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Point of Presence (POP)

Point of presence (POP) is the point at which two or more different networks or communication devices build a connection with each other. POP mainly refers to an access point, location, or facility that connects to and helps other devices establish a connection with the Internet. POP is primarily the infrastructure that allows remote users to connect to the Internet. A POP is generally present at an Internet Service Provider (ISP) or the telecommunication service provider. It can consist of a router, switches, servers, and other data communication devices. An ISP or telecom provider might maintain more than one POP at different locations, with each catering to a distinct user base. Moreover, POP also supports the conversion of analog to digital data and vice versa to complement different data communication technologies and receiving devices.[1]


How Points of Presence Work[2]
Points of presence work very much like Internet exchange points, only on a smaller scale. The equipment located in a point of presence can be broken down into five categories:

  • Base stations: A central point of connection with an access point and bandwidth management to distribute connection speeds
  • Client equipment: Used by customers to connect to the central point of connection
  • Network switches: Provides the link to the “last mile” and is used for distribution
  • Routers– Provides multiple routes to the network
  • Firewall– Protects from internal and external threats


See Also


References

  1. Definition - What does Point of Presence (POP) mean? Techopedia
  2. How Points of Presence Work Stackpath