An Internet service provider or ISP provides Internet access to its customers via a data broadcasting technology that uses Dial-up, cable modem, DSL, high-speed interconnects and wireless media to allow its clients to connect to their network.
The role of an Internet Provider is to fulfil the demands of its consumers. This will include individual consumers to small, medium and large sized businesses. However, a single connection medium cannot suffice the needs of all categories and therefore the ISPs require different transmission formats.
For an individual or a small business set up, the best options would be a dial-up connection, cable modem, wireless broadband, DSL, ADSL, ISDN and FTTH connections. However, for larger organisations, the methods used are DSL, ISDN, Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet, Metro Ethernet, ATM, SONET and Frame Relay.
Several Internet service providers interconnect at exchange points to allow data to be transmitted between the networks. While some ISPs, known as virtual ISPs, pay for Internet access acquired from larger ISPs and charge the same to their own customers, there are Internet providers or freenets that will offer you Internet access free of charge.
The ISPs also provide email accounts and other Internet based facilities to its users, so that they can communicate with other users. Whether its family, friends or purely business interaction, the Internet is the fastest way of communicating today.
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