I just recently found out that routers connect you to the internet, but then I found out that ISPs also connect you do the internet. Can someone explain to me what really happens behind the scenes? Why do we need ISPs if our routers can connect to the internet by themselves?
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Basically, someone has to own and maintain the backbone routers and switches. The big ISPs then pay for rights to use those backbone routers, and then sell that bandwidth to smaller ISPs who do the same. Eventually it filters down to you having to pay an ISP for rights to use the bandwidth they are renting from the next bigger company in the chain.
Why ISPs and not individuals? It’s because it takes specialized knowledge to program and protect these switches from both physical and cyberattacks. There are also things such as liability for the data being transmitted, guaranteed uptime requirements, and even just basic stuff like who owns what IP has to be handled by someone who can be trusted to handle it right and handle it consistently. There are also serious implications to national security if those backbone routers were compromised.
All of these costs and responsibilities combined are far more than the average person could ever hope to afford or do on their own. Hence, we have ISPs.
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