People are always looking for better ways to connect to internet services but this is a major concern these days. Internet usage was expected to increase compared to the last few years. However, with the pandemic on a global scale, it went up exceptionally high.
So, those who already had internet started looking for better options, and those that had no internet access started figuring out how to get one. Moreover, internet technology changed a lot during the past few years.
People who are using the latest technologies don’t just get better speed but also save money every month. So knowing your options is beneficial for you in every way. If you are among the ones looking for the best way to connect to the internet these days, we will start with the types of connections available for residential customers in the US.
Different Types of Internet Connection
In the US, internet services are offered through different connections based on location and availability. Those customers who are living in social and economic hubs generally get access to better connections and more service providers compared to the ones living in rural areas.
These connection types majorly include fiber, cable internet, satellite, DSL, fixed wireless, and dial-up. However, fixed wireless and dial-up are the least used technologies and will be categorized here as others. So, without further ado, let’s have a look at these internet connections.
Fiber Optics
Fiber optics is the fastest, most reliable, and economical internet option that is available to a handful of people these days. It can generally offer a download speed of up to 1000 Mbps. However, there is a service provider that offers a download speed of up to 2000 Mbps through its residential fiber connection as well.
The best part of having a fiber connection is that you will get almost the same download and upload speed. Moreover, the connection latency or delay with fiber is the lowest. So, if you are a professional gamer or someone who needs a solid internet connection for work, fiber is the first choice that you should look for.
Generally, the fiber internet offers unlimited data so customers don’t have to worry about that. Besides, it offers various internet plans that offer varying speeds. So, if you are not interested in getting the fastest, even the slowest speed will not disappoint you.
As far as the problems are concerned, the only problem that is being faced with fiber internet is that it is not widely available. Currently, big cities like New York, Houston, and others like these have access to fiber optics.
Cable
For those people who are not able to get fiber optics, they can try to get a cable internet connection. With cable connection, internet services are delivered through a coaxial cable line. Although it is not as fast as fiber, it is still the best option that customers can get in the majority of the areas.
With a cable connection, you can get a download speed of up to 1 Gig through a majority of the service providers. However, that would be costly compared to fiber and the upload speed would be limited. The maximum upload speed that you would get with a download speed of up to 1000 would be around 35 Mbps.
However, it still works and a majority of the people who are concerned about the upload speeds are happy with the cable connections. Besides that, cable internet offers several plans ranging from the very basic, which can be up to 10-30 Mbps, to options such as 100 Mbps, 200 Mbps, 400 Mbps, 600 Mbps, and a Gig. So, customers get a lot of options to choose from.
Satellite
Satellite internet has been ruling the rural market through its biggest strength, availability. No matter where you live in the States, there are good chances that you can get satellite internet as long as the view to the southern sky is clear.
For instance, Hughesnet internet, which is America’s top internet service provider in terms of cost, speed, and reliability, offers services in all 50 states. So, anyone who is interested in getting internet services and thinks that there are no options should give it a shot.
The major reason behind that is satellite internet is not bound to wires like territorial internet connections such as cable, fiber, or DSL. You only need to install a satellite dish from the service provider that connects with the modem, and your internet connection will start working.
Through satellite internet, customers can get speeds of up to 100 Mbps depending upon the area and the service provider. However, the only con that it has is the monthly cost, which is comparatively higher if we look at the overall market.
DSL
DSL internet service is offered through the phone lines and covers a wide area in rural America. It generally offers download speeds from 1 Mbps to up to 75 Mbps. However, the exact speed varies by customer’s location.
It is a good option to go for if you need a wired internet connection and don’t want satellite internet. Moreover, you can have it as a back-up option along with your satellite internet if you can afford to pay for both.
Others
Along with all these options, there are some other options available as well that include fixed wireless and dial-up internet connections.
These connections are comparatively slower and less reliable than the ones mentioned before. However, if you are facing difficulty in getting any of the other internet connections, you can turn to these as a last resort.
The Best Internet Connection?
All these connection types are your ways to get internet services for your home or office. And if you are concerned about the best, fiber optics is certainly the one.
However, With Star link’s announcement of offering low-orbit satellite internet, there is a new hope. Initially, it will be 300 Mbps by the end of this year but the goal is to hit the 10 Gbps mark. If that happens, it will change the satellite internet industry and the internet services on a global scale for good.
