Is an organisation that provides services accessing and using the internet
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The term “internet service provider (ISP)” refers to a company that provides access to the internet to both personal and business customers. ISPs make it possible for their customers to surf the web, shop online, conduct business, and connect with family and friends—all for a fee. Show
ISPs may also provide other services, including email services, domain registration, web hosting, and browser packages. An ISP may also be referred to as an information service provider, a storage service provider, an internet network service provider (INSP), or any combination of these three based on the services offered by the company. Key Takeaways
What Is the Purpose of Internet Service Providers (ISPs)?Internet service was originally limited to government agencies and specific university departments. The technology was developed to provide access to the general public through the World Wide Web in the late 1980s. Initially, consumers were able to gain limited access through a few ISPs—America Online (AOL) being one of the most recognized names at the time—that used dial-up connections using a phone line. The number of ISPs increased to several thousand during the mid-1990s, and the boom was on. As the options for connectivity increased and speeds moved away from slower dial-up connections, the internet economy was born. Providers developed more advanced technology, allowing customers high-speed access via broadband technology through cable and digital subscriber line (DSL) modems. Behind all of this was a multilayered web of connections. Local ISPs sold access to customers but paid larger ISPs for their own access. These larger ISPs, in turn, paid even larger ISPs for access. The trail leads to Tier 1 carriers that can reach every network access point without having to pay for access. These Tier 1 companies own the infrastructure in their region. Internet service providers provide their customers access to the internet—plain access providers just handle the traffic between the individual and the internet as a whole. But there may also be other services bundled in depending on the customer’s location and availability. Some of these services include:
As of April 2021, approximately 93% of American adults use the internet and 77% of American adults have broadband internet service at home. What Are Tier 1 Internet Service Providers?Consumers and businesses are accustomed to the idea that they should be able to connect to the internet from anywhere—whether at home or while sitting in a local coffee shop. To deliver connectivity at high speed, companies have to invest in expensive infrastructure that includes fiber optic cables. Because of the high cost of investment, Tier 1 ISPs often appear like a monopoly in their regions. A specific company may appear to have near-total or total control of the market in a particular area. In the United States, companies may appear to operate in an oligopoly rather than a monopoly, where two or more companies work together to achieve market returns. This idea is reinforced by the fact that some of the major American ISPs got there using infrastructure that they inherited from the original telecom monopoly that was Ma Bell. Current Tier 1 ISPs continue to invest in infrastructure, and they may well be the only players in that market until new technologies that don’t depend on fiber in the ground emerge. Think the likes of Starlink, an entity inside SpaceX, founded by Elon Musk, which is developing a low-latency, broadband internet system that aims to meet the needs of consumers around the globe, enabled by a constellation of low Earth orbit satellites. The ongoing demand for faster speeds and an improved internet experience means that some of the biggest ISPs have begun investing heavily in 5G wireless technology. Google FiberOthers have tried to enter the Tier 1 ISP market and have met with mixed results. Alphabet, Google’s parent company, ran Google Fiber as part of its Access Division—an ambitious project to lay a new network of fiber across the U.S.—but this plan was scaled back in 2016. For a while, it looked like Google Fiber would be available only in a limited number of cities. However, in July 2020, the company announced it was partnering with West Des Moines, Iowa, to provide that city’s residents and businesses with gigabit internet service. This represents Google Fiber’s first expansion in four years. While it’s too early to tell if this represents an overall trend that will see Google Fiber in more regions across the U.S., West Des Moines joins 19 other regions where Google Fiber ISP services are available. Some of the areas include Atlanta; Austin and San Antonio, Texas; Huntsville, Ala.; Orange County, Calif.; Charlotte, N.C.; Nashville; Denver; Chicago; and Salt Lake City and Provo, Utah. What Is an Example of an Internet Service Provider?Many of the largest ISPs are also large telecommunications companies that provide a wide array of services. For example, in addition to data and broadband internet services, AT&T (T) provides local and long-distance telephone service, managed networking, telecom equipment, and feature film, television, and gaming production and distribution. Verizon Communications (VZ) is another ISP that has a diversified range of services. The conglomerate offers local and long-distance voice, as well as broadband video, data center and cloud services, and security and managed network services. To help low-income families and seniors handle the cost, some ISPs offer special programs. The federal government also opened an Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) program on May 12, 2021, to provide help to families to get these services. Is an internet service provider (ISP) the same as a WiFi provider?No, an internet service provider (ISP) and a WiFi provider are two different things. The main difference is that an ISP provides access to the internet often through cable, digital subscriber line (DSL), fiber, or satellite connections. ISPs, such as AT&T or Verizon, can be wired to a location such as a home or an office building directly. By contrast, WiFi providers allow you to access the internet through a wireless connection. With WiFi technology, a modem delivers internet service and a wireless router connects to the modem. The internet is converted into a wireless signal by the modem. What are different types of ISPs?The two main types of ISPs are cable or DSL. However, other types exist, often in more remote locations. Cable connections are used by multiple neighbors, which can affect the cable access speed. Telephone service providers offer DSL connections, which connect a DSL router to a phone jack or phone cable. Dial-up connections are most often used in rural areas, which use a phone connection that is connected to a remote server. What is a company that provides services for using Internet?An internet service provider (ISP) is a company that provides web access to businesses and consumers. ISPs may also provide other services such as email services, domain registration, web hosting, and browser services.
Is an organization which provides you with access to the internet via a dial up using modem or direct hard wired or wireless connection?An Internet service provider (ISP) is an organization which provides you with access to the Internet via a dial-up (using modem) or direct (hard wired) or wireless connection.
Who provides us Internet?ISP is the abbreviation for Internet Service Provider which is a company such as AT&T, Verizon, Comcast, or BrightHouse that provides Internet access to companies, families, and even mobile users. They use fiber-optics, satellite, copper wire, and other forms to provide Internet access to their customers.
What is the connection between your computer at home and?The connection between your computer at home and your local ISP is called the backbone.
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