An internet service provider (ISP) supplies the connection and network infrastructure that gives users access to the internet. Services such as Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and web hosting use that connectivity to perform particular functions; they are not the internet connection itself.
This distinction is part of IB Digital Society topic 3.4 Networks and the internet, specifically computing network providers and services. It is shared SL and HL content.
An ISP connects a person or organization to the internet through fibre, cable, mobile data, satellite, or another access technology. It assigns network information such as an IP address and routes data between the customer's device or local network and other networks.
Once connected, users can access internet-based services. VoIP converts voice into digital data packets and transmits them over internet networks. Web hosting stores website files on an internet-connected server and makes them available when users request them through the World Wide Web.
| Category | Main function | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Internet service provider | Provides internet access and routes data between networks | A fibre broadband company connecting a home to the internet |
| VoIP service | Carries voice communication as data packets over internet networks | A service providing internet-based calls |
| Web-hosting service | Stores website content and delivers it to users through the web | A company operating servers for websites |
The same company may perform both roles. For example, an ISP may also sell hosting or VoIP packages. The roles remain conceptually different because one provides the underlying connectivity while the others provide functions that operate through it.
A common misconception is that services carried over the internet are components of the internet itself. More precisely, the internet is the global network infrastructure, while VoIP and hosting are services that depend on that infrastructure.
In an exam, an explain question requires both the distinction and the reason for it. State what each role does, then explain that VoIP or hosting depends on internet connectivity even when one company supplies both.
