IB Digital Society 3.4D Network Providers and Services Key Definitions

A high-speed, always-on connection to the internet, delivered by technologies such as fibre, cable, mobile networks, or satellite, each with different speeds, costs, and reach.

Using computing power, storage, and software that run on a provider's remote servers and are accessed over the internet, rather than on your own device, usually paid for as an ongoing service.

A large facility filled with servers that store and process data for online services, needing constant power and cooling, and forming the physical home of the cloud.

The high-capacity core of long-distance cables and major routers, run by large providers, that carries traffic between regions and countries and links smaller networks together.

A company that sells access to the internet, connecting homes and businesses to the wider network and often bundling in services such as email, a router, or a phone line.

The delay between sending data and it arriving, usually measured in milliseconds; low latency feels instant, while high latency causes noticeable lag even when bandwidth is high.

Organizations and companies that offer access to networks and their services.