WHAT IS ISP (INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDER)

An Internet Service Provider (also known as an ISP or even as an IAP, internet access provider) is a firm that offers subscribers access to the internet. This internet service provider maintains large runs of cabling and maintains network services in order to transfer and deliver web content to those paying the subscription fee. Typically, these internet service providers focus on DSL, Cable modem, wireless, and more recently, dedicated high-speed interconnects such as T1 or fiber optic service (typically abbreviated Fios). While far less common, ISPs still offer dial up internet service, which is gradually become a phased out. All in all, there are many different types of Internet Service Providers, and within each and every internet service provider there are often varying levels of service, coverage, as well as personal customer service that comes attached with it. An Internet Service Provider is a complete package of services, which should be researched and considered before an Internet Service Provider is selected.

CONNECTING USING ISP

An ISP, or Internet Service Provider, is a company that provides you with a point of access to the Internet. When you connect to your ISP, your computer (or your own network) becomes an extension of the Internet itself whilst you remain connected.

HOW TO CHOOSE AN ISP : DIALUP, BROADBAND OR MOBILE

Dialup, broadband or mobile?

Occasional or extensive use?

Tied to single line, or available anywhere?

Within the University, the computers are connected permanently to the Internet. If you want to connect from home, you'll need to connect temporarily to an Internet Service Provider, or ISP, each time you need to access Internet resources. Setting this up is a fairly painless process, though you need to choose your ISP carefully.

What to look for. The first decision to make is the type of connection you want. If you're a very occasional user, then getting a dialup connection is still often the cheapest and simplest. It's also useful if you travel around a lot, as it's not (usually) tied to a particular phone line/number.

Most people, however, will want a broadband connection, because it gives a reliable, almost instant connection (or 'always-on' operation) at a high bandwidth.

You might also consider a wireless connection using data over a mobile phone network. These offer the ultimate mobile solution, but can be very expensive, often charging per megabyte of download.

CHOOSING A BROADBAND PROVIDER

Reliability, speed, contention ratio, cost

Download limits and fair use

For broadband ISPs, there are several important factors to check, including reliability, speed of connection, how many other customers share the total bandwidth (the Contention Ratio), and of course, cost. Most charge a set-up cost, and many have a minumum contract period, so be careful you don't get locked into a poor deal for many months!

There are now also variable packages, where you can control the amount of bandwidth available, paying extra for more capacity if you need it. For more recommendations and relatively independent advice I find ThinkBroadband (formerly ADSLGuide.org.uk) useful.

A recent development is the capping of Internet connections by limiting the monthly downloads to, say, 10GB. This may seem reasonable at first, but if you wish to listen to Internet radio or download video clips from the BBC, for example, then you'll hit this limit sooner than you expect. Check whether your ISP offers an “unlimited” or “unmetered” service.

MEASURING BANDWIDTH

Accurate network bandwidth measurement is important to a variety of network applications. Unfortunately, accurate bandwidth measurement is difficult. We describe some current bandwidth measurement techniques: using throughput, pathchar , and Packet Pair . We explain some of the problems with these techniques, including poor accuracy, poor scalability, lack of statistical robustness, poor agility in adapting to bandwidth changes, lack of flexibility in deployment, and inaccuracy when used on a variety of traffic types. Our solutions to these problems include using a packet window to adapt quickly to bandwidth changes, Receiver Only Packet Pair to combine accuracy and ease of deployment, and Potential Bandwidth Filtering to increase accuracy. Our techniques are are at least as accurate as previously used filtering algorithms, and in some situations, our techniques are more than 37% more accurate

WHO GOVERNS/ REGULATES/ CONTROLS THE INTERNET

A collective free-for-all?

A collaborative technocracy?

A commercial communications network?

The Internet grew as a collaborative network of researchers keen to share their discoveries in a simple, accessible way. Because of this, there was no real need to regulate or control the Internet.The information was already free and was of interest only to other researchers, so it didn't need protection. But as the Internet has grown, it has become a more commercial, public entity, and some who use it now wish it to be governed and policed to prevent certain types of abuse.

WHO OWNS THE INTERNET

There are many organizations, corporations, governments, schools, private citizens and service providers that all own pieces of the infrastructure, but there is no one body that own it all.

No one actually owns the Internet, and no single person or organization controls the Internet in its entirety.

The Internet is more of a concept than an actual tangible entity, and it relies on a physical infrastructure that connects networks to other networks.

There are many organizations, corporations, governments, schools, private citizens and service providers that all own pieces of the infrastructure, but there is no one body that owns it all. There are, however, organizations that oversee and standardize what happens on the Internet and assign IP addresses and domain names, such as the National Science Foundation, the Internet Engineering Task Force, ICANN, InterNIC and the Internet Architecture Board.