Although commonly misused, the term “internet” refers to the hardware – the servers, wires and routers - which connects all of the various computers together and allows communication to take place. The “world wide web” is effectively the software, or the application, which runs over the internet infrastructure. Typical uses include website browsing, email, VoIP (through programs such as Skype), FTP (the transferring of files) and blogging. Access to the internet is provided through Internet Service Providers (ISPs), and end users can connect to their chosen ISP in number of different ways.
1. Dial-up connections are available from anywhere with a landline, although connection speeds can be slow, particularly if the landline infrastructure is poor. Dial-up connections used to be the dominant access method, but in many countries these are beginning to be rapidly replaced by broadband and/or wireless networks
2. Users can also connect to the internet through their mobile phones, an increasingly popular method as prices come down, reliability increases and network operators upgrade to faster network technologies. Users can surf the web, or do email, using a browser built into their handset (although the user experience is not the same as PC browsing quite yet), or attach their mobiles to a computer and use it as a gateway to the internet
3. Short wave HF radio networks can provide email functionality (such as Bushmail) in remote areas, assuming there is a HF radio network present. These connections can be very slow and difficult to maintain, and although they do work to an extent with email they should never be considered a viable method for surfing the web
4. Broadband offers a high-speed Internet connection through some fixed land lines (known as ISDN or ADSL) using a special modem, or via a cable operator or a direct satellite link. Unlike most dial-up connections, broadband comes at a fixed monthly price, dependent on the speed selected
5. Direct satellite links are generally the more expensive option, but can offer web connectivity in remote areas, or areas with poor telecoms infrastructure. Many systems, such as RBGAN, charge per megabyte of data downloaded, which means in effect that an ‘always-on’ connection is possible. However, the downloading of large email attachments or multimedia files can make the cost prohibitive