The Internet is a network of virtual networks. In 1991, we (then the USSR) knew about it a few dozen people who have just mastered e-mail (via RELCOM) and try what FidoNet. The first e-mail message was sent to US President Bill Clinton March 2, 1993.
Today is becoming increasingly urgent problem of congestion cable ducts that can be solved with the help of mikrotransheynoy laying fiber-optic cables.