What Are The Common Internet Service Providers?

The application of optical fiber cable makes our life more convenient. Meanwhile, different Internet Service Providers ensure the connection stability of internet. But how to choose between different ISP, this article will give you some suggestions.

What is ISP?

An Internet Service Provider (ISP) is the industry term for the company that is able to provide you with access to the Internet, typically from a computer. If you hear someone talking about the Internet and they mention their "provider," they're usually talking about their ISP.

Your ISP makes the Internet a possibility. In other words, you can have shiny computer with a built-in modem and could have a router for networking, but without a subscription with an ISP, you won't have a connection to the Internet.

For the typical homeowner or apartment dweller, the ISP is usually a "cable company" that, in addition or offering a TV subscription, also offers an Internet subscription. You don't get both for the price of one, however. You can get just cable TV or just high-speed Internet, or both.

An ISP is your gateway to the Internet and everything else you can do online. The second your connection is activated and set up, you'll be able to send emails, go shopping, do research and more. The ISP is the link or conduit between your computer and all the other "servers" on the Internet. You may feel like you're talking to your mom directly through email, but in reality it's more "indirectly." Your email goes from your computer, to the ISP computers/servers, where it's sent along to its destination through other servers on the network.

Of course, that's its "electronic" path: the transmission is still virtually instantaneous.

Every home or organization with Internet access has an ISP. The good news is, we don't all have to have the same provider to communicate with each other and we don't have to pay anything extra to communicate with someone who has a different ISP.

Whereas just about anyone can have a website, not everyone can be an ISP. It takes money, infrastructure and a lot of very smart technicians. Your ISP maintains miles of cabling by using fiber optic attenuator single mode or many kinds of fiber connectors, employs hundreds of technicians and maintains network services for its hundreds of thousands of subscribers. Depending on where you live, you typically have a choice of ISPs.

Common ISPs

Xfinity

Xfinity is Comcast’s brand for consumer cable TV, internet, telephone, and wireless. Comcast is one of the largest cable providers, offering services to U.S. residential and commercial customers in 40 states. Xfinity’s gigabit internet is available to approximately 58 million homes and businesses. Xfinity offers a variety of download speeds ranging from 25 to 2,000 Mbps. Plans start with introductory pricing of $24.99 per month. Xfinity also offers no-contract plans for slightly higher monthly rates.

AT&T Internet

AT&T Internet offers high-speed service to 21 states. In addition to DSL broadband, AT&T Internet provides fiber and fixed wireless internet service. Internet plans start at $39.99 per month when bundled with other AT&T products, for download speeds up to 940 Mbps.

CenturyLink

CenturyLink offers internet service in all 50 states, with DSL available to approximately 50 million consumers. CenturyLink also provides fiber internet to roughly 10 million people. CenturyLink’s price-for-life offering is especially attractive. Overall, plans start at $49 per month with speeds up to 100 Mbps. The 940 Mbps fiber plan is $65 per month.

Verizon Fios

Verizon Fios (“Fiber Optic Service”) launched in 2005 as one of the first providers to offer fiber Internet services to residential customers. It’s available in 10 states along the East Coast for 35 million consumers. Verizon also offers residential DSL service. Plans start at $39.99 per month for 200 Mbps downloads and $79.99 per month for up to 904 Mbps.

Spectrum

Spectrum, from Charter Communications, offers internet services to more than 29 million customers in 41 states. Introduced in 2014, Spectrum provides a range of broadband and fiber services to residential and business customers. Plans start at $49.99 per month for 12 months with no data cap and download speeds up to 940 Mbps.