Internet Connection Types
Internet Connection TypesAn Internet service provider (ISP) is a company that provides Internet access to its customers.
ISPs can use a variety of methods to connect their clients to the Internet. Some use multiple methods as older, slower methods are replaced by faster methods.
Satellite
Geosynchronous satellites are positioned above the earth’s equator at about 22,000 miles (about 35,000 kilometers) up. Geosynchronous means that the satellites are in the same position in the sky at all times. To make a connection, your location must have an unobstructed view of the southern sky (Northern Hemisphere) or northern sky (Southern Hemisphere).
This may require that the satellite antenna be located on the upper story of a building or on a tower to avoid trees or buildings.
Starlink, operated by SpaceX, is the latest satellite Internet service, but it uses low-earth-orbit satellites that form a mesh network. This permits optional mobile satellite Internet and much greater speeds for upload, download, and latency than with geosynchronous satellite Internet.
To connect the satellite dish to your home network, a device called a satellite modem is used. Usually, a satellite modem also includes a wireless router. Installation costs and equipment rental versus purchase plans vary by vendor.
Fiber
The fastest Internet speeds are available from fiber-optic ISPs. With most services offering speeds up to 1000Mbps (1Gbps) and some reaching 2 Gbps or faster, fiber is the best choice for users who need plenty of download speed and upload speed (which is often the same as download speed).
Fiber is available from some companies that also offer cable or DSL Internet as well as companies that offer only fiber connections. Fiber is not as widely available as cable, DSL, hotspot, or wireless Internet service providers, but fiber is available in many parts of the US and beyond. Rural areas and small towns usually lack fiber options.
Cable
Cable Internet is typically the second-fastest Internet service available in an average market. Traditional cable Internet service uses the same RG-6 or other coaxial cable used for TV to connect to a cable modem in your home. If a single TV/Internet connection is provided, a cable splitter is used to separate cable TV from cable Internet.
However, many cable Internet vendors are now offering partial or complete fiber-optic services.
Fiber-optic service can be brought to a neighborhood, and coax can be used to bring service to individual locations. Some cable Internet vendors provide service up to 1Gbps.
Cable, unlike fiber, usually has much faster download than upload speeds. For example, a 400Mbps service from a major cable Internet vendor has a 20Mbps upload speed. The same vendor’s 1Gbps download speed has an upload speed of only 35Mbps. If you need upload speed comparable to download speed, consider fiber if available in your area.
DSL
Digital subscriber line (DSL) is a very slow Internet service. Originally provided by AT&T and other telephone companies, DSL runs a digital signal over high-quality phone lines to reach very modest service speeds of up to 15Mbps (Verizon). AT&T has discontinued its DSL service in favor of various speeds of fiber.
Some forms of DSL, VDSL and VDSL2, use fiber-optic cable to the neighborhood and connect to the traditional telephone network to carry the signal the rest of the way. These services can reach download speeds of up to 200Mbps but have much slower upload speeds.
DSL is rapidly fading away because most areas also offer much faster cable or fiber Internet service at comparable pricing. DSL is faster than geosynchronous satellite, but it’s getting harder and harder to find.
Cellular
With cellular Internet service, the user simply plugs in a cellular hotspot in a central location and in a few minutes is enjoying a fast connection. There is no need for specific cabling or installation. While cellular Internet service has been offered for several years with 4G LTE networks, it has become much faster with the advent of 5G networks. Cellular hotspots made for 5G service normally have built-in access points and switches so both Wi-Fi
wireless and wired Ethernet devices can use the Internet. Cellular Internet services are offered by many of the major wireless carriers, but unlike the mobile plans, cellular Internet services typically don’t have data caps.
Although 5G services offer speeds “up to” 1Gbps, actual download speeds with many plans are around 300Mbps, with upload speeds of around 50Mbps. These speeds are comparable to mid-range cable Internet or low-end fiber.
Wireless Internet Service Provider
Wireless Internet service provider (WISP) is a category of Internet service that fills in the coverage gaps of other ISPs. A usual WISP service is shown in Figure 12.2. A WISP uses a base station that is connected to the Internet. The base station uses directional wireless signals to connect to a relay station or directly to the customer. The use of relay stations helps increase the service area of a WISP.
