What are the major carriers of of networks traffic on the internet collectively known as?

The major carriers of network traffic on the internet are collectively known as "Internet Service Providers" (ISPs). These include both large backbone providers that manage the core infrastructure and smaller regional ISPs that connect users to the broader internet. Collectively, they facilitate data transmission across various networks, enabling connectivity for users and businesses worldwide. Additionally, the term "tier 1 networks" is often used to refer to the largest ISPs that can exchange traffic without paying for access to other networks.