Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

Homework

03/10/2024

TSHIBANGU MUSASA
MASTER 1 ETRO
 TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 2
II. How ISPs connect to the Internet .................................................................................... 2
III. Types of Internet Connections ...................................................................................... 2
A. Dial-up ISP ....................................................................................................................... 3
B. Broadband Internet........................................................................................................ 4
1. DSL: .............................................................................................................................. 4
2. Wireless Internet ........................................................................................................ 4
3. Cable Internet ............................................................................................................. 5
4. ISDN Internet .............................................................................................................. 6
IV. ISP Types ............................................................................................................................ 6
A. Access Providers............................................................................................................. 6
B. Mailbox Provider ............................................................................................................ 6
C. Hosting Isps .................................................................................................................... 7
D. Virtual Isps ...................................................................................................................... 7
E. Free Isps .......................................................................................................................... 7
V. Key Features of ISPs .......................................................................................................... 7
VI. Popular ISPs Worldwide.................................................................................................... 7
VII. Choosing an ISP .............................................................................................................. 7
VIII. Conclusion....................................................................................................................... 8
I. Introduction
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) are companies that provide individuals and organizations
with access to the internet. They offer various services, including broadband, fiber optic,
satellite, and wireless internet connections.
In the past, most ISPs were run by the phone companies. Now, ISPs can be started by just
about any individual or group with sufficient money and expertise. In addition to Internet
access via various technologies such as dial-up and DSL, they may provide a combination
of services including Internet transit, domain name registration and hosting, web hosting,
and colocation.

II. How ISPs connect to the Internet

Just as their customers pay them for Internet access, ISPs themselves pay upstream ISPs
for Internet access. In the simplest case, a single connection is established to an upstream
ISP using one of the technologies described above, and the ISP uses this connection to
send or receive any data to or from parts of the Internet beyond its own network; in turn,
the upstream ISP uses its own upstream connection, or connections to its other customers
(usually other ISPs) to allow the data to travel from source to destination.
In reality, the situation is often more complicated. For example, ISPs with more than one
Point of Presence (PoP) may have separate connections to an upstream ISP at multiple
PoPs, or they may be customers of multiple upstream ISPs and have connections to each
one at one or more of their PoPs.
ISPs may engage in peering, where multiple ISPs interconnect with one another at a
peering point or Internet exchange point (IX), allowing the routing of data between their
networks, without charging one another for that data - data that would otherwise have
passed through their upstream ISPs, incurring charges from the upstream ISP. ISPs who
require no upstream, and have only customers and/or peers, are called Tier 1 ISPs,
indicating their status as ISPs at the top of the Internet hierarchy. Routers, switches,
Internet routing protocols, and the expertise of network administrators all have a role to
play in ensuring that data follows the best available route and that ISPs can "see" one
another on the Internet

III. Types of Internet Connections

ISP connections split into two main categories: Dialup ISP and Broadband Internet.
1. Dial-Up: An older technology that uses telephone lines. It’s very slow compared to
modern standards ;
2. DSL (Digital Subscriber Line): Uses telephone lines but offers higher speeds than
dial-up ;
3. Cable: Uses the same lines as cable television and provides faster speeds than DSL ;
4. Fiber Optic: Uses light to transmit data, offering extremely high speeds and
reliability ;
 5. Satellite: Useful in remote areas where other types of connections are not
available ;
6. Wireless: Includes mobile broadband and fixed wireless services.
With the increasing popularity of downloading music and online video and the general
demand for faster page loads, higher bandwidth connections are becoming more popular.

A. Dial-up ISP
Dialup is the most basic type of ISP in which you require phone line to connect to internet.
Dialup internet intended to provide 56 Kbps or lower speed. For internet connection you
require a modem that connected to a computer and telephone link to ring up to your
internet service provider. With dial up connection your internet surfing speed restrict to 56
Kbps but in actual you will never surf faster than 52 kbs because of FCC regulation and
overhead.
Dialup connection requires only telephone line so you can connect to internet even you are
in any rural areas. For connecting to internet using your dialup you need to call to your ISP
Provider, this is called handshaking mode. Once connection established you can start
surfing internet. The handshaking mode is a source of frustration because many dialup
users dial same number than your chance of getting connection will be less or it will take
to connect. Dialup connection is the cheapest solution for your internet need but your
telephone line gets engaged when you are using your dialup connection. So, it will cost you
higher because call duration incurs cost.
High speed dial up is little bit faster than any regular dial up connection. High speed dialup
use V92 modem technology which compress the image, files and web pages. So you can
access website faster than any regular dialup. But in actual with high speed dialup your
internet speed will never exceed to 56Kbps.
Dial-up connection uses either of the following protocols:
 Serial Line Internet Protocol (SLIP)
 Point to Point Protocol (PPP)
The following diagram shows the accessing internet using modem:

Figure 1 the accessing internet using modem

 B. Broadband Internet
Broadband internet is many time faster than dial up connection. Broadband internet is high
data transmission internet connection and is capable of providing 256 Kbps speed.
Broadband internet mainly divides into: DSL and Cable Modem

1. DSL:

 DSL is abbreviation of “Digital Subscriber Line”.

 DSL is a type of Broadband Internet with which you can start surfing from 128 Kbps.
Maximum speed of 24000 Kb/s you expect from DSL.
 DSL is intended to provide high speed internet connection for home users,
companies, offices or organization.
 DSL can be divided into ADSL, HDSL and RADSL.
 DSL connection requires telephone line for getting internet connection.
 Data transfer using your telephone line without engaging your phone, means you
can make call even when you are using internet.
Copper wire that used to connect your home or office to a telephone company is used to
carry both data and voice signals. Telephone use analog signals to transfer voice from one
phone user to another. Computer can read only binary codes so we need a modem
between your telephone line and computer for demodulating analog signal into binary
numbers 0 and 1.
a) DSL Advantages
 You can use telephone line even when you are surfing internet.
 You can have DSL connection with your old telephone wiring. You don't need new
wiring for getting DSL internet.
 Your surfing experience increase significantly than regular dialup or ISDN.
 You can view high flash website, download songs or movies, play online games with
DSL connection.
b) DSL Disadvantage
 Its not possible to have DSL internet in all areas. For having a DSL connection you
need to have telephone line.
 Your surfing speed decrease if you are not leaving closer to your telephone
company office.
 Price is little higher than regular dial up.

2. Wireless Internet

Wireless internet is a type of broadband internet in which you do not need wired
connection for internet access. You can access Internet via wireless networks. Wireless
internet use WAP (Wireless Application Protocol) to give you wireless internet connection.
Wireless internet uses Radio Frequency signal for accessing World Wide Web or Internet.
Wireless application protocol use WAP-enabled device that connect you to wireless service
provider by detecting radio signals. When internet surfer requesting a web page the
request is send by a Web Server to a WAP gateway. Wireless Application Protocol has WAP
encoder, script compiler and protocol adapters to convert HTTP request into WML. And
WAP Gateway than send sent encoded data to your wireless device.
a) Wireless Internet Advantages
 Wireless internet does not require any cable for internet connection.
 You are able to get internet connection when you are traveling.
 Internet surfing speed is higher than dialup connection.
b) Wireless Internet Disadvantages.
 Wireless internet is more expensive.
 Wireless internet depends on weather for its optimum performance.

3. Cable Internet

Cable Internet is a kind of Broadband Internet in which Internet connection brought to you
by means of cable TV line. Anyone who has cable TV connection can get Internet
connection from their existing cable provider. Cable connection that used to carry
television signal is capable of transmitting hundred Mega signals. Some cable use coaxial
cable for transmitting signal and some other system use fiber-optic cable that come from
cable provider and than distributed to different areas.
Your cable internet provider use same cable that is responsible for cable TV. Cable modem
comes into role and it downstream data into 6 MHz channel. Upstream data that internet
surfer sent back to internet don't use more than 2 MHz.
Cable internet company require two types of equipments for transmitting signals. Fist one
is cable modem that to be fixed at internet buyers place and second one is cable modem
termination system in their company.
a) Cable Internet Advantages
 Cable internet is faster than any dialup internet connection.
 Cable internet is always on, means you can access internet whenever you want. You
don't need to dial at your internet service provider for getting internet connection.
 You can use your phone even you are using internet.
 Able to surf faster and its easy to download movies, music, images, files, etc. Also
with cable internet you can even play online games.
b) Cable Internet Disadvantages
 You can get cable internet connection only through your cable TV service provider.
 Cost of having cable internet is much higher than dialup internet connection.
 You can not use it while you are traveling.
 4. ISDN Internet

ISDN is an abbreviation of Integrated Services Digital Network. ISDN is a transmission

system that use traditional telephone network for carrying voice, data, image and signals.
ISDN is easy to use digital communication system that is capable of transferring 128 Kbps
which is faster than a 28.8 Kbps modem.
ISDN connection has three different services 1. Basic Rate Interface 2. Primary Rae Interface
and 3. Broadband Interface. Basic Rate Interface is widely used ISDN type that most
suitable for home users.
a) ISDN Internet Advantages
 ISDN uses traditional telephone line for connection. You don't need any extra cable
connection for it.
 ISDN bandwidth-on-demand feature make it capable of transferring data at 128
Kbps speed.
 Price is low compare to other broadband internet connection.
b) ISDN Internet Disadvantages
 ISDN is not an always on connection.
 It will be costly if you don't know exact tariffs of phone calls because the charge is
per call.
 You can not use ISDN connection when you are traveling.

IV. ISP Types

ISPs can broadly be classified into six categories as shown in the following diagram:

Figure 2 ISP Types

A. Access Providers
They provide access to internet through telephone lines, cable wi-fi or fiber optics.

B. Mailbox Provider
Such providers offer mailbox hosting services.
 C. Hosting Isps
Hosting ISPs offers e-mail, and other web hosting services such as virtual machines, clouds
etc.

D. Virtual Isps
Such ISPs offer internet access via other ISP services.

E. Free Isps
Free ISPs do not charge for internet services.

V. Key Features of ISPs

1. Speed: Measured in Mbps (Megabits per second), higher speeds allow for faster
downloads and smoother streaming ;
2. Data Caps: Some ISPs limit the amount of data you can use each month ;
3. Customer Service: Quality of support can vary; some ISPs offer 24/7 support ;
4. Cost: Prices vary based on speed, data caps, and additional services like TV and
phone bundles.

VI. Popular ISPs Worldwide

1. Comcast Xfinity (USA): Known for high-speed internet and extensive coverage ;
2. AT&T (USA): Offers DSL, fiber, and wireless services ;
3. BT (UK): Provides broadband, TV, and phone services.
4. Orange (France): Offers a range of internet services including fiber optic ;
5. Vodafone (Global): Known for mobile broadband and fixed-line services.

VII. Choosing an ISP

When selecting an ISP, consider the following:
1. Availability: Not all ISPs are available in every area ;
2. Speed Requirements: Choose a plan that meets your internet usage needs ;
3. Cost: Compare prices and look for any hidden fees ;
4. Customer Reviews: Check reviews for reliability and customer service quality.
 Downloading speed is higher compare to uploading speed.
VIII. Conclusion
ISPs play a crucial role in connecting people to the internet, enabling communication,
entertainment, and access to information. With various options available, it’s important to
choose an ISP that fits your needs and budget.