Internet access connects individual computer terminals, computers, mobile devices, and computer networks to the Internet, enabling users to access Internet services (for example, email and the World Wide Web). Internet service providers (ISPs) offer Internet access to the public through various technologies that offer a wide range of data signalling rates (speeds). While technology changes at a rapid pace, so do Internet connections. The connection speeds listed below is a general snapshot, representing general average to maximum speeds at the time of publication. As technology grows, so does our need for bigger, better and faster Internet connections for another types of users and networks at various levels. Access technologies generally use a modem, which converts digital data to analog for transmission over analog networks such as the telephone and cable networks. Nowadays we have the following types of connections:
Analog: Dial-up Internet Access,
ISDN - Integrated Services Digital Network,
B-ISDN - Broadband ISDN,
DSL – Digital Subscriber Line
ADSL - Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line
ADSL+2 - ADSL Extension
SDSL - Symmetric Digital Subscriber Line
VDSL - Very High DSL
Cable - Broadband Internet Connection
Wireless Internet Connections
T-1 Lines – Leased Line
Bonded T-1
T-3 Lines – Dedicated Leased Line
OC3 - Optical Carrier