Dial-Up, Wireless LTE, DSL, Cable, satellite, Fiber-Optic, or 5G—If you are conscious of selecting appropriate internet service and are not sure of choosing which one is for your home, let us give you 101 with an introduction of the widely used types of internet, their pros and cons, and their availability in your area. These are:
Let’s begin here, so you get an understanding of different options for internet connectivity and why you should prefer the one that suits best to your needs, area, and availability:
As the name refers, cable Internet is provided through cables or wires and is usually offered by the cable TV services provider. Cable Internet can be bought as a single play or in combination with other digital services such as cable TV or Home Phone as a double play or triple play bundles. On bundling, the service providers usually offer discounted rates. A modem is required to connect to the cable to provide you a connection to the internet. For non-wired or multi-device connectivity, Wi-Fi routers are required.
Pros
Reliable
Faster Download Speeds than Dial-Up, DSL, or sometimes Satellite too
Widely Available
Affordable
Bundling Available
Cons
Network Coverage Issues in Rural Areas
Network Congestion
Typical Bandwidth
10 Mbps—1000 Mbps
Price-Range
$29.99—$149.99
Available Providers
For more providers available in your area, check here.
Fiber-Optic is the most reliable and fastest form of internet. It is the main connective pathway for all the telecommunications systems across the globe. It is still, exclusively available in big cities. Its glass optics gives its every quality of a good and ultra-modern internet—From faster symmetrical speed to signal strength and negligible latency. It is an ideal internet connection for those who require extreme streaming, downloading/uploading, or cloud services.
Pros
Moderately Reliable
Extremely High-Speed Download Speed
Low latency
Bundling Available
Cons
Pricey
Not Widely Available
Fewer Providers
Professional Installation is Required
Typical Bandwidth
400 Mbps—1000 Mbps
Price-Range
$79.99—$149.99
Available Providers
For more providers available in your area, check here.
Unlike cable and fiber-optic internet, as its name suggests, Satellite internet is a technology that uses satellites to send and receive signals via space. Based on the size of the fleet of the satellites, a satellite internet provider service holds, satellite internet can be found anywhere, even in the most distant, isolated, and remote areas. In flights, satellite internet is used to connect to the internet.
To receive an internet connection via satellite, a user is required to have a receiving satellite-connected with a Wi-Fi modem. The service provider sends internet signals to their satellite in orbit, which then transmits the signals to the Earth that are received by the user’s satellite installed at home to connect to the internet.
Pros
Available Everywhere, even in remote areas
Faster
No chances of intrusion
Cons
Not Much Reliable
Low Bandwidth
A Clean Sky Requirement
Installation requires a satellite dish
A bit pricey
Typical Bandwidth
25 Mbps—100 Mbps
Price-Range
$39.99—$99.99
Available Providers
*Please see plans, pricing, and features details at the providers’ page.