Internet Access

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What Is Internet Access?

Internet access allows individuals and organizations to get online and take advantage of apps, websites, messaging, streaming media, e-commerce, cloud services, and more. Connecting PCs, laptops, smartphones, gaming consoles, tablets, personal computers, and other devices to the Internet enables end users to benefit from their full capabilities.

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Internet access can be activated at home, work, school, while shopping, or on the move. There are numerous types of Internet access, each with its own mode of connection and range of data transfer speeds.

The cost, availability, speed, and reliability of Internet access can all differ depending on the type of connection, region, and the Internet service provider (ISP). Internet access isn’t always equal, and issues related to national development and income levels can make distribution and availability uneven between countries.

Illustration of a person with a smartphone showing no internet connection, alongside a definition of internet access as technologies connecting devices to the Internet.

Key Takeaways

  • Internet access is an umbrella term for a range of technologies that connect computing devices to the Internet.
  • It began with slow and unreliable dial-up; today, it happens mainly through mobile broadband and Wi-Fi.
  • Gaining access to the Internet opens the door to all the online world can provide, from shopping to gaming.
  • As valuable as Internet access can be, it can also expose users to cybercrime.
  • A digital divide has emerged between the West and countries in the developing world.

How Does Internet Access Work?

Since the Internet became publicly available in the early 1990s, Internet access has evolved from slow dial-up connections over wired telephone lines to today’s mobile broadband, digital subscriber line (DSL), and fiber-optic technologies. The evolution of access technologies was driven by the Internet’s rapid expansion and demand for faster data transfer speeds and more stable connections.

To access the Internet, a user needs to connect their device to a modem or router provided by an ISP. Once connected, the device uses Internet protocols such as TCP/IP to communicate with the ISP’s server and confirm that the connection is valid.

Data transfer protocols simplify Internet access by allowing free data exchange between end users, ISPs, and the websites and services they connect to. The ISP network tools used to manage Internet access also help ensure a high level of quality-of-service (QoS) by freeing up capacity for more data traffic at peak usage periods.

Important Terms to Know

Bandwidth

Bandwidth is a measure of the maximum data volume that can be sent via an Internet connection in a given period of time. It determines how quickly data is being sent or received between ISPs and devices.

Broadband

Broadband is another name for reliable, high-bandwidth Internet connections. It contrasts with traditional dial-up access, which is characterized by low data transmission speeds and unstable connections.

Types of Internet Access

Visual infographic explaining various internet access types, including mobile broadband, satellite, dial-up, cable, Wi-Fi, and DSL, with descriptions and illustrations.

There are numerous types of Internet access:

Mobile broadband

It is an example of wireless Internet access provided by a mobile phone cellular network. It allows smartphone and tablet users to gain Internet access outside the home or office using fast mobile connections, including 5G and, in the near future, 6G.

Mobile broadband uses radio signals to send and receive data, enabling mobile device users to use mobile apps and Internet services.

Wi-Fi routers and public hotspots

Wi-Fi Internet access enables connection to a broadband wireless local area network (WLAN). It uses a specialized router that, like mobile broadband, employs radio signals to enable wireless data exchanges.

ISPs provide wireless routers to residential and business customers. Hospitality businesses and public venues like malls and libraries often provide free W-Fi access.

Satellite
It spreads Internet access to places where connections typically aren’t unavailable, such as remote rural areas, on airplanes, and ships far out at sea. Similar to dial-up, satellite Internet access relies on a modem to connect to the ISP, though one uses advanced technology and is capable of broadband data transfer speeds.
Dial-up

It happens when users connect their laptop or PC to the Internet using a traditional wired telephone line. A specialized device called a modem handles the link to the ISP network.

We define dial-up Internet access as an analog connection technology, meaning it uses all of the telephone line’s data transfer capability, stopping users from making or receiving phone calls from the same line.

Cable

It is provided by cable television companies and uses cable television infrastructure to provide homes or buildings with a broadband Internet connection.

It uses the same copper-wire-based coaxial cables used to deliver programming to a cable TV. Because the Internet connection is coterminous with the cable provider’s TV services, Internet access is typically sold in a ‘bundle’ along with a package of TV channels.

Digital subscriber line (DSL)
This technology is used by telecommunications companies to provide residential and business customers with a broadband Internet connection. DSL uses traditional copper telephone lines to provide an Internet connection, but unlike dial-up access, Internet data exchanges happen simultaneously with phone calls and other services.

Internet Access Security

As Internet access continues to grow around the world, it’s important that Internet connections be fully secured from surveillance and hacking.

The rise of online services like e-banking, e-health, and electronic tax filing means sensitive information can be exposed online to criminals. Internet access should be protected by a range of cybersecurity tools, including antivirus and virtual private network (VPN) applications that keep online activity private.

Internet Access Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Convenient online services
  • Access to information
  • Enables remote and mobile working

Cons

  • Cybercriminals can steal your information
  • Too much reliance on the Internet can lead to social isolation
  • A digital divide has opened up between developed and developing economies

The Bottom Line

While there are still many different types of Internet access, most people get online using mobile broadband, Wi-Fi, or satellite connections. Their flexibility and fast data transfer speeds have led to exponential growth in Internet use and innovation.

Regardless of how you define Internet access, however, ensuring that connections and data traffic are fully secure and free from outside snooping or interference from cybercriminals has become a vital consideration.

FAQs

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Mark De Wolf
Technology Journalist
Mark De Wolf
Technology Journalist

Mark is a freelance tech journalist covering software, cybersecurity, and SaaS. His work has appeared in Dow Jones, The Telegraph, SC Magazine, Strategy, InfoWorld, Redshift, and The Startup. He graduated from the Ryerson University School of Journalism with honors where he studied under senior reporters from The New York Times, BBC, and Toronto Star, and paid his way through uni as a jobbing advertising copywriter. In addition, Mark has been an external communications advisor for tech startups and scale-ups, supporting them from launch to successful exit. Success stories include SignRequest (acquired by Box), Zeigo (acquired by Schneider Electric), Prevero (acquired…