Internet service provider

An Internet service provider (ISP) is a business or organization that offers users access to the Internet and related services. Most telecommunications operators are ISPs. They provide services such as Internet transit, domain name registration and hosting, dial-up access, leased line access and colocation.

ISP connection options

Generally, an ISP charges a monthly access fee to the consumer. The consumer then has access to the Internet for an un/limited number of hours, although the speed at which this data is transferred varies widely.

Internet connection speed can generally be divided into two categories: dialup and broadband. Dialup connections range from free to inexpensive and require the use of a phone line. Broadband connections can be either ISDN, wireless, cable, DSL, Satellite or Ethernet. Broadband is faster, always on, and more expensive.

In early 2000s, ISPs in the United States faced serious challenges. Telecommunications and IT-related stocks fell sharply, and many ISPs were forced to close, restructure, sell, or merge. Some telcos like Worldcom were spectacular collapses. The slower-than-expected growth of broadband services and key decisions on broadband open access matters have all added to the industry's problems.

DSL and cable

• Adelphia
• Blueyonder
• Cable One
• Charter Communications
• Comcast
• Covad
• Cox Communications
• NorthPoint Communications
• NTLWorld
• Qwest
• Rhythms NetConnections
• Rogers Cable
• SBC Communications
• Shaw Cable
• Sprint
• Speakeasy
• Sympatico
• Verizon
• Alconet
• PT Aplikanusa Lintasarta

Others

• Colleges and Universities
• community networks
• PIPEX
• Prodigy
• UUNET
• IIJ
• Etisalat

Other relevant acronyms

• IAP (Internet Access Provider)
• NSP (Network Service Provider)

Related services

• Broadband access
  • Digital Subscriber Line
  • Fixed wireless access
  • Cable
• Web hosting services
• Usenet servers
• Email sevices
• DNS
  • Dynamic DNS

See also

• Peering
• Telco
• Bandwidth cap

External links

• Free Internet A comprehensive list of free Internet service providers around the world
• Iron Internet Provides a lot of Internet services in South America (Brazil)
• ISP Speed Test Provides a tool to test the speed of the ISP you reside on.
• ADSL Guide Provides comparisons of ISP's for the United Kingdom.
• Free Internet Directory A directory offering free internet service providers.