How to connect to the Internet?

The connections to the Internet are basically of two kinds:

• temporary connections made to ``browse'' for information.
• persistent connections made by computers used to store the databases that hold much of the information content in the net including the personal mailboxes of individuals.

Most connections at the lowest level use services of data transmission provided by telephone companies. The telephone companies are normally not involved in the interactions that take place on these leased lines, including connections, establishment of services etc.