The big deal about the Internet design was you could have an arbitrary large number of networks so that they would all work together.

The quote by Vint Cerf highlights a crucial concept in the design of the Internet: the ability to connect an arbitrary large number of networks so they function together as a unified system. This is foundational to how the Internet works today, allowing diverse networks around the world to communicate and exchange information seamlessly. The design goal was to create a system that didn't limit connectivity and could scale infinitely as more networks and devices were added.

Vint Cerf, often referred to as one of the "fathers of the Internet," played a key role in developing TCP/IP, the protocol that allows multiple networks to interconnect. The idea of enabling different networks to work together across geographical and technological boundaries was revolutionary. It provided the flexibility necessary for the global expansion of the Internet, enabling it to grow exponentially from its early days.

This design principle also addressed the challenge of compatibility among different technologies. By creating a standard protocol for data transmission, it allowed networks that were otherwise incompatible to communicate. The ability to interlink any network, no matter how large or diverse, has been crucial in shaping the Internet into the global platform we rely on today.