Connecting to the internet has never been easier: whether you're chatting in a coffee shop or installing a smart smoke detector, information is being uploaded to the internet everywhere. But with more options than ever before, it can be difficult to decide which technology is best for you. We'll walk you through all the major internet connection types and how to choose the best one.
Briefly analyze your choice
Every internet connection is defined by its technology—how the connection uploads and downloads internet information.
DSL, short for Digital Subscriber Line, uses existing telephone lines to send data between your computer and the internet. Information is transmitted at a different frequency than voice calls. DSL is widely available and can be connected directly to your home from an ISP.
Cable: Data is transmitted via electricity, using coaxial cables laid within the community for internet or cable television. Widely available, except in more rural and remote areas.
Satellite: Your computer sends information via its antenna to a satellite orbiting the Earth, which then communicates with the network operations center to obtain the data you requested.
Cellular: Mobile broadband allows you to connect to the internet wirelessly anytime, anywhere, via cell towers, your mobile device, or a hotspot to other devices.
Fiber optic cable: Similar to cable, but it uses small glass filaments to transmit information as light. It offers minimal availability and construction costs, and is primarily accessible in large cities.
"In theory, the growth potential of optical fiber is limitless, something other physical media cannot achieve... In an ideal world, all internet connections would be made of optical fiber." - Trevor Textor, Project Manager, Rural IT and Connectivity Consultant.
Speed is the decisive factor
For consumers, the most noticeable difference between these connection types will be speed. Each technology offers a different range of connection speeds, which will affect the time required for uploading, downloading, streaming, and browsing.
DSL is typically the slowest form of internet, offering customers a choice between 1.5Mbps, 3Mbps, 5Mbps, 7Mbps, 12Mbps, 24Mbps, and (rarely) 40Mbps. Considering the FCC reports a median home internet speed of 72Mbps, DSL options cater to a small number of light internet users. These speeds are sufficient for some simple web browsing and sending emails—you'll experience loading issues if several people are watching video simultaneously.
With satellite internet, you won't have speed options when purchasing. Instead, you'll choose a plan based on your data usage. Satellite technology is limited to one speed: HughesNet at 25Mbps and Viasat at 12Mbps. This can be a good option for smaller households and moderate internet use.
Cable internet is probably the best option for most people. It's the most common type of internet connection, offering speeds from 10Mbps to 200Mbps and higher. Cable internet providers often also offer options to bundle it with other services such as television.
Fiber optic internet is currently the fastest available internet connection, working similarly to cable. If you're one of the lucky few who can use fiber optic internet, you can find speeds up to 1000 Mbps. Combined with its higher quality connection, fiber optic is ideal for homes where multiple people are constantly streaming video, playing games, working from home, or downloading files.
Cellular internet connections were typically only available for mobile use, and 4G LTE was the fastest available at the time. It translated to peak speeds of around 50+ Mbps, but could drop as low as 5 Mbps.
The next iteration of this technology, 5G, could replace your home internet at speeds as fast as fiber optics.
Reliability is also important
Just because an internet provider advertises certain speeds doesn't mean they can guarantee them. Many factors affect connection strength—peak traffic times in your vicinity, the weather, the type of router, etc. If your internet connection isn't particularly reliable, you won't consistently get the speeds you need.
The FCC found that DSL internet was the least reliable in delivering advertised speeds to customers, with less than 10% of Cincinnati Bell and Hawaiian Telecom customers receiving advertised speeds (although other DSL providers, such as Verizon and AT&T, showed more consistent performance). However, approximately 80% of cable and fiber optic internet customers received advertised speeds of 95% or higher, with Charge (Spectrum) cable and Verizon fiber showing the best reliability.
What's best for you?
Your first step is to check out the providers in your area and see if they offer service to your address. Your options may be limited—establishing a service line can be expensive, and providers often avoid building in areas where other providers already offer service. You can ask your neighbors who they get their internet from, or simply enter your address online to start searching.
Almost everyone can use satellite internet options, such as HughesNet.
If you happen to have several options, you'll want to compare their plans. To find out which plan is right for you, assess your speed needs. You'll need to consider the number of people using the internet in your household, the number of connected devices (everything from your computer to your smart hub), and investigate typical internet activity in your home (e.g., streaming media requires more than email).
After years of internet research and consulting with network experts, we've created a guide to help you determine the best internet speed for your home. Determine where you fall within the low-to-high usage range, and then match that to the number of devices connected in your home.
