What does 'ISP' stand for?

ISP stands for Internet Service Provider.

An Internet service provider is an organization that gives customers access to the Internet and may supply related services. Depending on the provider, those services can include broadband connectivity, Internet transit, domain-name registration, web hosting, email, colocation, and online storage.

ISPs connect users through technologies that have changed over time, including dial-up modems, DSL, cable, Wi-Fi, and fiber-optic links. Mobile network operators can also provide Internet access through cellular networks, while some virtual ISPs purchase infrastructure from another provider and resell access under their own brand.

“Provider” does not necessarily mean a single type of company: an ISP may be commercial, community-owned, nonprofit, or privately owned. ISP is sometimes confused with terms such as Internet service or network service provider, but the acronym’s standard expansion is Internet Service Provider.