What is a provider? What is an Internet Service Provider in simple words and how to recognize it? What is an Internet Service Provider

Hello, dear readers of the blog site. The word provider is quite common in our daily life.

Many people are familiar with this term, but if you still don’t know what a provider is and what its benefits are for an ordinary person, you should definitely understand this issue. After all, some important aspects of our life depend on the provider.

Let's figure out what functions it performs, what types of providers exist and how they interact with each other.

The provider is...

Many of us at least once thought about where the money for paying for the Internet goes? So, all your receipts are transferred to the account of the Internet Service Provider (ISP) company.

Provider translates as the supplier anything. In most cases, this term implies the provision of Internet services to the population (cable and mobile).

Different providers serve different areas and geographies. For comparison, it is enough to imagine how electricity suppliers work. In fact, it is a huge network that is maintained by various organizations. Providers work in the same way.

They can be subdivided for first and second tier companies:

1. Providers world class own intercontinental nodes that provide communication between the continents through cables laid along the bottom of the oceans. These are the giant providers on which the entire Internet network rests. There are only 11 such companies in the world.
2. Secondary providers, these include everyone who distributes the Internet by country and city (regional providers).

Internet provider is a general term that refers to a company or corporation that provides consumers with access to the Internet.

Recently, providers are increasingly merging with other telecommunications companies and offering subscribers a whole package of services: Internet, cable TV, mobile Internet. Such organizations are called universal service operators.

What do subscribers pay the provider for?

Providers are not limited to just supplying the Internet. Indeed, in order to access the Internet without problems, one cable connection is not enough. In order for the computer to be able to open various sites, it must contact the server where the information the user needs is located.

Specially equipped small workstations that do not require the presence of a person to work, but require round-the-clock technical support. The difference between a server and a regular computer is that it must be constantly turned on and connected to the Internet.

They are located, as a rule, on special protected sites (data centers) of hosting companies, for which an additional rent is charged from the hosting provider.

The task of the Internet provider ensure a reliable connection of the user's computer with any server requested by him, which hosts the site he needs. This is realized thanks to expensive switching equipment, in which routers, switches and other equipment.

The first commercial ISP in the United States was The World, established in 1989.

Each provider owns a certain amount of equipment on the way from the user's computer to the server he needs (the user in his apartment, equipment racks in his house, etc.).

His responsibilities include the repair and maintenance of equipment. It is also in their interest to constantly improve and maintain their hardware resources, which is quite costly. Actually, for all this you pay money to the provider.

If an Internet provider does not invest in the development of its networks and servers, then the quality of such an Internet will be an order of magnitude lower.

Provider classification

In order not to be confused in terms, providers were assigned a classification depending on their type of activity. Let's take a quick look at how they differ from each other:

1. The supplier services(Internet Service Provider, ISP) performs an exclusively transport function, transmits traffic to the end consumer.
2. The supplier Internet content(Internet Content provider, ICP) has its own information resources (access to websites, IP addresses).
3. The service provider (Hosting Service Provider, HSP) has at its disposal its own Internet storage, its own communication channels and servers for hosting content. Provides services such as data storage, domain name registration, virtual private server (VDS), etc. Most often it is called: hoster, hosting provider, web hoster.
4. Providers billing services(Billing Service Provider, BSP) provide secure payment of bank and other bills over the Internet. They own various online services and platforms for electronic payments.
5. Service providers for content delivery(Content Delivery Provider, CDP) optimize traffic delivery. Deliver content to those access points that are closest to consumers. As a result, the speed of subscribers' access to the global network increases.
6. Support Service Providers online applications(Application Service Provider, ASP). Open access to large-scale software products (such as SAP R3) designed to manage large enterprises.

There are providers who are engaged in several activities at once. Often these are large, fairly well-known companies that have earned credibility and trust among users.

If you have Internet, but it is not known to which provider it is connected, it will be very easy to find out this information. We drive in the address bar https://2ip.ru/ and in the window that appears we see the name of our provider and a lot of useful information related to your address.

There are also many services that help determine provider by IP.

So now you know what called internet service provider any organization that is involved in the supply of the Internet. It can be either a large company or a small company.

The main task of the provider is to provide ordinary users with high-quality access to the Internet.

Good luck to you! See you soon on the blog pages site

You may be interested

What is content Agreement on termination of the contract: appointment, procedure for execution, sample Traffic - what is it and how to measure Internet traffic Vendor - what is it in simple words Proxy - what is it and why does a regular user need a proxy server Registration of a company: legislative basis, procedure, rules
Ping - what is it, how can you check it and, if necessary, reduce (lower ping) Tele2 balance - how to find it out and check the rest of the traffic What is dumping and what causes dumping Accounts payable - what is it, its write-off and limitation period How to distribute the Internet from your phone via Wi-Fi and in other ways

From Chinese manufacturers, they allow you to connect wireless modems for third-generation 3G networks and are equipped with an Ethernet connector.

But for a beginner who bought a computer yesterday and does not know what a provider is, connecting to the Internet is a whole problem. This is quite normal, everything happens for the first time, and even an arrogant computer scientist once timidly wrote down the necessary terms and actions on a piece of paper. The difficulty is that it is not always obvious where to go and what to do to connect Internet services. In technical and grocery supermarkets on the shelves you will not find a product with the name "Internet". But thanks to the developed media system, everyone has heard the word "provider" at least once. This is exactly what you need! What is a provider? In fact, everything is quite simple. Provider is a company or for a fee providing a number of services related to the Internet.

However, everything cannot be considered one-sidedly, because there are features, and the question of what a provider is suggests several answers at once. Depending on the specifics of the services provided, these companies are divided into areas:

Hosting the customer's network resources on their sites.

Large companies that own the main communication channels with the global network, as a rule, sell part of their free network traffic to smaller associations, and they, in turn, distribute it to end users. Here is such a hierarchy. Therefore, it is impossible to know unequivocally what a provider is. Everything is specific.

In cities, there is a constant struggle among providers for a subscriber: either tariffs are reduced, then free access to a local server is provided, or various promotions are held. In such circumstances, ordinary network users can only decide

Several companies usually offer their services at once. To make a wise choice, you should first of all familiarize yourself with the tariff plans of each provider and choose the one that suits you best. Someone needs unlimited access, and someone connects the Internet only to check email and he will be satisfied with a megabyte payment. After choosing, you need to find out the reviews of people using the services of this provider. You need to ask both in the real world and on the forums. If it turns out that the disadvantages outweigh the advantages, then we choose another service provider.

If the connection is made through wired lines, and the conditions are approximately equal, then preference should be given to companies with optical communication channels, rather than the usual copper wires.

Many providers provide time for free use of the Internet, which allows you to evaluate the quality, speed and reliability. Ignore such a proposal should not be: after all, it is better to see once.

Large providers are more preferable than small offices and, moreover, a private person (there is one). The reason is obvious: in case of the slightest problems with communication, the subscriber is provided with prompt support on all issues that have arisen. In addition, you don’t have to worry that in a month or two the one-day provider will disappear without a trace.

Things are much more complicated when connecting to wireless internet. Not distributed through Wi-Fi equipment, but working through the stations of GSM and CDMA mobile operators. You should not expect maximum theoretical speed and inexpensive unlimited tariff plans - these are the privileges of wired networks. The main thing in them is the coverage area, the wider it is, the better.

In this article, we will talk about who these providers are and how they work.

Everyone needs several components to connect to the Internet - a computer, a browser and an ISP. If you have a computer, then you definitely have a browser, it remains only to deal with the provider. Let's find out who he is and how to find him.

What is an Internet Service Provider?

The provider is a company that has special equipment and is able to provide access to the Internet. To put it simply, she is a supplier.

To start using the capabilities of the Internet, you need to access the provider's servers, through which it provides the desired connection.

There are millions of users on the Internet today, but there are very few companies that are able to provide access to it. So customers can only get a small portion of the total channel capacity. What exactly will be the speed is determined by the type of connection, as well as the purchased tariff. The latter are everywhere and the more expensive the tariff, the more speed you get. Accordingly, if you want full unlimited access without any restrictions at all, you will have to connect the most expensive tariff.

When drawing up the contract, the client is provided with a login and password, which is used to identify the user.

How to connect to the Internet: scheme

Let's talk about how your computer and ISP communicate.
For example, you have received a stable connection between the computer and the desired server. In other words, you are now a customer of the provider. With the help of a special program, usually a browser, a request is sent from the computer to the server to receive data.

The server processes the request and sends it to the server where the page is stored. These servers store all websites and other information that may be present on the Internet.

The Internet server receives the request and, if it can transmit what you are asking, then sends it to the provider's server. Accordingly, after that, the provider transfers the result to your computer.

The result of this chain is the loading of the site in the browser on the monitor. If at some point the chain is interrupted, then an alert will open about the inability to load the desired site.

How and where to find a provider?

Each provider has specific service areas. It is difficult to name any one company that would work everywhere. Although, there are such - these are MTS, Rostelecom and other popular operators. They are just providers.

There are others that work only in certain areas. So, if you want to connect high-speed Internet, then ask your friends, maybe they will tell you where to go and which Internet is more profitable.

When connecting to the Internet, you need to consider some features.

Connection Features

The Internet connection sequence consists of several stages, regardless of whether there is a router or not.

First, we select a suitable provider that will provide access to the Internet. It is important to note that you do not have to go far for this, because each provider has its own website. Open the resource and look at the following data:

• Requirements for your equipment, it may be provided
• Internet features - unlimited, limit, work area, other nuances
• Tariff cost
• Terms of service - is it free, how to pay, and so on

After that, contact the supplier's office or leave a request in any other suggested way. Ask all your questions after the operator's call.

After drawing up an agreement with the provider and signing it, technical support is included in the work. The time for the work is assigned, and a master comes to you who will do everything necessary.

Look at the supplier's website for the rules for setting up equipment if you install it yourself.

In the same place, see how the computer and other gadgets are configured so that you can work with the Internet without problems. Basically, additional settings are not required, but there are exceptions.

Do not forget about the timely payment for Internet services and everything will work fine. If problems arise, they are most often resolved by technical support.

Payment Features

Internet is never free. But the user of the computer does not always pay for access. Sometimes Wi-Fi can connect to the Internet for free. Basically, this opportunity is provided in cafes and public places. The connection can be password protected and is only available to clients.

Billing Features

There are such tariffs where the Internet is provided with per-minute billing. In other words, you pay for the time you spend on the Internet. And there are tariffs where payment is made for traffic or it is generally unlimited. This option is much more profitable and find out if you need it before connecting. Otherwise, at the end of the month, you may end up with a very large bill that you definitely won't like.

Connection methods

Connecting to the Internet is carried out in different ways. The slowest connection is through a simple modem or telephone line.

The best of all are high-speed connection types:

• ADSL is a fast data exchange through the use of a telephone line
• LAN- carried out on a dedicated line. To make such a connection, the provider must extend the wire from their equipment to your
• WLAN- is carried out by connecting via a SIM card

It should be noted that these types of connections are not available everywhere. It is also important that the choice of connection method is determined not depending on the preferences of the client, but on the area of ​​\u200b\u200bits residence.

Although, everything changes very quickly and gradually tariffs and connection methods develop and change. So over time it will be possible to change the tariff for a more suitable one or even change the service provider.

When using internet from an ISP, you must understand that you are paying exclusively for the internet. After setting up just one line, it can be used for different computers and gadgets.

It is important to say that if your Internet is connected via a regular wire, then you can set up a router and distribute Wi-fi through it. This will allow you to be on the Internet simultaneously from different devices.

Video: How to find out your provider?

It was only designed, few people heard the term "provider". And now this word is constantly heard. It can be translated from English as "supplying" (that is, "provider"). This is a legal entity - a company that provides services related to connecting to the Internet. However, let's, as usual, understand the essence of the phenomenon in order.

Brief classification

In addition to supplying a connection, such nice additions as hosting services, a licensed antivirus for Windows, a DNS server, and an email box are possible. Of course, if the office is solid and cares about increasing the number of customers.

However, the concept of "hosting provider" is not very popular. More often they just say “hosting”, meaning the services of providing space for the site and generally storing something on the server.

The first level is backbone providers. They are in charge, respectively, of the main channels, providing an Internet connection for entire countries or even continents, pumping unimaginable amounts of data at fantastic speeds. Usually via fiber optic cables and satellite communications.

The second level is firms that:

1. connect to trunk lines and pay them for traffic;
2. resell traffic to the population.

Maybe the third level - offices that resell traffic again. This is true far from large cities, in the wilderness. In any case, the one who provides the connection directly to the user is called the "last mile provider".

last mile

The above consumer connection can be delivered: 1) via cables, most often via telephone network wires; 2) via radio.

A typical case of servicing an average apartment is connecting a router with a Wi-Fi adapter to the telephone line. The local home network turns out to be on-the-air, but the connection with the provider is wired.

Sometimes you can still find inexpensive GPRS / EDGE modems. They are suitable if high data transfer speed is not required. However, more on practicality.

How to live with it

Suppose you, as a home user, have implemented the following: 1) entered into an agreement with the provider; 2) bought a laptop for work. Taciturn people came to you, put a router somewhere on a shelf next to a landline telephone, screwed the wires, took a glimpse of whether the Wi-Fi network was working, and left.

Now, as soon as interruptions with the connection begin, you will have to call and be indignant. Or suffer in silence if the telephone line is down too.

During the daytime, you can take your laptop somewhere in the city center, where there are open Wi-Fi networks that you have explored in advance. And what to do if there is no connection in the office? After all, you can’t send the entire office to work in a cafe or a supermarket. Means:

1. we stick a 3G modem into one of the computers;
2. we turn this machine into a local server capable of distributing the connection received via mobile communications to the entire office.

That is, a computer with a cellular modem is capable of serving as an access point to the Internet. This feature is implemented in any self-respecting operating system.

True, all social networks will have to be blocked, because mobile traffic, as a rule, is not unlimited.

Conclusion

Ordinary users cannot practically influence the activities of backbone providers in any way, they have nothing to do with them (with rare exceptions). But they are able to improve the quality of service on the last mile. In what way? Boycott hack shops. And tell about them to friends, acquaintances, at work, in blogs and forums. Everything else will be done by the market with its self-regulation.

And, of course, when choosing a provider, wired or mobile (its modem), you should focus not on colorful advertising, but on the existing reviews of ordinary people.

Previous publications:

If you decide to connect your computer to the Internet, then first of all you need to find a provider - a company through which you can enter the Network. Choosing a provider is a responsible and serious matter, because your further interaction with the Internet depends on it: the speed of information exchange with the Network, the types and quality of additional services (for example, e-mail, access to teleconferencing, etc.), the possibility of obtaining consultations, and so on. .

Remember: a good provider is the one who saves your nerves!

How can you evaluate the quality of a provider's work?

First, find out if the provider gives potential customers the opportunity to try their services, or, if not, under what conditions and for how long you can refuse their services if they do not suit you. Secondly, try to determine its qualitative characteristics yourself. For a modem user, this is:

• dialability(constant availability of free input telephone lines)
• the stability of the connection (it should last until you turn it off yourself). When determining this parameter, you should pay attention to the quality of the telephone connection. If the connection is unstable, then try calling numbers starting with different numbers
• The speed of information exchange. It is best to determine it based on the actual speed of transferring data from the Internet to the computer: select the provider's ftp server and download information from it several times. You should try to download data from Russian and foreign servers. It is best to use servers that usually provide high speed, such as, for example, domestic ftp.ru, or foreign -ftp.cdrom.com. If it seems to you that things are going slowly, seek appropriate advice.
  For example, for a modem with a speed of 33.6 Kbps, the average transfer speed will be approximately 30 Kbps (3.5 Kbps). By carrying out the procedure at different times of the day, you will be able to assess the imbalance of network load
• Customer support. Try getting a phone consultation with the provider you're testing about questions you have (if there aren't any, name the first one that comes to mind). By making several calls at different times of the day, you will get an idea of ​​how this provider is ready to provide you with real help.

What do you need to know about the provider?

Visit the provider's office and try to find out the following:

• Provider level (providers are primary, i.e. having their own channels to the outside world, and secondary, working through primary ones). Usually the quality of service from primary providers is higher than from secondary ones.
• The presence of a backup system - equipment, channels, and so on
• The size and load of communication channels with the outside world and by whom it is provided
• Personnel qualification level

Be sure to specify what exactly you will pay for: the time of your work on the Web or traffic, i.e. the amount of information received from the Web in your computer, as well as find out the possibility of providing you with additional services (usually e-mail, access to teleconferencing, and so on) and the cost of each of them. By the way, it is quite possible that it is a visit to the provider and your personal impressions of communicating with representatives of the company that will most quickly help you make your choice.

Which provider is better?

It is impossible to answer this question unambiguously, much here depends on your personal taste and the tasks that you are going to solve using the Internet. But, of course, in any case, it is best to be able to use the services of 2 (or maybe even 3) different providers. With the right organization of work, this option may well turn out to be not only more reliable, but also the most economical.