What is a point of presence (PoP)?
A point of presence (PoP) is a point or physical location where two or more networks or communication devices build a connection from one place to the rest of the internet. PoPs are crucial to global information exchange and telecommunications services. They act as access points for local networks and their devices to establish connections to the internet.
POP also stands for the Post Office Protocol used by email clients. For this definition, see POP3.
How PoPs work
Each point of presence has a unique Internet Protocol address. A PoP acts as a facilitator for the flow of data between endpoints. When an end user tries to access something online, the device sends data to the nearest PoP. The PoP sends the data through other networks until it reaches its destination. As such, PoPs are critical in controlling network traffic flow. A PoP usually includes routers, servers and switches.
An internet service provider (ISP), online service provider or entertainment provider likely has more than one PoP on the internet. The number of PoPs that an ISP or online service provider has is sometimes used as a measure of its size or growth rate. The more PoPs a service has, the larger its reach.
A PoP might reside in a rented space owned by the telecommunications carrier -- such as Verizon or AT&T -- to which the ISP connects.
