| CODE | IRL5093 | ||||||||||||||||
| TITLE | Infrastructure and Critical Internet Resources | ||||||||||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 05 - Postgraduate Modular Diploma or Degree Course | ||||||||||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 7 | ||||||||||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 9 | ||||||||||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | International Relations | ||||||||||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | Critical Internet infrastructure explains the underlying foundation for the systems that make up the essential architecture of the Internet as we know it as users. It is not easy to understand how this network transmits information and data using fiber optics, wired or cable connections, microwaves and routing mechanisms to connect using software and applications servers, such as the Domain Names System (DNS), to ensure that email, website hosting, authentication and authorization, databases and storage work together to ensure a smooth functioning at our computers. Internet Infrastructure is the underlying foundation for the function of the Internet, an an understanding of how it works is important to the development of regulations, cybersecurity measure, sociocultural and content issues and other important political and diplomatic issues as the Internet becomes an integral part of life. The interplay between infrastructure issues of infrastructure development, connections costs, protocol upgrades and more political policy issues such as censorship, network neutrality and other sociocultural issues make an understanding of the underlying principles of the Internet architecture an indispensable resource for any diplomat or other professional in international relations, especially in the areas related to Internet governance. Learning Outcomes: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: • Describe and explain the concepts of telecommunication infrastructure development and the factors that influence telecommunication infrastructure development across national borders; • Engage with international counterparts on topics of global discussion, such as network neutrality and their importance for the development of the Internet; • Analyse the complex interrelationship between the infrastructure of the Internet and its global management in Internet governance; • Manage the infrastructure elements that affect connection costs, their effects on the digital divide, and on international development factors; • To manage the interrelationship of factors involved in national and international regulatory frameworks, and how they affect Internet development. Study Topics: • Introduction to Infrastructure Development: introduces the concept that to promote social, economic, and individual progress, countries require a developed and scalable information and communications technologies (ICT) infrastructure. The introduction will offer an overview of Critical Internet Resource (CIR) issues and their relationship to ICT strategy; • Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Technical Infrastructure: explains the wired technical infrastructure development, the various wired broadband Internet access systems; mainly television cable networks, DSL lines and the various speeds it offers, optical fibres (FTTH), and broadband Internet over power lines, then turning to wireless technical infrastructure. Factors that promote the development of the ICT sector, opportunities offered to developing countries, low-density environments, and spectrum regulation are also discussed in this chapter; • Connection Costs: analyses the opportunities that the Internet presents in creating new avenues for foreign investment, new markets, jobs, and customers, bridging the digital divide, the effect of Internet connection costs on regulatory frameworks, discrepancies in international bandwidth costs, and costs of deployment, which all play a part in this important topic; • Protocol Upgrades: describes the function of IP addresses and the reasons the IPv4 version is in need of replacement. The chapter discusses the current situation, the new version of IP; called IPv6, and the opportunities and challenges that accompany it; • The Regulatory Framework: analyses the need for an effective regulatory regime, fostering an efficient ICT sector which develops a solid ICT infrastructure, promotes innovation in products and services, and improves the quality and efficiency of service provision. The chapter also addresses the importance of establishing market, legal, and technical frameworks, as well as appropriate policies; • Network Neutrality: explains network neutrality as the principle that Internet users should be in control of what content they view and what applications they use on the Internet. From a technical perspective, network neutrality implies that all IP packets should be treated more or less the same. The chapter details, for example, reasons and concerns that a network operator might use different treatment for IP packets associated with specific services, applications, destinations, or devices, and other facets of this controversial debate; • The Domain Name System (DNS) and ICANN: explores the delegation of top level domains (TLDs) and their management by TLD Registries; the registration of second level domain names by registrants through domain name registrars and resellers. This chapter explains why the whole process requires policies that are developed by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) within a bottom-up, consensus-driven, multi-stakeholder framework with various supporting organizations and advisory committees involved; • IANA, IDNs, and the Latest Developments in the Domain Name Industry: describes in-depth the role of IANA in IP address allocation, the domain name root-servers, the delegation/re-delegation process, and sheds some light on alternative root-servers (Alt Root). It also reviews the history of International Domain Names (IDNs), Unicode and Punycode, the IETF and IDNA2003, IDNA2008, and IDNA2010, the IDN ccTLD fast track process, and software issues with IDNs. It also presents some recent developments in the domain name industry, including discussions on .xxx, DNSSec, and the new gTLD program. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: • Borgman C (2007) Scholarship in the Digital Age: Information, Infrastructure and the Internet. Cambridge, Massachusetts: MIT Press • Bygrave L and Bing J (2009) Internet Governance: Infrastructure and Institutions. Oxford: Oxford University Press • Kurbalija J (2010) An Introduction to Internet Governance. Malta: DiploFoundation • Van Best J (2005) Unravelling Internet Infrastructure. Eburon Uitgeverij B.V. |
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| ADDITIONAL NOTES | Pre-Requisite Study-unit: IRL5003 - Internet Governance | ||||||||||||||||
| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Grp Learning, Independent Onl Learning & Lectures | ||||||||||||||||
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2024/5. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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