Ethernet Broadband
Local Area Network (LAN):
A computer network that interconnects devices within a confined domain, such as a campus or building, allowing shared data access and communication between network-enabled hardware.
The vast majority of LANs link machines together using either Ethernet- or WiFi-based technology.
Wide Area Network (WAN):
A computer network that isn't localized to a specific area or domain, connecting devices across any number of LANs. The Internet is a giant WAN.
Broadband:
High-speed Internet services that, unlike dial-up connections, stay online whether or not devices are currently utilizing network access. Traditional (wireline) broadband uses a network of physical infrastructure -- coaxial cable or optical fiber lines more often than not.
Ethernet:
A computer networking standard that governs the transmission of data across physical LAN connections (via Ethernet cables). Different standards have evolved to reflect the faster speeds provided by newer technologies, such as coaxial versus fiber-optic cabling for example, resulting in the advancement of categorizations.
10/ 100 Ethernet:
The former standard in Ethernet transfer rates until GB Ethernet, 10/ 100 refers to the two speeds made available to hardware connected via this type of cable (measured in megabits per second [Mbps]). Many legacy systems weren't capable of utilizing the 100 Mbps connection offered by Category 5 Ethernet so Cat-5 cables were designed to be backward-compatible with the previous 10 Mbps standard rate of transmission as well (Category 3).
GB Ethernet:
The current standard (Cat 5e or Cat 6) for commercially available Ethernet connections is 1,000 Mbps -- or 1 Gbps -- commonly referred to as Gigabit Ethernet, GbE, or 1 GigE. These cables and ports are also backward compatible with 10/ 100 Ethernet devices that cannot leverage the GbE connection.
RJ45 Connector:
Ethernet interfaces use the RJ45 plug and jack to establish physical connections. Registered jack (RJ) is the interface designated for connecting telecommunications or data equipment.
WiFi:
A technology standard for the wireless transmission of data, allowing WiFi-enabled devices to connect to a LAN without having to establish a physical Ethernet connection.
While both WiFi and cellular data are referred to as "wireless" technologies, they are NOT the same. Read more about WWAN (cellular WAN connections) here.
Internet Service Provider (ISP):
An organization responsible for connecting their segment of network infrastructure with the larger Internet as a whole. There are three tiers of ISPs:
Tier 1 -- The "backbone" of the Internet. These ISPs own and operate self-sufficient WAN hubs that allow tier-1 carriers to transmit voice and data services for their customers without the aid of external/ third-party resources.
AT&T and Verizon are examples of Tier 1 ISPs.
Tier 2 -- Any ISP that cannot provide comprehensive Internet connectivity unless their network is "peered" with tier-1 transit providers. While these companies own and operate segments of infrastructure, they are not 100% self-sufficient.
Tier 3 -- Providers that deliver Internet access via arrangements with tier-1 or tier-2 operators; they possess no Internet infrastructure of their own.