Which Of The Following Are Types Of Home Internet Service? Check All That Apply.

What Type of Cyberspace Practice You Have at Home?

Mar 19, 2021 Share
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Internet comes in several unlike connection types—and the type of connection yous have plays a big function in determining how fast, reliable, and costly your Wi-Fi is.

Fiber cyberspace is the fastest connection you tin can get, but information technology'south also the hardest to notice. Cablevision is also reliable, but information technology's non as inexpensive as DSL internet. There's besides 5G internet, a promising and affordable new blazon of service, but it may exist a while before information technology's widely bachelor to the public.

So which internet type is best for you lot?

Nosotros put together a guide to help y'all effigy that out. Read on to go all the details of how these types work, how much they cost, and what speeds y'all tin can go from each. And of course, use our zip check tool below to see what type of net you tin can get in your area.

What types of internet are bachelor?

Data as of 3/16/2021. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

*Percentages are based on internet availability information from the Federal Communications Commission.

**Figures not currently available.

DSL, fiber, and cable

DSL, fiber, and cablevision are the most common types of internet services bachelor. They're the fastest, about accessible, and almost affordable connections for the vast majority of internet customers in the United States.

Fixed wireless

Fixed wireless isn't equally common, only it comes in handy if you want an alternative to the main providers in town. If you live in a neighborhood with poor cable or DSL coverage, for instance, or a rural area without many internet options to choose from, fixed wireless is a adept choice.

5G

5G is a relatively new technology based on wireless cellular networks. Information technology'south not widely available at the moment but could emerge as a solid home cyberspace blazon over the next few years.

Satellite

You tin likewise get satellite internet, which beams an cyberspace point down from space. It is by far the almost available selection out there, but it'due south more expensive than other internet connections and delivers slower speeds and less data. Information technology's really something you'd want just if you alive in a rural expanse with limited options.

What is the all-time type of internet connection?

The best type of internet is fiber-optic internet because it'south extremely efficient, reliable, and fast. In most cases, fiber tops out at 1,000 Mbps for both download and upload speeds. Indeed, fiber delivers the fastest speeds possible out of any internet type—all the way up to 2,000 Mbps (though 1,000 Mbps is far more mutual).

Still, fiber—which runs on bundled fiber-optic cabling—is besides the least ordinarily bachelor type of cyberspace. If you can't go it in your surface area, cable is another fantabulous internet type. Information technology's capable of reaching i,000 Mbps download speeds and is much more than readily accessible since it runs on the coaxial wiring provided past large cable companies.

Type your aught code to find different types of net providers in your expanse:

How to know what type of internet yous have

To find out what type of cyberspace service you have, y'all can ask your cyberspace provider. Most internet providers accept i type of cyberspace on their network, or two at well-nigh. Yous tin also wait at your monthly bill, or just look at the cable that connects your modem to the wall, as we explicate in the chart below:

Fiber net

fiber internet connection explained

$29.99–$299.95/mo.

Speed: 100–5,000 Mbps

Availability: 39% of Us population

Animal likeness: Cheetah

Fiber is truly the fastest, almost reliable, and most high-tech net around. Unlike internet connections like cable and DSL, it doesn't rely on older or potentially outdated communications infrastructure. Instead, it carries data over light signals through its ain spiffy network of fiber-optic cabling.

That makes fiber incredibly powerful and fast, capable of reaching upward to 2,000 Mbps (although 1,000 Mbps is far more than common). Information technology besides lets you take reward of symmetrical internet speeds, boosting uploads to ten times the speed of what you normally could get otherwise. This way you can upload enormous video files, practice Zoom video-conferencing, and complete other upload-heavy tasks with fast speeds and no interruptions.

But fiber too costs more than what you lot'd normally go from a cable or DSL program. And the networks are less widespread, so it's non equally readily available.

Pros

Efficient connections
Symmetrical upload and download speeds

Cons

Less availability
Higher prices

What are the best fiber cyberspace plans?

*Plus taxes. Price after $v/mo Autopay & Paperless bill discount (west/in 2 bills). Monthly State Price Recovery Accuse in TX, OH, NV applies.

**Charge per unit requires paperless billing. Additional taxes, fees, and surcharges utilize. Speeds may not be available in your area. Maximum download/upload speed of up to 940 Mbps via a wired connexion.

Cable internet

cable internet connection explained

$19.99–$109.99/mo.

Speed: 25–ane,000 Mbps

Availability: 89% of US population

Animal likeness: Horse

Cable cyberspace is reliable, fast, and pretty much ubiquitous. It runs over the coaxial wiring of a cablevision visitor, so yous can usually bundle information technology with cable TV plans or streaming options. Information technology doesn't quite friction match fiber for speed, but information technology can hit 1,000 Mbps download speeds, which is ridiculously fast. And it has a much wider range of speeds available compared to DSL, and so y'all have more speed tiers to cull from.

Cable internet tin irksome down during peak hours since your service draws from a neighborhood-wide network. Cable likewise tends to feature seasonal price hikes, and then your pecker can go upward afterward a year or two of service. Merely cable companies are normally game to negotiate, so don't exist afraid of calling up your provider and asking for a promotional hookup if it'due south fourth dimension for your bill to get up.

Pros

Fast speeds
Frequent promo offers

Cons

Lengthy contract requirements
Slower speeds during peak hours

What are the best cable internet plans?

*For the kickoff 12 months with No Term Agreement

**For the showtime 12 months.

DSL internet

dsl internet connection explained

$27.99–$69.99/mo.

Speed: 0.v–100 Mbps

Availability: 88% of US population

Creature likeness: Tortoise

Instead of photons zooming through fiberglass or signals beaming across the latest telecom protocols, DSL internet carries data over the erstwhile-school wiring of a landline phone network. That makes DSL many times slower than cable or fiber—and the indicate gets even weaker as y'all become farther away from the main network.

Simply if you can go 25 Mbps on DSL or faster in your area, you're pretty much good to go. You won't be able to rely on it for uploading terabyte-sized pic projects to YouTube or doing Netflix movie marathons in 4K resolution. Only you can still stream in Hard disk drive, surf social media, and do plenty of other stuff with minimal issues as long every bit you live in a small-scale household.

DSL is as widely available as cable. And DSL plans are fairly straightforward when information technology comes to pricing, so information technology tin can be a good option if you need Wi-Fi at a cheap price with minimal fuss.

Pros

Wide availability
Straightforward pricing

Cons

Slower speeds
Inconsistent performance depending on area

What are the best DSL net plans?

*Rate requires paperless billing. Additional taxes, fees, and surcharges apply. Speeds may not exist available in your expanse.

**with a 12 calendar month contract.

5G cyberspace

Wireless cover most populated areas in the U S

$sixty–$90/mo.

Speed: 40–one,100 Mbps

Availability: Very limited (technology nonetheless emerging)

Beast likeness: Unicorn

5G is built on the latest generation of wireless applied science, which promises superspeeds of ane,000 Mbps and faster with minimal buffering. But 5G networks are however in the process of meeting, so information technology may exist a few years before 5G home internet becomes a properly viable internet type. Right now availability is very limited, as most wireless companies are focusing on cell phone service. As well, the technology works best in densely-populated areas, then 5G rollouts are mostly focused around towns and cities, for now at to the lowest degree.

Providers like Starry Internet exercise offer 5G fixed wireless service in some small markets, though—then information technology's worth running a search to run into if information technology'due south available in your area. Otherwise you will accept to admission 5G over a phone or hotspot, which requires that you go a 5G device.

Pros

Fast speeds
Low latency

Cons

Limited availability since information technology'due south new applied science
High bulwark to entry since it requires an expensive 5G device

What are the best 5G internet plans?

*Information as of three/4/2021. Offers and availability may vary past location and are subject to alter.

4G LTE internet

Wireless cover most populated areas in the U S

$40.00–$100.00/mo.

Speed: 9–50 Mbps

Availability: Limited (engineering still emerging)

Creature likeness: Turtledove

4G LTE internet gives yous a Wi-Fi connection over a 4G wireless network. It's what yous get when you employ the net data on your phone or a mobile hotspot. But lately it's too evolved into an option for home internet with the launch of services like Verizon'due south 4G LTE Home Internet and T-Mobile Home Internet.

Although the speeds can be inconsistent—since they depend on where you are in relation to the nearest prison cell belfry—4G LTE internet notwithstanding has some perks, including an affordable price and availability in rural areas. It'due south an excellent alternative to satellite internet, since information technology gives y'all faster speeds and a lot more data. Cellular carriers are gearing up to expand 4G LTE home net service nationwide over the next few years, then keep a await out if it's available in your expanse.

Pros

Available in remote areas where 5G isn't
Faster than satellite net (and has more data too)

Cons

Slower than cobweb and cable internet
Hard to find because it's new engineering science

What are the best 4G LTE internet plans?

*Data as of 3/sixteen/2021. Offers and availability may vary by location and are field of study to change.

Fixed wireless cyberspace

fixed-wireless internet connection explained

$39.95–$99.00/mo.

Speed: five–100 Mbps

Availability: 46% of US population

Animal likeness: Pigeon

Fixed wireless applied science delivers internet over radio signals beamed to an antenna console that you install in your home. It'south not a particularly common internet type, but it does come in handy in cities with bad internet service and in rural areas where your just other option is satellite internet, which tends to be slower and cost more.

That said, fixed wireless cyberspace will nevertheless give y'all slower speeds and less information for the money compared to cable, DSL, and fiber providers. You lot'll likely also accept limitations when it comes to monthly information usage. But fixed wireless is usually offered by smaller net providers, so that means you can get more than personalized client service experience.

Pros

Not bad rural pick
Cheaper than satellite internet

Cons

Express coverage
Monthly data caps

What are the best fixed wireless cyberspace plans?

Provider	Plan	Speed	Cost*	Sign upwards
Rise Broadband	Up to fifty Mbps	Unlimited	$70.00/mo. (with autopay discount) or $75.00/mo. (without autopay)	View Plans
AT&T Fixed Wireless	Up to 25 Mbps	250 GB/mo.	$59.99/mo.	Cypher code Check New Nada View Plans Bachelor in Zip

Provider	Rise Broadband
Plan	Up to 50 Mbps
Speed	Unlimited
Price*	$70.00/mo. (with autopay discount) or $75.00/mo. (without autopay)
Sign up	View Plans

Provider	AT&T Stock-still Wireless
Plan	Up to 25 Mbps
Speed	250 GB/mo.
Cost*	$59.99/mo.
Sign upwards

*Data as of 10/7/2020. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to alter.

Satellite internet

satellite internet connection explained

$30–$150/mo.

Speed: 12–100 Mbps

Availability: 100% of US population

Beast likeness: Space monkey

Satellite internet works by effulgent a betoken down from satellites in space. That means you can get satellite internet basically anywhere in the Us. But it as well means your internet volition be fairly ho-hum because your betoken has to travel literally to space and back over again—a altitude that could span upwardly to 1,200 miles i way—to attain your computer, tablet, or telephone.

Satellite internet could go a lot more spectacular in the almost hereafter as companies like SpaceX race to launch LEO (depression-Earth orbit) satellites into the creation to provide improved speeds and reduced latency. Until then, we recommend satellite internet as a fallback if yous can't go any other type of internet service.

Pros

Nationwide availability
Potential for growth with new tech

Cons

Slow speeds and high latency
Low data limits

What are the best satellite internet plans?

Provider	Plan	Speed	Price	Sign up
HughesNet	30 GB Data Plan	25 Mbps	$99.99/mo.*	View Plans
Viasat	Unlimited Gold 50	Up to 50 Mbps	$100.00/mo.**	View Plans

Provider	HughesNet
Plan	30 GB Data Plan
Speed	25 Mbps
Price	$99.99/mo.*
Sign upward	View Plans

Provider	Viasat
Plan	Unlimited Golden fifty
Speed	Up to 50 Mbps
Cost	$100.00/mo.**
Sign up	View Plans

*Requires 24 month agreement.

**For the get-go 3 months.

FAQ well-nigh internet types

What type of internet connexion exercise I have?

The blazon of net connectedness yous have is determined by your cyberspace provider. You can either have fiber, cable, DSL, satellite, or fixed wireless internet. Some customers may also have admission to 5G or another type of cyberspace through their cell provider or a company like Starry Internet.

What is the nearly mutual type of internet connexion?

The most common type of net connectedness is cablevision. Co-ordinate to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), it's available to 89% of the US population.

DSL is also extremely common. It'southward attainable to 88% of the US population, according to the same FCC data. By comparison, fiber internet is available to just 39% of the population.

How do I know my cyberspace connection type?

You can find out your cyberspace connection type by checking to see what kind of connection you accept between the network and your modem. Here's what to look for:

Connection through the phone jack—DSL net
Connection through the coaxial cable outlet—cable net
Connectedness through a fiber-optic terminal—fiber internet
Connectedness through an antenna console—fixed wireless internet
Connection through a satellite dish—satellite cyberspace

To observe out your internet type, y'all can also ask your internet service provider (Isp) or look on your Internet access provider'southward website.

Dial in your zip code to see what internet providers and cyberspace connectedness types are available in your surface area:

Author - Peter Holslin

Peter Holslin has more than than a decade of feel working as a writer and freelance journalist. He graduated with a BA in liberal arts and journalism from New York City's The New School University in 2008 and went on to contribute to publications like Rolling Stone, VICE, BuzzFeed, and countless others. At HighSpeedInternet.com, he focuses on covering 5G, nerding out about frequency bands and virtual RAN, and producing reviews on emerging services like 5G dwelling internet. He also writes well-nigh cyberspace providers and packages, hotspots, VPNs, and Wi-Fi troubleshooting.

Editor - Cara Haynes

Cara Haynes has been editing and writing in the digital infinite for seven years, and she's edited all things internet for HighSpeedInternet.com for five years. She graduated with a BA in English and a small in editing from Brigham Immature Academy. When she's non editing, she makes tech accessible through her freelance writing for brands like Pluralsight. She believes no 1 should feel lost in cyberspace land and that a good net connection significantly extends your life span.