WIRELESS INTERNET PROVIDERS
An Internet service provider (ISP) is an organization that provides services for accessing, using, the Internet. Internet service providers may be organized in various forms, such as commercial, community-owned, non-profit, or otherwise privately owned.
Internet services typically provided by ISPs include Internet access, Internet transit, domain name registration, web hosting, Usenet service, and colocation.
Access providers ISP
ISPs provide Internet access, employing a range of technologies to connect users to their network.] Available technologies have ranged from computer modems with acoustic couplers to telephone lines, to television cable (CATV), wireless Ethernet (wifi), and fiber optics.
Mailbox providers
A mailbox provider is an organization that provides services for hosting electronic mail domains with access to storage for mailboxes. It provides email servers to send, receive, accept, and store email for end users or other organizations.
Hosting ISPs
Internet hosting services provide email, web-hosting, or online storage services. Other services include virtual server, cloud services, or physical server operation.
Transit ISPs
Tiers 1 and 2 ISP interconnections. Just as their customers pay them for Internet access, ISPs themselves pay upstream ISPs for Internet access. An upstream ISP usually has a larger network than the contracting ISP or is able to provide the contracting ISP with access to parts of the Internet the contracting ISP by itself has no access to.
Virtual ISPs
A virtual ISP (VISP) is an operation that purchases services from another ISP, sometimes called a wholesale ISP in this context, which allow the VISP’s customers to access the Internet using services and infrastructure owned and operated by the wholesale ISP. VISPs resemble mobile virtual network operators and competitive local exchange carriers for voice communications.
Wireless ISP
A wireless Internet service provider (WISP) is an Internet service provider with a network based on wireless networking. Technology may include commonplace Wi-Fi wireless mesh networking, or proprietary equipment designed to operate over open 900 MHz, 2.4 GHz, 4.9, 5.2, 5.4, 5.7, and 5.8 GHz bands or licensed frequencies such as 2.5 GHz (EBS/BRS), 3.65 GHz (NN) and in the UHF band (including the MMDS frequency band) and LMDS.
Here is a list of top large domestic ISPs. There are cable, DSL and dial-up providers. Most of the ISPs offer multiple ways to access the Internet.
Comcast
The largest cable provider in the U.S., Comcast provides services to over 17 million internet customers at speeds of up to 105 Mbps. Comcast also provides additional features such as internet security and parental controls. Accounts come with 7 email accounts, but storage is limited to 10 MB/ea. Plans start at $29.99/month for 6 months.
AT&T
AT&T provides DSL and dial-up services, as well as fiber optic connections with its U-Verse service, to over 17 million subscribers. DSL delivers speeds up to 6.0 Mbps. U-Verse fiber optic delivers speeds up to 24 Mpbs and includes 10 email accounts with unlimited email storage. Dial-up is $22.95/month. DSL starts at $14.95/month. U-Verse starts at $19.95/month.
Time Warner Cable
Time Warner Cable serves 14 million customers in 39 states. Through its cable network, it delivers speeds up to 50 Mbps. Its Road Runner service delivers speeds from 768 Kbps to 30 Mbps. Plans start at $19.99/month.
CenturyLink
With its recent acquisition of Qwest Communications, CenturyLink has become the third largest telecommunications company in the U.S. and has 6.4 million Internet subscribers. It offers DSL and fiber optic services with speeds up to 40 Mbps. Plans start at $14.95/month.
Charter
In 2009, Charter declared bankruptcy and sold off assets to clear $8 billion worth of debt. Now it has over 5 million customers in 25 states with cable speeds up to 60 Mbps. Accounts include Internet security, parental controls, and ten 1GB email accounts. Charter does not offer services in the western mountain states. Plans start at $19.99/month.
Verizon
Verizon provides fiber optic, DSL, and dial-up. Its fiber optic service, which is called FiOS, is available in California, Texas, Florida, and a group of northeastern states. DSL plans starts at 0.5 to 1 Mbps and include nine email accounts and 10 MB of storage. FiOS offers speeds of 15 to 50 Mbps. Dial-up is $14.99/month. DSL starts at $29.99/month. FiOS starts at $49.99/month.
Cox
Cox provide cable Internet services to approximately 4 million customers in 16 states. It provides speeds of 3 to 50 Mbps. Accounts also feature 10 email addresses, security software, and responsive customer support. Plans start at $15.99/month for 3 months.
Optimum
Optimum is part of cable provider Cablevision. Optimum provides cable Internet to over 3 million subscribers in the New York metropolitan area and the Rocky Mountain states. It offers speeds up to 50 Mpbs. Each subscription comes with five 2GB email accounts, security and parental controls. Added features include 12GB site hosting. Plans start at $29.95 for 6 months.
Frontier
Frontier provides Internet access to over 3 million subscribers in primarily rural areas. It offers a DSL service. Subscriptions come with eight email accounts, security and parental software, and call waiting. Plans start at $14.99/month.
Suddenlink
Suddenlink is a cable broadband company that provides service to 1.4 million subscribers in primarily southern states, such as Texas and Louisiana, and rural communities. It features Suddenlink2GO, which can access TV and movie content from any computer across the U.S. Plans start at $19.95/month.
