The Internet is a collection of computers all connected through various telecommunication networks. You need to be able to connect your computer to this vast network to enable your computer to communicate with all the other computers connected. An Internet Service Provider, or ISP, is a company that provides this access. In the beginning all Internet Service Providers charged for their service. This charge provided the necessary funds for them to provide the modems that users dial into, computer hardware and the necessary 'bandwidth' to connect into the Internet Backbone that connect all the Internet Service Providers together.
Many companies still charge for access to the Internet.
These companies charge as they frequently state they offer a superior service as they constantly invest in their network and infrastructure that the Free Internet Service Providers are unable to do. They may also offer very comprehensive and professional content to their users. In September 1998 Dixons Freeserve rocked the Internet Service Provider industry through launching a free Internet service. This service was made possible by Freeserve working closely with the telecommunication providers to obtain a revenue for each call that is made to the service. They are then able to create further revenue through the various partners selling good and services on their site.