What is an ISP
ISP stands for Internet Service Provider and refers to an internet service provider or internet service provider. Colloquially, they are often referred to simply as Internet service providers or ISPs. In the German-speaking world, the word provider is also often just used. These are providers of technical services, content or services that are necessary for the operation or use of services and content on the Internet. The end customer is thus offered Internet services and Internet access. Most providers are commercial enterprises. But there are also public, non-profit providers, such as universities and schools. There are now so many ISPs with different offers and tariffs that it is difficult to get an overview. A distinction is made between different ISP services. Here you can find out which services are offered, which technologies are necessary to provide the Internet, what the legal situation is and which services are offered.
The services of the ISP
The services provided by ISPs are diverse and different. Because the range of services is so diverse, a distinction is made between an e-mail provider, web space provider, application service provider, content provider and network provider.
Content providers are persons or companies that offer selected entertainment, news, traffic information, video content or audio content. Content providers include, for example, magazines and newspapers. Often these services are offered free of charge. They are financed by banner advertising.
As E-mail Providers are called ISPs, which provide e-mail services on their server. The best-known e-mail_providers are Web.de, GMX and Google. Users can manage their e-mail account via a browser or with a mail program. It is also possible to have optional protection against Spam and viruses.
Web space providers are companies that not only provide Internet access, but also offer storage space on their servers, often including e-mail service. In addition, they provide Webspace provider provides customers with software that allows customers to design and manage their websites.
Network providers are companies that offer not only access to the Internet, but also company-owned intranets. For this purpose, dedicated lines can be rented if necessary. Often the customers of the network provider are ISP themselves. They resell the data volume and the guaranteed bandwidth to end customers. In many cases, the network provider is also an Internet service provider.
Companies that provide software installed on a vendor's servers for a fee are called Application Service Providers. The providers take care of the maintenance and updating.
Technologies for provision to the Internet
To provide Internet access, various technologies are used by the ISP. In most cases, access is via a telephone line with the help of a modem and router. However, Internet access is also provided via WLAN, fiber optic cable, satellite and television cable. There are providers who operate their servers only with green electricity. Small businesses and private customers are usually connected via the traditional telephone network using the Internet Protocol with an ADSL connection. In recent years, more and more end users have been connected to the fibre optic cable. If there are greater demands for speed or capacity, customers are connected via broadband access using fibre optic or dedicated copper lines. Customers are charged a monthly fee for connecting to the nearest Internet node and providing Internet access.
The legal situation
The Internet service providers are never responsible for the content, as they only ensure the technical access to the Internet. However, the ISP must immediately remove any illegal pages, provided that he is aware of such a page. In Germany, customers' connection data must be stored by the ISP for a certain period of time. In addition, ISPs are obliged to provide information about users if the state prosecution authority requests it. The secret services of some countries are also authorised to monitor Internet access. Although the surveillance is an infringement of privacy, it is justified by its usefulness for criminal prosecution.
3 categories of ISP
Internet service providers can be divided into three categories, depending on the size of their networks. Providers in the Tier 3 category are local providers. They are third-tier providers. Operators of important, large, nationwide networks belong to the Tier 2 category and are second-tier providers. Operators of global Internet backbones belong to the first tier, the Tier 1 category. These operate their own infrastructure. The second- and third-tier providers have to purchase data traffic from other providers, as they do not operate their own Internet backbones.
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