure, which requires smart, forward-thinking actions.

The good news is that we are seeing early signs of support, particularly in the UK, where the government has recently classified data centres as Critical National Infrastructure and provided backing for AI developments and renewable power initiatives. This indicates good progress, as more and more policymakers begin to wrap their heads around the fact that AI and digital transformation, and economic growth rely on reliable power and physical infrastructure to support it.

A colocation data centre, like many of Equinix’s facilities, operates much like an airport for data. Just as an airport consolidates multiple airlines and facilitates the transport of passengers and connections to different parts of the world, so a colocation data centre unites various companies, transporting their data back and forth. This enables the rapid development of new technologies while minimising network usage and promoting sustainable practices.

In essence, data centres are critical infrastructure points that connect households, businesses, and governments, the backbone of the systems we rely on daily, create direct employment opportunities and generate a whole host of indirect economic benefits. Proof of this is in Equinix’s Economic Impact Assessment report, which shows how Equinix supports over 1,800 enterprises in the UK, contributing approximately £142 billion in Gross Value Added (GVA) to the UK economy—accounting for 6% of the national GVA.

We collaborated with designer Maximillian Raynor to bring the internet to life through a visually striking piece in the form of a dress made from materials sourced from our London data centres. By bridging the gap between the physical and virtual, we aimed to create something tangible that serves as a unique conversation starter, highlighting the thousands of connections Equinix fosters to support economies and societies daily.

The design pays tribute to the physical infrastructure that constitutes the internet. Rather than being an inexplicable force, it is a complex, intricate network of cables traversing land and sea, with physical connections housed in Equinix data centres worldwide.

Ultimately, this campaign offers a light hearted exploration of an important topic. We aim to celebrate the internet’s tangible impact on daily life and business, as well as its crucial role in the UK economy. Whether it’s developing new drugs to combat diseases, facilitating online and in-store payments, or keeping people connected across vast distances, we seek to highlight the value that data centres bring to society and generate global awareness for our rapidly growing and essential industry.

Recognising the physical structures that underpin the internet and our data-driven world is essential. It reminds us that access to this global network is not a given; it results from significant technological investment and ongoing maintenance.

Let’s keep the conversation going any way we can —making it clear that digital progress equals physical expansion, which in turn requires political support. It’s my view that if we get this right, it will ensure that Europe and the UK remains competitive in this increasingly digital world.

Data Centres Programme activities

techUK provides a collective voice for UK Data Centre operators working with government to improve the business environment for our members. We keep members up to date with the key technical and regulatory developments that may impact growth and on funding opportunities that may increase commercial competitiveness. Visit the programme page here.