Internet terminology might as well be Greek for a lot of folks. But at Safelink, we pride ourselves on making internet easy.
That’s why we thought we’d take a moment to tackle one of our most frequently asked questions.
As the name implies, a wireless internet service provider (WISP) enables you to connect to the internet without a physical link between your computer and an internet access point.
Unlike DSL or fiber internet services, you don’t need to have cables or wire installed. Instead, your computer accesses the web using a signal sent out from a transmission tower (logically enough, the area where your computer can pick up this signal is called the “coverage area”).
Wireless internet is extremely popular in rural and suburban areas where fiber and cable internet options are not available. If you live in a rural area, you have most likely seen a wireless internet transmission tower, like the one pictured on this page. Safelink subscribers can access internet from these towers with their transceiver equipment provided by Safelink.
Another common source of confusion (understandably!) is the difference between Wireless Internet and WiFi.
The term WiFi was originally shorthand for “wireless fidelity,” a now outdated technology. However, the term is still used to refer to wireless local area network or WLAN a type of networking you can use to connect to the publicly available internet connections you might find at a local coffee shop or internet cafe.
Since most new devices, such as computers and video game consoles come with built-in WiFi transmitters and receivers, you can use your devices WiFi to connect to wireless internet service provided by a wireless internet service provider, like Safelink.
Basically, Wireless Internet refers to the type of internet service, while WiFi refers to the mode of connection to the internet.
For information on our various Wireless Internet services, check out these pages: