ISP (Internet Service Provider

An ISP (Internet Service Provider) is a company that provides individuals and other companies access to the Internet and other related services such as Web site building, virtual hosting, and colocation. An ISP has the equipment and the telecommunication line access required to have a point-of-presence on the Internet for the geographic area served.

The larger ISPs interconnect with each other through MAE (ISP switching centers run by MCI WorldCom) or similar centers. The arrangements they make to exchange traffic are known as peering agreements. There are several very comprehensive lists of ISPs world-wide available on the Web.