A message is first broadcast from a planet, a vessel in hyperspace, or from another point of origin; from there, it is then routed from the point of origin's transmitter through potentially millions of hyperwave transceivers suspended in hyperspace to a Holonet relay, where it is sorted, identified and logged by the relay's computer, and then routed further via appropriate transceivers to its destination.

The transceivers themselves transfer information across the galaxy through s-threads. This enables data to be sent and received at faster-than-light speeds, ensuring near-instantaneous communication from one end of the galaxy to the other, by routing information from origin, to transceiver, to Holonet relay, to transceiver network yet again, and finally to its destination.

It should also be noted that information transmitted via the HoloNet is nearly impossible to infiltrate or corrupt, thanks to the s-thread's incredibly narrow hyperspace dimensions. The only way to do so is to attach a listening device to the sender's equipment, the relay station, or at the destination itself.

The HoloNet system is an extremely costly expenditure, both for transceiver placement/maintenance (funded by the government) and for consumer HoloNet equipment. However, it is one of the major methods of communication in the galaxy.

Created thanks to the Galactic Senate's efforts many years before the Clone Wars, the HoloNet quickly expanded throughout the galaxy, ending up with at least one emitter/receiver device located on virtually every planet of the Galactic Republic.

During the Clone Wars, the Confederacy created the CIS Shadowfeed, a network of hyperwave transceivers similar to the Republic's HoloNet News channel. During this time, both sides used the HoloNet to broadcast propaganda.

When Emperor Palpatine assumed power, large portions of the HoloNet were shut down to prevent news of the Empire's atrocities from spreading quickly. During the time of the Empire, the HoloNet was strictly controlled, used mostly for Imperial Military communications. This greatly inhibited the ability of groups like the Alliance to Restore the Republic to communicate, and arguably also had an isolating effect on the many planets over which the Empire held power. During this period, Ebenn Q3 Baobab created an alternative HoloNet since the official HoloNet disseminated only Imperial propaganda without the "complication" of unapproved free speech. After the Empire fell, HoloNet channels were reopened and security was lifted, restoring free speech.

HYPERSPACE TRANSCEIVER:

Subspace transceivers, also known as subspace radios and hypertransceivers, are standard devices used for instantaneous, faster-than-light communications between nearby systems. Similar to its shorter-ranged cousin, the comlink, subspace transceivers relied on energy to broadcast signals. Starships carried these units to broadcast distress signals and other important messages. They used subspace as the communications medium. The subspace transceiver of an Imperial Star Destroyer had a range of 100 light-years.

Many planetary governments, large corporations, and wealthy individuals maintained private subspace transceivers. Because each radio had a range of up to several light years, governments used these units to connect local planets with a sector-wide communications grid. Although much more powerful than standard comlinks, subspace radios were not nearly as advanced or effective as the HoloNet. Most planets are integrated into local subspace networks that use transceivers aboard deep-space satellites to link dozens of worlds in an instantaneous and continuous flow of data. These networks normally handled news, sports, entertainment, and educational programming. Individuals and corporations purchased broadcast time for private messages, with fees running anywhere from one to twenty credits per ten seconds of transmission time.

Hundreds of subspace networks are scattered across the galaxy, so a message could theoretically be sent across the galaxy by bouncing it across multiple networks. While this process is much more affordable than the HoloNet, messages could be delayed for hours or days as they were routed through different networks. Because each network had different communication protocols, messages can be corrupted or lost, and so it is often cheaper and safer to send long-distance messages by courier ships.

In our SW Universe, which is in the future regarding Luke Skywalker, etc., the HoloNet exists but is still considered to be Imperial technology. Most communications travel via subspace tranceivers rather than hyperspace ones, and communication takes a little longer.

My apologies to everyone in general. LOL, we've been using comm-links rather loosely throughout the entirety of The Pod. Thus let us say that each comm-link has miniaturized HoloNet tranceivers. This technology was immediately spread after the Fall of the Old Empire; with the rise of the New (where we are now) it was too late to stop it.

Perhaps the current "administration" is busy creating something even better for their forces. But for now, the HoloNet is the primary communications source for military ships, comm-links, and larger ships belong to the Elite of the Galaxy.

With perhaps a few surprises mixed into the lot.