Final answer:
The network core of the Internet consists of high-capacity routers, switches, fiber optic cables, and data centers that manage and transport data across the global network, maintained by ISPs and backbone providers.
Step-by-step explanation:
With respect to the Internet, the equipment that is considered belonging to the network core includes high-capacity routers, switches, and the fiber optic cables that interconnect them. These are the fundamental components that manage and transport data across the global network. The core of the Internet is responsible for directing traffic efficiently and maintaining the flow of information. Without these high-speed routers and switches, the Internet would not be able to perform at the scale it does today. Data centers, interconnected by a vast system of submarine cables and other fiber optic links, also play a crucial role in the core infrastructure, processing and storing immense amounts of data. This core is supported by various Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and backbone providers who manage large networks that connect to these central hubs, ensuring users around the world have access to the Internet's resources.