The HoloNet, also spelled Holonet, was a galactic communications grid that was developed and used by the Galactic Republic and, later, the Galactic Empire. The HoloNet was a near-instantaneous communications network commissioned by the Galactic Senate during the Old Republic to provide a free flow of hologram and other communications among member worlds. It vastly sped up galactic communications, which had previously depended on subspace transmissions or relays.
Subspace, 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. The largest range of a subspace transmission is usually within system range.