Will I Still Need an ISP if I Get DSL?

An ISP is an entity that provides its subscribers access to the Internet, supplies the hardware and software needed for the subscriber to achieve that access and serves as the virtual host for its subscribers' online point-of-presence. An ISP can be a national, regional or local service, as long as it provides the necessary Web access. In essence, that makes any company the user relies on for access an ISP, regardless of the type of connection used, whether it be dial-up, DSL, cable or other.

DSL is a type of connection similar to cable Internet, except the modem connects to regular telephone lines for the transfer of data instead of coaxial cable. Providers, such as those that offer home telephone service, offer DSL connections. The circuit is configured to connect two specific points, just as a standard telephone line or cable modem, and the speed of the connection can vary based on the location and the service plan chosen by the subscriber.

When dial-up connections were the medium by which the majority of users accessed the Internet, the user had the option to choose from several ISPs to subscribe to for Web access. Such choices were based on the speed of the connection, the number of local access numbers available and the monthly subscription cost of the ISP. With DSL, the options are not as great, and often consist of only a single option: the company that provides the DSL connection, such as the local landline telephone company, with the cost usually much higher than that of a dial-up ISP.

The role of an ISP has changed somewhat for users that have upgraded to DSL connections. The software and home site of the ISP were often central to the user and the base of much Web browsing, including an email account and access to newsgroups and other features on the ISP's servers. With DSL, the ISP simply provides access, and though some offer the same services, many users establish their home pages and email accounts through sources outside of the ISP. Still, with a DSL connection, a subscription to an additional and outside ISP is no longer required.