How do you connect to the Internet?
It is no secret that we cannot do without the internet. From sending and receiving emails, researching a topic for educational purposes or purely for entertainment for streaming your favorite movies, a reliable internet connection is what we rely on.
There are many types of internet connection options, and doing comparisons such as cable vs fiber optic connections allows us to select the best internet service provider, or ISP, to suit our internet needs. While internet connection allows us to connect with the world, it is also a handy business tool as many ISPs offer web hosting services. It is important to see who the best hosting providers are before choosing an ISP.
What are the types of internet connections available to us, and how do they differ? There are 4 main types of internet connection available, namely:
● Digital subscriber lines which make use of telephone lines and cabling to provide internet access to homes and business
● Cable broadband which uses coaxial cable tv wires to stream the internet to the intended place
● Satellite internet connections which make use of a satellite dish and satellite technology to beam the internet to its subscribers
● Fiber optic internet which makes use of “light” and fiber optic cables to bring you fast, reliable internet
While there are advantages and disadvantages of each type of internet connection, we typically look at 5 key differences of each option and compare them when selecting the right ISP for our intended use:
1) Availability:
The availability of internet connections depends on your location. While satellite and DSL connections are available regardless of where you are based, cable broadband and fiber are very much area specific.
2) Speed:
The speed of your internet connection too depends on your location. Fiber, cable and DSL might have faster download and upload speeds, measured in megabits per second, but are not always available. Satellite is slower but is available across the country.
3) Cost:
We base most of our decisions on the cost of something, and with internet connections it is no different. There are cheaper internet connection options such as cable tv and DSL, but these might have slower broadband speeds than fiber and satellite, which are the more expensive options.
4) Type of connection:
When choosing what kind of connection would suit your needs, as well as the availability and cost, the type of connection is important, too. While some may prefer a cheaper option that might have slower speeds, businesses will pay more for faster, more reliable internet connections such as fiber.
5) Reliability:
When we think of reliability, we need to think of more than just the ISP’s ability to provide uninterrupted internet connection, and also think about customer support. A more well-known ISP would provide better customer support and do everything they can to restore your home or business’s internet connection. Look for companies who have telephonic, email and chat helplines available, as having more than one method of contacting them will increase your chances of receiving help quickly.