Does IPFS complement the current structure of the internet or replace it?

From @pocketmax on Tue Sep 29 2015 03:54:02 GMT+0000 (UTC)

If it replaces the current structure of the internet, How will communication between long distances be handled. If I want to send an email to someone in another state, there are no neighboring links to hop from to get the data over there.


Copied from original issue: https://github.com/ipfs/faq/issues/50

From @jbenet on Tue Sep 29 2015 06:59:36 GMT+0000 (UTC)

IPFS is an overlay network on top of other networks, most importantly IPv4, IPv6. it is part of the internet. (so, “complement”).