From fast fiber and 5G to old-school DSL internet, not everyone’s internet connection experience is the same. One reason is that your internet speed is only ever as good as the type of connection you use.
If you’re frustrated with slow streaming or in the market for a deal on an internet connection, it helps to know what’s available, what costs are involved and what kind of connection is right for the way you use the web.
Here, we take a closer look at each internet connection type, examining the benefits and drawbacks of each.
Internet Connection Types Explained
Starting with the slowest, here’s a run-down of the various types of internet connection types you can get, depending on what is offered in your area:
Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) Internet
This is the oldest “traditional” type of internet connection that relies on telephone lines to transmit data. Data is sent in a computer language known as “binary” via electrical pulses along the telephone lines—think of it like a rapid Morse code for computers.
DSL is one of the most widely available connection types because it is typically available wherever people have landline telephones. However, it’s also the slowest, since the speed at which data can travel over DSL is limited by electrical resistance in the copper phone lines.
DSL tops out at around 25 megabits per second (Mbps). While this is technically usable for many online activities, it’s rare actually to reach 25 Mbps on a typical connection. At speeds below 25 Mbps, you will experience buffering and long load times.
Other drawbacks include the need for a landline telephone and a general lack of reliability. On the plus side, the prices are lower than other connection types.
Cable Internet
Cable internet uses the same coaxial cable connection as cable TV, which means it’s widely available and relatively fast. When using cable internet, data is sent to and from your devices via a coax cable that is insulated to reduce signal loss—making it faster than DSL.
Cable internet is capable of speeds up to and in excess of 1,000 Mbps, or one gigabit per second (1 Gbps). The only thing that can hold back cable internet is congestion, which may happen when many people are using a connection simultaneously.
As it uses the same technology as cable television, you’ll likely find competitive deals on TV and internet bundles.
5G Home Internet
5G is the latest generation of cellular network technology, and is to 4G—the previous generation—what ultrafast broadband was to superfast broadband. Unlike the 5G connection in a smartphone, which is portable, a 5G home internet connection is fixed.
5G internet can give you download speeds of between 100 and 300 Mbps, but the number of providers is limited when compared to other types of internet connection. Also, the rollout of 5G technology is a work-in-progress, so it’s not available widely outside of major cities.
Satellite Internet
Satellite Internet sends and receives data using a dish mounted on the exterior wall of your home or business that communicates with satellites in orbit around the earth.
Not needing to use underground or overhead cables makes satellite a viable option for people who live in remote areas that aren’t well-connected by traditional means. The tradeoff is that satellite internet tends to be more expensive than other types of connections.
Currently, satellite internet can provide up to around 100 Mbps download speeds.
Fiber Internet
A full-fiber internet connection—one that transmits data from your home to your nearest telephone exchange using fiber optic cables alone—can deliver download speeds of up to and over 1 Gbps.
Data is transmitted over fiber optic cables as pulses of light. Unlike DSL connections, this signal isn’t impeded by any kind of resistance, making high speeds possible.
Fiber tends to be competitively priced but is only available to around 40% of US households. Coverage is expanding but lags far behind European countries, where it is the standard and is widely available.
Some fiber connections use fiber optics for most of your data’s journey, but copper telephone lines for the final leg to and from your home. This final leg of the connection can introduce electrical resistance and make it slower than wholly fiber optic connections, with speeds topping out at around 300 Mbps.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What’s the fastest internet connection type?
Fiber and cable are both capable, at least in theory, of download speeds exceeding 1 Gbps. The fastest connections often come at a premium, however, and aren’t always widely available. More rural areas often have limited access to these kinds of connections.
Which internet connection type is best?
In terms of speed and reliability, fiber is best—but that’s irrelevant if you’re among the 60% of US households who don’t have access to fiber. If you’re not, then cable is the next best thing, if it’s available in your area.
What internet connection type do I have?
The most immediate way to check is to look at the equipment installed in your home for internet access. The text on the device should indicate whether it’s a fiber, cable, 5G or DSL connection. If you have a satellite connection, you’ll have a satellite dish installed on the side of your home or business. If you’re still unsure, contact your provider using the contact information on your most recent bill.
Is dial-up internet still around?
Dial-up internet is largely depreciated now, having been replaced with faster, more reliable connection types. Though technically still possible, it’s not particularly desirable, and you’re unlikely to find many providers offering it—if any.
