An internet service provider (ISP) is a company that primarily provides people or organizations with access to the internet. In practical terms, it supplies the connection that lets your devices reach websites, email, and other online services.
What does an ISP do?
An ISP connects a customer to the internet and carries that customer’s communications into and across networks. ICANN defines an ISP as “a company that primarily provides Internet access for organizations and individuals.” ICANN’s glossary identifies internet access—not any particular device or extra service—as the defining function.
ISPs may also bundle email accounts, web hosting, or voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) calling. Those are optional services: a company does not become an ISP simply because it hosts a website or provides an online platform. The key question is whether it provides the customer’s internet connection.
How does an ISP connect you to the internet?
ISPs deliver access using different technologies. Examples include telephone lines, cable, Wi-Fi, and fiber-optic connections, as described in ICANN’s internet primer. The technology describes how the connection reaches you; it does not change the basic meaning of ISP.
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When comparing access options, consider which technology is available at your location and the service terms and performance offered there. A technology name alone does not establish what providers serve a particular address or what a particular plan includes.
Access ISP vs. backbone provider
An access ISP provides the connection used by an individual or organization. A backbone provider carries traffic over long distances between networks, often between major cities. The FCC described these roles in a 2011 proceeding about outage reporting; it is useful as a distinction between network functions, not as a statement of current regulatory definitions. FCC proceeding on network outage reporting
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- Dual-band Wi-Fi with 5 GHz speeds up to 867 Mbps and 2.4 GHz speeds up to 300 Mbps, delivering 1200 Mbps of total bandwidth¹. Dual-band routers do not support 6 GHz. Performance varies by conditions, distance to devices, and obstacles such as walls.
- Covers up to 1,000 sq. ft. with four external antennas for stable wireless connections and optimal coverage.
- Supports IGMP Proxy/Snooping, Bridge and Tag VLAN to optimize IPTV streaming
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These roles are not necessarily performed by separate companies. One organization may provide customer access and also operate backbone infrastructure. The terms describe what a provider does in a network, rather than requiring two different businesses.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Is an online service or website an ISP?
Not automatically. A website, social platform, or hosting company provides content or an online service; it is an ISP only if it also provides the user’s internet connection. A modem or Wi-Fi router may help connect devices to an ISP, but the equipment itself is not the provider.
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- Dual band router upgrades to 1200 Mbps high speed internet (300mbps for 2.4GHz plus 900Mbps for 5GHz), reducing buffering and ideal for 4K stream
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Legal terminology can differ from this everyday definition. For example, U.S. Code defines “Internet access service” functionally as a service enabling users to access internet content, information, email, or other services; it says access to proprietary content may also be included in a consumer package. See 47 U.S.C. § 231(e)(4), in the 2024 U.S. Code. That statutory wording applies in its legal context and should not be treated as a universal definition for every law or purpose.
As Cornell Law School’s Legal Information Institute explains in its ISP overview, reviewed July 2026, “ISP” is not interchangeable with every legal category called a service provider. Terms such as broadband Internet access service provider, interactive computer service, and copyright-law service provider have distinct meanings that depend on the statute and activity involved.
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