20 Questions
What is the main purpose of Internet access?
To provide connectivity between computers and networks
When did the availability of Internet access to the general public begin?
Early 1990s
What percentage of the world's population had Internet access in 1995?
0.04 percent
What technology was predominantly used by consumers for Internet access in 1995?
Dial-up
By the first decade of the 21st century, what technology did many consumers in developed nations use for Internet access?
Faster broadband technology
What was the global average connection speed by 2014?
Exceeded one megabit per second
What is the maximum download speed defined as 'Basic Broadband' by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in 2015?
25 Mbit/s
Which organization defined broadband service in 1988 as requiring transmission channels capable of supporting bit rates greater than about 1.5 to 2 Mbit/s?
CCITT standards body
What is the approximate global internet connection speed as of late June 2016?
6 Mbit/s
Which technology supports much higher data rates for download than for upload?
Broadband services
What type of connection generally requires the dedicated use of a telephone line?
Dial-up connections
Which technology allows smartphones and other digital devices to connect to the Internet from any location from which a mobile phone call can be made?
Mobile broadband access
What can boost the effective bit rate for a dial-up modem connection?
Data compression
What is the primary rate range mentioned by the CCITT standards body for broadband service in 1988?
~1.5 to 2 Mbit/s
What technology enabled full-range Internet services for dial-up users?
Network access servers
What is a critical component in Internet telecommunications infrastructure?
MOSFET
What technology is originally defined as faster than dial-up and always on?
Broadband
In the 1990s, what became a public policy issue in the US through the National Information Infrastructure initiative?
Broadband
Which technology offers wireless access to computer networks and is referred to as hotspots?
WiMAX
Where is public Internet access available, besides libraries and Internet cafes?
All of the above
Study Notes
- The Internet originated from ARPANET, a US government-funded project, which expanded to include most of the world's large universities and tech companies by the late 1980s and opened up to a wider audience in 1995.
- Early Internet access was mainly from personal computers connected to local area networks (LANs) or through dial-up connections using modems and telephone lines. LANs typically provided 10 Mbit/s connection speed, while dial-up rates grew from 1200 bit/s to 56 kbit/s over the decade.
- The introduction of network access servers and protocols (SLIP and PPP) enabled full-range Internet services for dial-up users, though slower due to lower data rates.
- The MOSFET, invented in 1959 and refined with the adoption of laser technology for MOS light wave systems around 1980, is a critical component in Internet telecommunications infrastructure.
- Broadband Internet access, originally defined as faster than dial-up and always on, is enabled by CMOS digital circuits, Ethernet, and NIC expansion cards.
- Broadband covers a wide range of technologies, including DSL, ADSL, cable, fiber-optic, Wi-Fi, satellite, and microwave.
- In the 1990s, broadband became a public policy issue in the US through the National Information Infrastructure initiative.
- By 2000, most home Internet access in the OECD countries was through dial-up, with broadband mostly used by businesses and schools.
- In 2010, over 90% of Internet access in the OECD countries was through broadband, and there were over 300 million broadband subscriptions.
- Public Internet access is available in libraries, Internet cafes, and public places such as airports, coffee shops, and shopping malls.
- Broadband access became increasingly available through mobile technologies, such as 3G and 4G, starting around 2006.
- The terms used for public access terminals include "public Internet kiosk," "public access terminal," and "Web payphone."
- Many hotels offer fee-based Internet access for guests.
- Wireless access to computer networks, referred to as hotspots, is increasingly available for users who bring their own wireless-enabled devices.
- The terms used for wireless access include WiMAX, LTE, and fixed wireless.
- Mobile broadband access is offered to consumers at the level of 3G and 4G technologies.
Test your knowledge about internet access, connectivity, and internet service providers. Learn about the various networking technologies and retail level services provided by organizations.
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