Broadband internet

There are four main types of broadband internet:

• DSL
• Fiber-optic
• Cable
• Satellite

Taking a more indepth look at each of these:

DSL internet

DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) uses phone lines to get us internet access. Thankfully, a DSL connection doesn’t mess with your home phone lines, either.

As far as speeds go, DSL lags a little behind more modern broad internet connections but is generally cheaper. Your internet speed will depend on which DSL provider you go with. You can still find DSL providers that get you upwards of 115 Mbps[1]. The speed you experience with a DSL connection varies with your distance from the switching station. Your speed will be slower the further away you are and faster the closer you are to the switching station and this may be a deciding factor when you attempt to select between a DSL line and a cable connection. [2]

Fiber-optic internet

Fiber-optic internet provides us access through fiber-optic lines. These tiny glass-and-plastic lines transmit information and bring the internet to your home. Fiber-optic internet is the best option for broadband internet. The biggest downside is that it’s not available everywhere just yet. But if you’re fortunate enough to have it in your area, you can get download speeds up to 900 Mbps.

Cable internet

Cable internet works pretty much the same way as your cable TV[1]. Coaxial cables connect from your house to your neighborhood node, and eventually to your service provider. The broadband cable connection is provided by the local cable TV provider. Here the cable Internet connection speed varies with the number of users on the service at a specific point in time. Given a specific geographical area, users of the broadband cable service share the connection bandwidth which slows the speed the more users are on the system. This will occur at the peak times for example late in the evenings after the work day is over when many people will be accessing the Internet. Somewhat misleadingly, often the cable company would estimate connection speeds that are based on the thinking that you are using the service. But that is clearly not the case[2].

Cable internet generally isn’t as quick as fiber-optic internet, but you can still get download speeds above 1000 Mbps if you’re willing to pay the price.

Satellite internet

Unlike fiber or cable, with satellite internet, it doesn’t really matter where you live. So for those living in rural communities, satellite internet might be your best option.

There aren't a ton of options when it comes to satellite internet, but you can still get up to 100 Mbps of download speed (though it will likely end up being less than that). Satellite internet is still a noticeable step below other broadband internet options.

References

1. What Is Broadband Internet? https://www.reviews.org/internet-service/what-is-broadband-internet/