Email is delivered electronically across which network?

Email is delivered electronically across the Internet because this global network connects millions of private, public, academic, business, and government networks, allowing users to send and receive messages from virtually anywhere in the world. The Internet uses various protocols such as SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol), POP3 (Post Office Protocol), and IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol) to facilitate the transmission of email messages between servers and clients.

While a local area network (LAN) can be used to send emails within a small, localized environment (like an office or home), it does not provide the vast connectivity needed for emails to reach recipients who are not on the same LAN. Similarly, telephone lines are traditionally used for voice communication and do not directly facilitate email transmission across the network. Private networks may allow emailing, but they typically do not connect to the vast array of recipients found over the Internet, limiting their scope and functionality compared to the Internet. Therefore, the Internet is the primary means through which emails are sent and received, enabling global communication.