What does the acronym ISP stand for?

Getting online at home or on a mobile device requires a company that provides the actual connection to the wider internet. This is a distinct service from searching for information or securing a connection, so terms describing search or security functions do not fit what ISP identifies.

ISP stands for Internet Service Provider, a company that supplies individuals and organisations with access to the internet, typically through technologies such as fibre, mobile data, or satellite links, often alongside related services like email hosting or a modem or router. Examples in Nigeria include companies that sell data bundles and broadband subscriptions specifically to connect customers to the internet.

A helpful distinction: an Internet Service Provider connects a user to the internet, while a search engine, which some students confuse it with, only helps a user find information once that connection already exists.