On top of many other possible services, an Internet Service Provider is a company that specializes in connecting customers of both residential and commercial properties to the Internet by setting them up with WiFi. With a connection to the Internet, people can perform daily tasks such as sending and checking emails, looking on social media, carrying out business transactions, and much more. WiFi is provided to these customers usually for both an installation fee and a recurring charge for monthly service.

With the development of the World Wide Web in the 1980s came public access to the Internet. Before this decade, access to this kind of information was confined to government agencies and particular departments of certain universities. At the beginning of public use, telephone lines connected to the World Wide Web through companies like AOL (America Online), the most popular one. While there were only a few options of available Internet Service Providers at that time, today, countless companies are offering these services.

There weren’t many connection choices until the 1990s, and dial-up connections were known to be slow. With the advancement of Internet connectivity technology and newfound broadband connections, the age of electronic commerce was born, and Internet connections began being made via cable and digital modems. Providers also started offering a broader range of services. These include web hosting, email, domain registration, and browser and software services.

Internet Service Providers can offer different types of connections. A newer and very popular type of connection today is fiber internet service. This type of connection is up to 20 times faster than a regular cable connection which is why it is so sought after today. You can learn more about fiber internet connections when you click here. There are several other kinds of connections, including wireless, cable, cellular, DSL (digital subscriber line), and satellite.

Each provider has data centers that are used to manage loads of traffic generated by their customers. Depending on the area served, one provider could have thousands of servers in these centers. There are three different tiers of classification providers are grouped into. The first tier, Tier 1, is typically responsible for providing Tier 2 ranked providers with access to the network and can carry great amounts of traffic by themselves. Tier 2 providers are centered as middlemen between Tier 1 and Tier 3 providers. They reach regional and national boundaries and usually work with commercial and consumer customers. Tier 3 providers are your basic providers that provide access to local businesses and markets of consumers.

When looking for an Internet provider in your area, there are some key characteristics to consider. You’ll want a provider who can give you a fast and reliable connection with adequate upload and download speeds. The area they provide coverage to is also essential. Obviously, if the provider you want to go with doesn’t cover your area with access to the Internet, you need to find one that does. Good customer service is always a plus, too, so make sure to check out reviews to see if customers are satisfied with the provider.