ISPs 101: Internet service providers

Internet service providers, or ISPs, bring their large internet networks to consumers through home or business internet service. If you're thinking about changing your Servicio de Internet, you may have questions about ISPs. Keep reading for an overview of what internet service providers do, how they te conectan a Internet, and how you can choose the right one for you.

¿Qué es un ISP?

Internet service providers do exactly what the the name says: provide internet service to customers. They can work in both home (residential) and business (commercial) environments. ISPs first emerged in the late 1980s and the early 1990s, when internet access started to become widespread.

 

Initially, telephone companies operated as ISPs because of the prevalence of dial-up internet, which used the exact same lines as landline phone service. Later, these companies expanded into banda ancha providers of DSL internet. Then, in the late 1990s and early 2000s, cable broadband was introduced, and many cable companies began offering internet service alongside TV and voice services.

 

Today, there are hundreds of different internet service providers, and they can be commercial companies, non-profits, or publicly-owned utilities. Depending on where you live, you may have a number of different ISPs to choose from to get your internet service.

¿Cómo se conectan los ISP a Internet?

The internet is essentially made of millions of computers that "talk" to each other over global networks. When you send or access any piece of data over the internet (like a shopping website, a photo on social media, or an email), it's transmitted over larger network that your ISP connects directly to your home.

 

You can think of ISPs as similar to railroad companies. Your data is a train, but it can't go anywhere unless it has railroad tracks to run on. You pay the ISP a fee to use their "tracks," which in turn link to a larger series of tracks. This allows your train to travel back and forth, eventually getting to wherever you want it to go. You pay to use the tracks just as you pay to ride a real train, because so much money goes into building and maintaining the whole infrastructure.

Tipos de ISP

There are several types of internet service providers that have slightly different ways of operating:

 

  • ISP de acceso: son el tipo más común de ISP. Utilizan las conexiones de marcado telefónico o banda ancha , como DSL, fibra óptica, cable o satélite, para ofrecer Internet a clientes residenciales y comerciales, y consumidores.

  • ISP de buzones de correo: se especializan en brindar servicios de email a los clientes utilizando tipos de servidores especiales para almacenar, enviar y recibir correos. La mayoría de los ISP de acceso también ofrecen este servicio.

  • ISP de servidores: alojan (o almacenan) sitios web, archivos, "máquinas virtuales" y servidores basados en la nube; por lo general, los usan las empresas y compañías, no los particulares.

  • ISP de tránsito: se especializan en conectar ISP de servidores e ISP de acceso y mueven el tráfico de una infraestructura de ISP a otra.

  • ISP virtuales: compran o alquilan servicios de otros ISP para proporcionar acceso a Internet, en lugar de construir su propia infraestructura de Internet.

  • ISP gratuitos: son un tipo de ISP de acceso, que ofrecen servicios sin cargo, y que utilizan publicidades para monetizar el tráfico en la web de sus clientes.

Proveedores de Internet de alta velocidad

Today, most ISPs are high-speed internet providers offering internet de banda ancha through DSL, cable, satellite, or fiber-optic technologies. The connection speeds for these providers are much faster than older types of internet connections, like dial-up.

Cómo elegir un proveedor de servicios de Internet

Ahora que sabes más sobre los tipos de proveedores de Internet, puedes preguntarte cómo elegir uno. The truth is, the types of networks and services available vary quite a bit based on your location. It's a good idea to start by searching for local ISPs, using a web search like "internet service provider near me" or "internet provider in [name of your city or town]."

 

El siguiente paso es determinar qué velocidad necesitas for your household, and then compare rates and plans. Consider the type of agreement or contract, check reviews by other subscribers, and look for special promotions on installation and modems.

 

CenturyLink es un proveedor de servicios de Internet de alta velocidad with both residential and de Internet comercial y . También estamos expandiendo nuestro red de Internet por fibra óptica en todo el país y ofrece un plan de Internet Simply Unlimited. ¡Consulta la disponibilidad ahora para que CenturyLink sea tu próximo proveedor de servicios de Internet!

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