ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Long-haul communications

Long-haul communications is like sending a message to your friend who lives really far away. Imagine your friend lives in a different state or even in a different country. You can't just shout to them and expect them to hear you. You need to use something special called technology to help you send the message.

One way to send the message is by using a phone. It connects you to your friend through something called a network. A network is like a bunch of wires and computers that help you connect to people far away. Your phone talks to this network, and the network talks to your friend's phone.

Another way to send the message is through something called the Internet. The Internet is like a big web that connects people and computers all over the world. You can send messages through the Internet using something called email, or you can talk to your friend through something called video chat.

But when you're sending messages really far away, like across an ocean or to the other side of the world, you need something even bigger than just a phone or the Internet. This is where things like satellites and fiber optic cables come in.

A satellite is like a big metal ball that orbits around the Earth. It helps send messages to places that are really far away, like across an ocean. It talks to your phone or computer and then sends the message up to the satellite. The satellite then sends the message down to your friend's phone or computer.

Fiber optic cables are like really long, thin wires that connect different parts of the world together. They're buried underground or under the ocean so that they don't get in the way of people walking or boats sailing. These cables can send messages really quickly, almost like magic! When you send a message through a fiber optic cable, it's like your message is traveling through a long, skinny tunnel all the way to your friend.

So, long-haul communications is all about using different technologies to send messages to people who are far away. Whether it's through a phone, the Internet, a satellite, or fiber optic cables, there's always a way to reach your friend, no matter how far away they are!