Internet service provider

Internet Service Provider (ISP)

Internet Service Provider (ISP), pronounced /ˈɪntərnɛt ˈsɜːrvɪs prəˈvaɪdər/, is a company that provides services for accessing, using, or participating in the Internet. ISPs can be organized in various forms, such as commercial, community-owned, non-profit, or otherwise privately owned.

Etymology

The term "Internet Service Provider" is self-explanatory, with "Internet" referring to the global network of interconnected computers, "Service" indicating the role of the provider, and "Provider" referring to the organization or company that enables access to the internet.

Related Terms

Broadband: A high-capacity transmission technique using a wide range of frequencies, which enables a large number of messages to be communicated simultaneously.
Dial-up: A method of connecting to the internet that involves a telephone line and a modem.
DSL: Stands for Digital Subscriber Line, a method of connection that uses existing telephone lines to provide high-speed internet access.
Fiber Optic: A technology that uses thin strands of glass to transmit information as pulses of light.
Modem: A device that modulates an analog carrier signal to encode digital information, and also demodulates such a carrier signal to decode the transmitted information.
Wi-Fi: A technology that allows electronic devices to connect to a wireless LAN network, mainly using the 2.4 gigahertz or 5 gigahertz radio bands.