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Different Type of Broadband Internet Connections

A Broadband internet connection usually refers to a high-speed internet connection that is always on and faster than the traditional dial-up access. Broadband internet connections are of different types such as Digital Subscriber Line (DSL), Cable Modem, Fiber, Wireless, Satellite and Broadband over Powerlines (BPL).

The broadband facility that you choose will depend on a number of factors like the location, whether it is an urban or rural area, the way in which broadband internet access is packaged with other services such as telephone and home entertainment, availability in the location, price, etc.

DSL is a wireline technology that uses an existing copper telephone line connected to your home and the service is delivered as a landline telephone service. The accessibility and speed of the internet service may depend on the distance from your location to the nearest telephone facility. DSL speeds are in the range of several hundred Kbps to millions of bits per second (Mpbs). In the case of cable modem, internet services are provided through the same coaxial cables that are used to transmit audio and video signals to your TV. The cable modem usually offers transmission speeds of 1.5 Mbps or more. Another type of broadband connection is Fiber optic technology wherein it converts electrical signals to light signals and pushes them through thin transparent glass fibers. The speed will vary depending on a number of factors such as how close the Fiber is to your computer, the bandwidth used, etc. In wireless broadband, internet access is provided to a facility using a radio link between the user’s place and the service provider’s facility. Wireless broadband can be either mobile or fixed. The next one is the broadband facility using links provided by satellite just like telephone and television service. It is another form of wireless broadband and is commonly used for serving thinly populated areas. Broadband over Powerline or BPL is the delivery of broadband over the existing low and medium voltage power distribution network. A BPL broadband connection can be provided to a facility using existing electrical connections and channels. The speeds almost match with DSL and cable modem speeds.

To summarize, before selecting a broadband plan, you have to consider the category of usage whether it is light, medium or heavy-based on your needs. Again, the speed of your connection also depends on the bandwidth that your service provider is offering and hence it is worth to validate your internet speed also before switching to a different broadband plan.