Technology is ever-evolving and any business that aims to survive must adapt to the changing world. Even the business of internet supply. Internet service providers know very well that stepping up will keep them in the game. As one of the pioneers of dial-up internet service, Earthlink understands how a possible surge in the internet market might come. It prepared for this surge and continued to abide by consumers’ needs. But before it even gained footing as a leading ISP, what did Earthlink’s early days look like?
A Brief History
Earthlink is the brainchild of Sky Dayton who founded the network in 1994 in Los Angles, California. Dayton saw the future of connectivity and knew he had a potential market to build on. Earthlink is one of the first to provide dial-up internet service. Dayton not only invested in and marketed his services, but he also established partnerships with telecommunications companies, thereby expanding his reach. Earthlink is hinged on a mission to provide reliable and affordable internet access to households across the globe and it has been making good on this promise until today.
As the era of globalization persisted, so did the need for connectivity and accessibility. Earthlink faced this rising demand head on by offering new services that kept up with the times and needs, and even strengthened its position as one of the leading ISPs.
DSL
In 1995, Earthlink became one of the first ISPs to offer DSL (digital subscriber line) across the country. Unlike dial-up, DSL allows users to connect to the internet while the phone is also in use. This move
won Earthlink more subscribers which put it in a more dominant position. Years later, it partnered with Charter Communications, and then with Sprint Corporation which proved to be a game-changer as this allowed Earthlink to provide faster internet connection with broader reach. These partnerships also paved the way for Earthlink to become the official internet provider of major computer companies like Packard Bell and iMac.
In 2000, Earthlink found another ally in MindSpring. This new merger gave birth to Earthlink Biz DSL, which aimed to service businesses with internet packages specifically designed for different business models.
Satellite
Earthlink’s satellite broadband internet services became available in 2001 when it started operating satellite dishes powered by DirecPC. With this new innovation, areas unreachable by landline broadband can now get internet connection as long as there are no obstructions. Upload speeds went as fast as 128Kbps with satellite internet.
Fiber
Just when people thought things could not get better, ISPs came up with fiber internet. With this new technology, consumers get internet service with faster upload and download speeds (1000 Mbps or more) that is also more reliable, and more secure. Fiber internet incorporates cybersecurity features that limit the possibility of information breach. Earthlink still offers dial-up, DSL, and satellite internet services, but fiber internet is the one built for optimum performance and comes with a lot of features.
From its humble beginnings, Earthlink is now one of the largest ISPs in the United States. Its long and strong history in the internet landscape led it to become the provider of choice for many households and businesses. Earthlink continues to thrive because it works with the rising demand for internet availability. It knows better than to just compete with technology; it grows alongside it.
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