Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for managing usage of a plurality of local area networks by a plurality of subscribers. Each subscriber is associated with one of a plurality of retail service providers. The subscribers each have a terminal for accessing one or more of the local area networks. For each attempt by one of the plurality of subscribers to access one of the plurality of local area networks, the method includes the steps of: (a) receiving at a gateway at a wholesale service provider network a request from the one of the plurality of local area networks for authenticating the one of the plurality of subscribers.

Abstract: A method is provided for managing usage of a plurality of local area networks by a plurality of subscribers associated with a service provider. The subscribers have terminals for accessing the local area networks. The terminals each have a client program for communicating with a service provider network.