Tier 1 providers tend to be national in scope and are facilities based. They maintain their own backbone connections and often sell Internet access to other providers. Tier 2 and Tier 3 providers are regional and local in scope. Because they are not facilities based, they purchase Internet backbone feeds from larger providers. These illustrate how, using Cisco networking equipment and solutions, service providers can realize growth over a three-year period.
Costs provided are estimates based on averages in the United States, as outlined in the assumptions.
Actual costs may differ. As the Internet becomes a key vehicle for communications among both consumers and businesses, the demand for Internet access continues to grow at a tremendous pace. The Global Dynamos, by Kathryn Hale, Dataquest, November 16, 1998. 2 See Introduction to Boardwatch Quarterly Directory of Internet Service Providers, Winter, 1998. 3 See Service Level Agreements Key Feature for ISPs , by Ruth Chatterton and Rebecca Wetzel, Telechoice, May 1998.