Don't Shed a Tier:   How ISP Tier Levels Work. .......according to us

Is it based on subscribers?
Is it based on bandwidth?
Is it based on nothing?

The following is a combination of some of the available printed wisdom and a lot of our own opinion. We segment ISPs into tiers in the following manner:

Tier 1: Backbones & Big Guys
According to us, tier 1 ISPs either have:
1. their own nationwide backbone
(around 40 claim to be, some are questionable)
2. over 1,000,000 subscribers (that’s only 10 ISPs)

Tier 2: Regional, Reputable, Range
Tier 2 providers probably historically have the haziest of definitions.
We say, tier 2 ISPs have one or more of the following:
1. Their own local or regional backbone (they own something)
2. 50,000 subscribers or more
3. State or Nationwide access services

Tier 3: Little, Local & Lots
Local service providers still make up the majority of ISPs. Tier 3 providers typically have:
1. Less than 50,000 users
2. Offer local services only
3. Focus on a niche