To connect to the Internet, you'll need an Internet service provider (ISP) and some hardware:
ISP. An ISP is a company that gives you access to the Internet. You sign up for an account with an ISP in the same way as you do with a telephone or utilities company. ISPs are usually phone companies (for a DSL or fibre-optic connection) or TV providers (for a cable or satellite connection).
Hardware. For a broadband connection, such as DSL, fibre-optic or cable, you'll need a broadband modem. This might be included as part of the start-up hardware from your ISP when you sign up for a broadband account. If you plan to share Internet access with multiple PCs by using a home network, you'll also need a router. For information about connecting your home network to the Internet, see Connecting your home network to the Internet.
Once you have an ISP and you've connected your hardware, you might already be connected to the Internet. To find out, open your web browser and try to visit a website. If the website doesn't appear, follow these steps:
Tap or click to connect to a network.
With mobile broadband technology, also called wireless wide area network (WWAN) technology, you can connect to the Internet when you’re away from a typical wired or wireless network. To use mobile broadband, you need hardware (built-in or external) that will work with mobile broadband and a data plan with a mobile broadband provider.
Activate your subscriber identity module (SIM) and the mobile broadband service for the SIM. Your mobile operator or device retailer will give you the information to do this.
If you have an external data card, make sure that it's correctly inserted into the PC according to the manufacturer's directions and make sure that the wireless switch is turned on. The wireless switch is usually found on the front, side or back edge of a laptop or tablet.
Tap or click to view available networks.
Press and hold, or right-click the name of your mobile broadband network, change any autoconnect settings that you want to change, then tap or click Connect.
If you're prompted, choose or enter the access point name (APN) or access string, the username and the password. (You can find these in the info that came with your mobile broadband hardware or with your mobile broadband service.) You might also be able to buy a plan from the provider on this screen.
Tap or click Next.
Tap or click the name of your mobile broadband network, then follow the steps on your screen.
To change connection profile properties such as the access point name (APN), access string, username, password or autoconnect settings, follow these steps:
Press and hold or right-click your mobile broadband network, tap or click View connection properties, then tap or click the Profile tab.
Change the APN or access string, the username and the password, as needed. (You can find these in the info that came with your mobile broadband hardware or service.)
Under Autoconnect, you can select either or both of the following options:
Connect automatically
Allow data roaming
Press and hold or right-click your mobile broadband network, tap or click View connection properties, then tap or click the Roaming tab. (The Roaming tab is only available when you're roaming.)
To allow Windows to automatically choose a network, select Autoselect (recommended). Or you can select a network name from the list, then tap or click Register.
If Windows can't connect to a network you've specified, it will automatically revert to Autoselect.