The 8 Leading Global Tier 1 ISPs (Updated 2024)
Choosing the right ISP provider for your business is a critical decision. Below you’ll find a detailed list of the top 8 ISPs, but we decided to take it even further and compile a comprehensive eBook with a top 35 list of ISPs we deem “Easiest to do business with” for 2023. Click here to get your free copy today!
Macronet Services is a premier IT consulting firm supporting CIOs and their teams in the design, sourcing, and support of global business networks. The following article offers some insight into the selection of Tier 1 ISPs to ensure that your selections provide for optimal performance metrics for your important business applications.
What is a Tier 1 ISP?
A Tier 1 Internet Service Provider (ISP) is a company that provides internet services directly to customers without having to rely on another ISP. These companies have a large network infrastructure (Autonomous Systems – or AS) and are responsible for delivering internet services to a large customer base.
Tier 1 ISPs are at the top of the hierarchy of ISPs, as they have direct connections to the backbone of the internet. They own and operate their own network infrastructure and do not purchase internet services from other ISPs. Rather, they have peering arrangements with other tier 1 ISPs to allow traffic to traverse to its destination. This allows them to provide a high level of control and quality over the delivery of internet services to their customers. In addition, Tier 1 ISPs also play a crucial role in interconnecting other ISPs and exchanging internet traffic with other networks.
When selecting ISPs for your global business, its critical to consider the global reach of your ISP and their AS neighbors to ensure that your packets traverse high quality routes from origination to destination. By doing so, you can ensure a higher level of performance for your critical applications. In general, larger Autonomous Systems (ASes) tend to have better peering arrangement with other ISPs and hereby, better reachability.
What is an Autonomous System (AS)?
An autonomous system (AS) is a collection of connected Internet Protocol (IP) routing prefixes under the control of one or more network operators that presents a common, clearly defined routing policy to the Internet. An AS is assigned a unique number by the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA), which is used to identify the AS in routing protocols such as Border Gateway Protocol (BGP). An AS is often used to represent an organization’s network, including all of its subnets and connected devices, in the Internet routing table. The purpose of an AS is to allow for scalable and efficient routing of Internet traffic by allowing network operators to control the routing policies for their own networks and by advertising their routing information to other ASes. Tier 1 ISPs represent the largest ASes and are connected to the networks of their customer and to other ISPs via peering arrangements.
What is Peering?
Internet peering refers to the direct exchange of internet traffic between two Internet Service Providers (ISPs). This allows for more efficient routing of traffic and reduces the dependence on transit providers. By exchanging traffic directly, ISPs can improve the speed and reliability of their service, reduce latency, and lower costs. Internet peering can be done either through private interconnections or through public peering points, such as Internet Exchange Points (IXPs). Larger ISPs tend to have settlement free (no-cost) peering arrangements for the exchange of internet traffic, whereas tier 1 ISP of lower importance may need to pay larger ISPs for peering.
Settlement-free peering, also known as reciprocal peering, is a type of Internet peering arrangement where two Internet Service Providers (ISPs) exchange traffic with each other without exchanging money. This is achieved by each ISP agreeing to carry an equivalent amount of traffic from the other ISP, resulting in a balanced relationship. The goal of settlement-free peering is to improve the efficiency and performance of Internet traffic, reduce latency and costs, and increase the reliability of service for both ISPs and their customers. This type of peering arrangement is typically used between large ISPs that generate a significant amount of traffic and have a mutual interest in exchanging traffic directly. The terms and conditions of settlement-free peering are usually established through a mutual agreement between the two ISPs.
Smaller tier 1 ISPs are often noted to have a lower “network gravity”. Network gravity refers to the tendency of network effects to increase the importance and centrality of existing network hubs, making it more difficult for new entrants to establish themselves in the market. This concept is based on the idea that the value of a network increases with the number of users and the degree of connectedness, making it more attractive for users to join existing, larger networks rather than new, smaller ones. As a result, larger networks have a stronger gravitational pull, making it harder for new networks to gain traction and compete effectively. This concept is often used to explain why dominant players in various industries can maintain their market position and why it can be difficult for new entrants to challenge established players.
AS Cone Size – What does it mean for Internet Reachability?
AS-cone size refers to the size of an Autonomous System (AS) in the context of the Internet’s routing infrastructure. An AS is a collection of connected networks that operate under a single, common administrative domain. An AS-cone is a graphical representation of the size of an AS in terms of the number of IP addresses that are reachable within the AS, as well as the number of other ASes that can be reached through this AS.
The AS-cone size is used to describe the connectivity of an AS, as well as to evaluate the overall structure of the Internet’s routing infrastructure. A larger AS-cone size indicates a more connected and expansive network, whereas a smaller AS-cone size indicates a more limited and isolated network.
The AS-cone size is an important factor in the design and operation of the Internet’s routing infrastructure. For example, larger AS-cones are more resilient to network failures, as they have multiple paths to reach other networks in the event of a network outage. On the other hand, smaller AS-cones may be more susceptible to network failures, as they have limited redundancy and may be more difficult to troubleshoot in the event of an issue.
Overall, the AS-cone size is an important metric for understanding the structure and stability of the Internet’s routing infrastructure. It provides insight into the connectivity of networks and helps ensure the reliability and resiliency of the Internet.
AS Ranking – CAIDA
The Center for Applied Internet Data Analysis (CAIDA) is based at the San Diego Supercomputer Center and was founded in 1997. CAIDA focuses on network research for the scientific community. CAIDA publishes research data on the global internet which is highly useful to IT leaders who are researching tier 1 ISPs to use for business networking. CAIDA’s AS rankings and details on how they complete their rankings can be found at https://asrank.caida.org/
Important metrics to review are the AS rank of the ISPs and the AS neighbors of the ISPs that are under consideration. For example, a global business might try to minimize the number of ISPs that they are using and will want to explore how closely networked the ISPs are. If two tier 1 ISPs are AS neighbors (by private peering), it is more likely that the end-to-end packet performance will be of high quality. Of course, the location of the peering points between the ASes is important to understand potential latency.
What is an Internet Looking Glass?
An Internet Looking Glass is a web-based tool that allows users to monitor and diagnose the state of the Internet from a remote location. It provides a real-time view of network routing and configurations, as well as information about network paths, latency, and connectivity. Looking Glasses are typically provided by tier 1 Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and network operators, and can be used by network administrators, engineers, and other technical users to troubleshoot and resolve network issues. The information available through a Looking Glass may include information about BGP routing tables, traceroute results, network topology maps, and other diagnostic information. The purpose of an Internet Looking Glass is to provide transparency and insight into the functioning of the Internet, allowing network operators and users to better understand and diagnose network issues.
A tier 1 ISP looking glass tool allows IT management to sample routes across a tier 1 ISPs backbone and is a very useful tool to get realistic performance metrics. Network engineers can request the physical addresses of ISP PoPs and add on estimated local access path latency at 0.03ms per mile (one-way) by measuring the mileage from their premise to the ISP PoP. ISP PoP-to-PoP metrics can be measured, and a complete matrix can then be generated to understand potential overall performance of the business network.
A list of Looking Glass tools can be found at the link below:
https://bgp4.as/looking-glasses
LUMEN – AS Number 3356 – Cone Size 48838 – Tier 1 ISP AS Rank #1
Lumen Technologies, formerly known as CenturyLink, is a multinational technology company that provides a wide range of communication and technology services. The company was formed in 2020 through the merger of CenturyLink and Level 3 Communications. LUMENs internet backbone is currently ranked #1 of in the CAIDA AS rankings (listed as “Level 3 Parent, LLC”).
Lumen Technologies offers a variety of services, including broadband internet, cloud computing, cybersecurity, and network and managed services. The company operates a global network that spans over 60 countries and provides services to businesses, governments, and other organizations.
In addition to its traditional communication and technology services, Lumen Technologies also invests heavily in research and development to bring new and innovative solutions to market. This includes cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and the Internet of Things (IoT).
Overall, Lumen Technologies is a major global player in the telecommunications and technology industries and is committed to providing high-quality, reliable, and innovative solutions to its customers.
GTT Communications – AS Number 3257 -Cone Size 17898 –Tier 1 ISP AS Rank #7
GTT Communications, Inc. is a multinational telecommunications company that provides cloud networking services to a wide range of businesses, governments, and other organizations. The company was founded in 2012 and is headquartered in McLean, Virginia. GTT is currently ranked #7 in the CAIDA AS rankings.
GTT Communications operates a global network that spans over 200 countries and provides services such as managed network services, cloud connectivity, and software-defined networking (SDN) solutions. In addition, GTT has wholesale arrangements with over 1000 global ISPs to “aggregate” the billing of various ISPs under a single bill by GTT. The company’s cloud networking services allow customers to connect to the cloud in a secure and reliable manner, enabling them to take advantage of cloud-based applications and services.
In addition to its core services, GTT Communications also offers a range of professional services, such as network design, implementation, and management. These services help customers to optimize their networks and ensure that they can achieve their business objectives.
Overall, GTT Communications is a leading provider of cloud networking services and is committed to helping customers take advantage of the opportunities offered by the cloud. The company has a strong reputation for delivering high-quality, reliable, and secure solutions to its customers and owns an industry-leading customer portal known as “Ethervision”. GTT’s looking glass tool can be found at: http://www.as3257.net/lg
Arelion – AS Number 1299 – Cone Size 41,781 – Tier 1 ISP AS Rank #2
Arelion, formerly known as Telia Carrier, is a global telecommunications company based in Solna, Sweden. They provide a wide range of telecommunication services, including international enterprise and wholesale telecommunications and IP services. Arelion operates a vast fiber network that spans 75,000 kilometers across Europe, North America, and Asia, connecting over 2,750 wholesale customers in more than 129 countries. Arelion’s enterprise transport services are relatively new to market and include IP Transit, Ethernet, Wave, and Cloud Connect services globally.
The company is known for its high-capacity, reliable network infrastructure and their top-ranked Autonomous System, AS1299. According to Kentik in 2023, AS 1299 is the world’s best-connected Tier 1 internet backbone, primarily from years of activity in the wholesale market. The network supports bandwidth requirements from 10Mbps to 1Tbps and connects 95% of end-users within one hop. Alreion has direct on-ramps to the top 5 cloud providers and more than 450 local access partners around the world.
Arelion has been a key player in the global connectivity landscape since its inception in 1993 and is currently owned by Polhem Infra, a Swedish investment company. Arelion is a good fit for multinational enterprises that have global needs and substantial business in Europe, North America, and Asia.
Zayo Group – AS Number 6461 – Cone Size 17341 –Tier 1 ISP AS Rank #8
Zayo Group Holdings, Inc. is a leading provider of telecommunications services and solutions. The company, which is headquartered in Boulder, Colorado, was founded in 2007 and has since grown to become one of the largest providers of communication services globally. With a strong focus on innovation and customer satisfaction, Zayo Group is committed to providing businesses and individuals with the communication infrastructure they need to succeed in today’s fast-paced digital world.
Zayo Group offers a wide range of services, including bandwidth infrastructure, colocation, cloud connectivity, and managed network services. Its comprehensive infrastructure solutions are designed to meet the needs of customers in a variety of industries, including healthcare, education, financial services, and government. With a vast network of fiber optic cables, Zayo Group is able to provide high-speed, reliable communication services to customers around the world.
One of the key differentiators of Zayo Group is its commitment to innovation. The company invests heavily in research and development to stay ahead of the curve and offer cutting-edge solutions to its customers. This has enabled Zayo Group to offer innovative services such as high-speed Ethernet, dark fiber, and wavelength services, which are critical for businesses that need to transfer large amounts of data quickly and efficiently.
In addition to its technical expertise, Zayo Group is also known for its strong customer focus. The company’s experienced and knowledgeable support team is available 24/7 to help customers with any questions or concerns they may have. Zayo Group also offers a range of customizable services, allowing customers to select the solutions that best meet their unique needs.
Since its founding, Zayo Group has made significant investments in expanding its network and enhancing its offerings. In 2016, the company acquired the European telecommunications provider Fibercloud, which significantly expanded its reach in Europe. The acquisition also allowed Zayo Group to offer a range of new services to its customers, including cloud and managed network services.
Zayo Group’s growth and success have not gone unnoticed. In 2018, the company was recognized as one of the fastest-growing telecommunications providers in North America by FTTH Council Americas. The recognition is a testament to the company’s commitment to providing high-quality services and solutions to its customers.
In conclusion, Zayo Group is a leading provider of telecommunications services and solutions. With its commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction, the company is poised for continued growth and success in the years to come. Whether you are a small business or a large enterprise, Zayo Group has the infrastructure and expertise to help you succeed in today’s digital world.
Telstra – AS Number 4637 – Cone Size 6483 – Tier 1 ISP AS Rank #14
Telstra is a leading telecommunications and technology company, with a strong presence in Australia and across the globe. One of the key drivers of Telstra’s success is its extensive and reliable global internet backbone and connectivity in Asia-Pac.
Telstra’s global internet backbone is a vast network of fiber optic cables that spans the globe, connecting countries and continents. The backbone is designed to provide fast and reliable internet services to customers, enabling them to connect to the internet, stream content, and work from anywhere in the world. With its extensive network, Telstra can offer a wide range of communication services, including broadband, cloud connectivity, and managed network services.
One of the key advantages of Telstra’s global internet backbone is its reliability. The company has invested heavily in its network infrastructure to ensure that customers have access to a fast and reliable internet connection. With a 99.9% network reliability guarantee, customers can be confident that they will have access to the internet when they need it. Telstra also offers 24/7 customer support, ensuring that customers can get the help they need at any time.
Another advantage of Telstra’s global internet backbone is its security. Telstra offers a range of security solutions to customers, including anti-virus software and firewalls, to protect their online security and privacy. The company’s commitment to security is a key factor for customers who are concerned about the safety of their online information.
In addition to its extensive network, Telstra also has a strong focus on innovation. The company invests heavily in research and development to stay ahead of the curve and offer cutting-edge solutions to its customers. This has enabled Telstra to offer innovative services such as high-speed Ethernet, dark fiber, and wavelength services, which are critical for businesses that need to transfer large amounts of data quickly and efficiently.
Telstra’s global internet backbone is also designed to be scalable and flexible, allowing the company to quickly respond to changes in customer demand. With its extensive network and commitment to innovation, Telstra is well positioned to continue delivering high-quality internet services to customers around the world.
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Verizon – AS Number 701 – Cone Size 3100 – Tier 1 ISP AS Rank #23
Verizon is a leading telecommunications and technology company in the United States, providing a range of communication services to both businesses and consumers. One of the key drivers of Verizon’s success is its extensive and reliable internet backbone.
Verizon’s internet backbone is a vast network of fiber optic cables that spans the United States, connecting cities and regions. The backbone is designed to provide fast and reliable internet services to customers, enabling them to connect to the internet, stream content, and work from anywhere in the country. With its extensive network, Verizon is able to offer a wide range of communication services, including broadband, cloud connectivity, and managed network services.
One of the key advantages of Verizon’s internet backbone is its reliability. The company has invested heavily in its network infrastructure to ensure that customers have access to a fast and reliable internet connection. With a focus on network uptime and availability, Verizon is committed to ensuring that customers have access to the internet when they need it. The company also offers 24/7 customer support, ensuring that customers can get the help they need at any time.
Another advantage of Verizon’s internet backbone is its security. Verizon offers a range of security solutions to customers, including firewalls and network-level security, to protect their online security and privacy. The company’s commitment to security is a key factor for customers who are concerned about the safety of their online information.
In addition to its extensive network, Verizon also has a strong focus on innovation. The company invests heavily in research and development to stay ahead of the curve and offer cutting-edge solutions to its customers. This has enabled Verizon to offer innovative services such as high-speed Ethernet and fiber optic services, which are critical for businesses that need to transfer large amounts of data quickly and efficiently.
Verizon’s internet backbone is also designed to be scalable and flexible, allowing the company to quickly respond to changes in customer demand. With its extensive network and commitment to innovation, Verizon is well positioned to continue delivering high-quality internet services to customers across the United States.
Verizon’s internet backbone is a key driver of the company’s success. With its extensive network, focus on reliability and security, and commitment to innovation, Verizon is poised to continue delivering high-quality internet services to customers across the United States. Whether you are a small business or a large enterprise, Verizon has the network and expertise to help you stay connected and succeed in today’s digital world.
AT&T – ASN 7018 – Cone Size 2944 – Tier 1 ISP AS Rank #25
AT&T is a leading telecommunications and technology company in the United States, providing a range of communication services to both businesses and consumers. One of the key drivers of AT&T’s success is its extensive and reliable internet backbone. In this article, we will take a closer look at AT&T’s internet backbone and what makes it stand out from the competition.
AT&T’s internet backbone is a vast network of fiber optic cables that spans the United States, connecting cities and regions. The backbone is designed to provide fast and reliable internet services to customers, enabling them to connect to the internet, stream content, and work from anywhere in the country. With its extensive network, AT&T can offer a wide range of communication services, including broadband, cloud connectivity, and managed network services.
One of the key advantages of AT&T’s internet backbone is its reliability. The company has invested heavily in its network infrastructure to ensure that customers have access to a fast and reliable internet connection. With a focus on network uptime and availability, AT&T is committed to ensuring that customers have access to the internet when they need it. The company also offers 24/7 customer support, ensuring that customers can get the help they need at any time.
Another advantage of AT&T’s internet backbone is its security. AT&T offers a range of security solutions to customers, including firewalls and network-level security, to protect their online security and privacy. The company’s commitment to security is a key factor for customers who are concerned about the safety of their online information.
In addition to its extensive network, AT&T also has a strong focus on innovation. The company invests heavily in research and development to stay ahead of the curve and offer cutting-edge solutions to its customers. This has enabled AT&T to offer innovative services such as high-speed Ethernet and fiber optic services, which are critical for businesses that need to transfer large amounts of data quickly and efficiently.
AT&T’s internet backbone is also designed to be scalable and flexible, allowing the company to quickly respond to changes in customer demand. With its extensive network and commitment to innovation, AT&T is well positioned to continue delivering high-quality internet services to customers across the United States.
AT&T’s internet backbone is a key driver of the company’s success. With its extensive network, focus on reliability and security, and commitment to innovation, AT&T is poised to continue delivering high-quality internet services to customers across the United States. Whether you are a small business or a large enterprise, AT&T has the network and expertise to help you stay connected and succeed in today’s digital world.
Comcast – ASN 7922 – Cone Size 2232 – Tier 1 ISP AS Rank #29
Comcast Business is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation that provides a wide range of communication solutions for businesses. The company was founded with the goal of helping businesses stay connected and competitive in today’s fast-paced digital landscape. To achieve this goal, Comcast Business leverages its extensive fiber-optic network and cutting-edge technology to deliver high-speed, reliable, and secure communication services to its customers.
Comcast Business offers a variety of Internet services, including broadband Internet, Ethernet, voice, video, managed network services, cloud solutions, and network security. These services are designed to meet the needs of businesses of all sizes, from small businesses to large corporations, educational institutions, and government agencies. The company provides both standalone options and bundled packages, allowing businesses to choose the solution that best fits their needs and budget.
Comcast has limited international capabilities, but is included in this article based on it’s powerful domestic US presence for both consumer and business internet reachability in the US. Comcast’s network gravity makes it an attractive peering partner for other leading global ISPs.
COLT – AS Number 8220 – Cone Size 1294 – Tier 1 ISP AS Rank #46
COLT is a leading European telecommunications and technology company that provides a range of communication services to businesses across the continent. One of the key drivers of COLT’s success is its extensive and reliable global internet backbone. In this article, we will take a closer look at COLT’s global internet backbone and what makes it stand out from the competition.
COLT’s global internet backbone is a vast network of fiber optic cables that spans Europe, connecting countries and cities. The backbone is designed to provide fast and reliable internet services to businesses, enabling them to connect to the internet, stream content, and work from anywhere in the world. With its extensive network, COLT is able to offer a wide range of communication services, including broadband, cloud connectivity, and managed network services.
One of the key advantages of COLT’s global internet backbone is its reliability. The company has invested heavily in its network infrastructure to ensure that customers have access to a fast and reliable internet connection. With a focus on network uptime and availability, COLT is committed to ensuring that businesses have access to the internet when they need it.
Another advantage of COLT’s global internet backbone is its security. COLT offers a range of security solutions to customers, including firewalls and network-level security, to protect their online security and privacy. The company’s commitment to security is a key factor for businesses who are concerned about the safety of their online information.
In addition to its extensive network, COLT also has a strong focus on innovation. The company invests heavily in research and development to stay ahead of the curve and offer cutting-edge solutions to its customers. This has enabled COLT to offer innovative services such as high-speed Ethernet and wavelength services, which are critical for businesses that need to transfer large amounts of data quickly and efficiently.
COLT’s global internet backbone is also designed to be scalable and flexible, allowing the company to quickly respond to changes in customer demand. With its extensive network and commitment to innovation, COLT is well positioned to continue delivering high-quality internet services to businesses across Europe.
COLT’s global internet backbone is a key driver of the company’s success. With its extensive network, focus on reliability and security, and commitment to innovation, COLT is poised to continue delivering high-quality internet services to businesses across Europe. Whether you are a small business or a large enterprise, COLT has the network and expertise to help you stay connected and succeed in today’s digital world.
Conclusion
Designing an optimized global Wide Area Network that will exceed the expectations of end users requires experience, and a deep technical understanding of carrier network infrastructure. It is also critical to understand your current inventory and network costs when embarking on a WAN RFP process. The team at Macronet Services has years of leadership experience in global telecom and we welcome the opportunity to talk with you about your network strategy and how we can help. Contact us anytime!
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