What is generally understood to be the primary role of an ISP?

The primary role of an Internet Service Provider (ISP) is to provide access to the internet. ISPs are essential for connecting users to the wider internet, allowing them to send and receive data, access websites, stream content, and communicate via email and other services. They facilitate various types of connections, including dial-up, broadband, and fiber-optic, and often provide customers with necessary equipment, such as modems and routers, to establish a connection.

While other activities, such as selling computer hardware, developing software applications, or hosting web servers, may occur within the context of some companies, they are not the fundamental purpose of an ISP. ISPs focus primarily on ensuring that individuals and businesses have the internet connectivity required to utilize online resources effectively.