An ISP (Internet Service Provider) is a company that connects your network to the Internet.
What Problem an ISP Solves
Without an ISP:
- Your computer or router would have no path to the Internet
- You could only communicate inside your local network (LAN)
An ISP provides the connection between your network and the global Internet.
What an ISP Does (In Simple Terms)
An ISP:
- Gives you Internet access
- Assigns you a public IP (Internet Protocol) address
- Routes your data to and from the Internet
- Maintains large networks that connect to other ISPs
How ISP Connectivity Works (Step-by-Step)
- User Connects
- Your device connects to a router (home or office)
- Router Connects to ISP
- The router connects to the ISP using a WAN (Wide Area Network) link
(fiber, DSL, cable, or wireless)
- ISP Routes Traffic
- The ISP forwards your data to the correct destination on the Internet
- Response Comes Back
- Data from websites returns through the ISP to your network
Example
- You open a website on your phone
- Your request goes:
- Phone → Router → ISP → Internet → Website
- The website response comes back the same way
Types of ISPs
Local ISP
- Provides Internet access within a city or region
National ISP
- Covers an entire country
Tier-1 ISP
- Large global ISPs that connect directly to other Tier-1 ISPs
- No need to buy Internet access from others
ISP Services
- Internet access
- Email services
- Web hosting
- IP address allocation
- DNS (Domain Name System) services
In One Sentence
An ISP is the bridge that connects your local network to the global Internet.
