ISPs are nothing but service providers who enable users to get connected to the World Wide Web. There a many internet providers in UK, and across the world. They provide dial up or broadband connections to the Internet. While dial up provides very less speed (56kbps), broadband allows minimum 512kbps speed and a maximum up to 24 MB. Broadband connection options are either via phone (ADSL) or cable. Dial up connections are being replaced by broadband nowadays, as more and more people appreciate its advantages.
The Internet Service Providers compete mainly in the speed provided and price charged. Other aspects include reliability, package benefits, customer support, free stuff offered etc. Some offer free broadband, as they believe that since the same line is used for both phone and broadband, phone alone needs to be charged and broadband offered for free. Business broadband costs more because of it wider range of features and support. There are several providers in the UK offering all these services. BT, AOL, Pipex, BE, PlusNet, Tiscali, Toucan, UK Online etc, are some of the popular providers in UK. Internet service is also combined with other services like phone, digital TV, mobile etc. These are called as broadband bundles. Virgin Media is the first to incorporate all these options and is known as the pioneer in “quad play”
An association called “The Internet Services Providers’ Association” (ISPA UK) is a trade association fro UK ISPs. It was established in 1995 and is responsible for regulation and development of the Internet industry.