Internet service providers (ISPs) play a crucial role in our digital lives, enabling us to connect to the vast world of the internet. But have you ever wondered how ISPs themselves get internet access? It’s a fascinating process that involves a network of connections and agreements between ISPs at different levels.
When you pay your ISP for internet access, you’re essentially contributing to a chain of payments that ultimately leads to upstream ISPs. These upstream ISPs are the larger networks that provide internet access to smaller, downstream ISPs. In other words, just as you pay your ISP, they, in turn, pay their upstream ISPs for access to the internet. This upstream ISP might have a more extensive network infrastructure or access to parts of the internet that the contracting ISP doesn’t have on its own.
This system of payment and access ensures that ISPs can connect their customers to the entire internet, not just parts of it. It’s a complex yet essential arrangement that keeps the internet running smoothly for millions of users worldwide. So, the next time you browse the web or stream your favorite shows, remember that it’s all made possible by the intricate network of ISPs working together to deliver internet access.
(Response: ISPs get internet by paying upstream ISPs for access to their larger networks, which enables them to provide internet services to their customers.)