Networks
There are lots of networks in the more developed countries and many of these are provided by telephone companies. These companies are often also involved in satellite television broadcasting so they can provide a home with television services, internet access and telephone lines, all in one package.
As can be seen at wiredandwireless.co.uk other networks are provided just by telephone operators and these in the main are the mobile telephone systems such as 02, Vodaphone and Virgin. In some countries the networks are fewer, as the technology has yet to arrive.
The job of the network is to provide the transmission signal to the computer which will give access to the internet, and these are known as ISPs – that is Internet Service Providers. To get onto a network usually means having subscribed to that system, so when access to that operator is attempted it will need a password to go any further.
This often happens in places where there is a notice offering free ‘Wi-Fi. It’s free to use in the establishment, but will need a paid for password key to make it operable. Telephone companies such as BT have a network called Openzone and this is exactly how it works.
Other places where internet looks as though it is free is in airports where inevitably passengers have to buy a card to use their laptops and get internet access. This is particularly true in the UK, but less so in areas such as South East Asia and America. The website wiredandwireless.co.uk has a detailed account of the networks in various areas, and the costs involved.