Differences between types of fixed broadband: pros and cons, internet speed and more

Broadband was a big revolution on the internet, increasing speed and allowing the easy and instant connection. There are several types of broadband such as radio, ethernet, wi-fi, fiber optics, and DSL. 

What is broadband internet? 

Broadband is a term used to define high-speed internet. 

It is a type of internet that carries a large amount of information traffic and that allows high-performance execution of online content such as videos, series, audios, videoconferences, social networks, etc. 

Any internet that has a connection that exceeds 128 Kb for download and upload, that does not need to occupy the telephone line and that has a stable connection for 24 hours, can be considered broadband. 

Broadband can be transmitted in several ways, such as cable, DSL, WiMAX, Optic Fiber, and Satellite.   

It allows users to download files online, watch videos on streaming platforms, listen to music or online radio, make calls, send emails, upload files to the cloud, among other things, more quickly and effectively. 

Before broadband internet, internet access was achieved through narrowband dial-up connections, which were very slow by today’s standards. 

Dial-up connections were capable of delivering a speed of only 56 kilobits per second (Kbps) over an analog signal, which limited file transfer. 

This is because, in the dial-up connection, the data was transported by a single band, which was responsible for downloading and uploading files to the network, in addition to making calls. In broadband internet, each band has a specific function. 

So how does broadband internet work? 

Whenever we think about what broadband internet means, the question arises about how it works. 

Broadband service does not always require a landline and is not dependent on the telephone line. You only need a connection to the transmission network, made through the coaxial cable that transports the data from the provider to your home or business. 

Instead of treating your phone line as a single, narrow channel between your computer and server like a dial-up connection, broadband internet splits the line into many different channels. Information can travel in parallel streams through these channels. 

That’s why broadband is much faster than dial-up. Even a slow broadband line, running at 512 Kbps, is about nine times faster than the best dial-up connection. While a moderately fast broadband line, working at around 8 Mbps (megabits per second), can be 100 times faster! 

There is also mobile broadband, which is connected by digital radio waves, giving rise to the 3G and 4G internet that we know today. 

And satellite internet, which connects to orbiting points and wireless broadband providers using long-range Wi-Fi transmissions. 

What is bandwidth? 

Bandwidth refers to the maximum amount of data that can be transmitted through an ISP over a certain period. 

While bandwidth is traditionally measured in bits per second (bps), innovations in networking hardware mean that capacity is now recorded in millions or even billions of bits per second. 

Networks with higher bandwidth can transfer a greater number of data packets than those with low bandwidth. 

Understand the concepts of fixed and mobile broadband 

Desktop computers often use what’s called “landline” broadband, which runs over cables, while cell phones “rotate” between different wireless internet connections. 

In other words, there are two different types of broadband: fixed and mobile. We’ll consider one at a time. 

Fixed Broadband 

Fixed broadband is that old acquaintance of those who has a computer at home or in the company. A wire connected to the distribution network or pickup antenna connects to a modem router, which decodes and spreads the signal to other computers or devices on the network. 

The most common system in U.S. is a broadband internet connection to the telephone network. Once installed, the network is divided into two ways: one for the modem and one for the telephone. 

The connection can be made through the ADSL network (coaxial cable) or optical fiber. The maximum data traffic speed will depend on the contracted plan. 

On fixed broadband internet, the subscriber pays monthly for a specific data traffic speed, which remains in operation 24 hours a day. 

Mobile Broadband 

Mobile broadband is a very simple idea and comes in two different varieties: it is delivered over a cellular network or via Wi-Fi, from what is essentially just a landline or cable broadband link to the Internet. 

Cellular Network 

Cell phones were largely inspired by landlines and worked very similarly – until recently. Until recently, using the internet on the cell phone also meant having no signal for calls. 

With the advancement of technology, cell phones also started to divide the received signal into two lines: one became dedicated to the telephone line and the other started to receive only digital packets. 

This technology was called 2G (second generation) and made much faster connections possible. Today, we have much more advanced technologies, such as 3G and 4G, which can reach speeds similar to fixed broadband. 

WiFi 

Wi-Fi is nothing more than a wireless network, developed for the creation of local networks. 

Although the term Wi-Fi belongs to a single type of wireless technology, the term is widely used to define any type of WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network) network. Wi-Fi networks use common radio waves to transmit information. 

The waves are transmitted through a router, which receives the signals and transmits them through an antenna. Radio signals are received in devices that support this technology and are transformed into data. 

Types of broadband 

Broadband is a type of high-speed connection, as we saw earlier. Know now, what are the main existing types and their pros and cons. 

DSL 

Access the internet up to five times faster than a dial-up connection and be able to talk on the phone at the same time. For this simple reason, broadband was seen as a great technological revolution for many Internet users.  

And the connections of the xDSL (Digital Subscriber Line) family were the first to become popular in this sense. 

Because this connection is asymmetric, the speed of the connection is higher in one sense, that is, it is faster to download than to upload. 

Pros of DSL 

• Unlike dial-up internet, this type of connection does not take up the phone line. So you can use both at the same time. 

• The range of bandwidth is very large and so are its values. They are widths from 256 kbps to 10Mbps, for example. 
• To play online games and watch movies, series, and videos via streaming, is a good connection. 
• Compared to a regular modem, DSL is better and faster. 
• The amount to be paid is cheaper. 

Cons of DSL 

• To have this type of connection, there must be a telephone line. 
• For game servers, this is not the most recommended connection as its speed is limited when uploading. 

Ethernet Cable 

You must have heard of cable TV, right? Some companies decided to combine internet access with it. With this, a telephone line was no longer a prerequisite to connect, which gave more freedom to the user. 

Another great advantage of this type of connection is the speed, which varies between 70 kbps and 150 Mbps. In addition, cable internet facilitated the creation of computer networks, sharing the connection with multiple machines, not to mention the wireless distribution through wireless routers. 

The problem is that cable internet needs a special modem to receive the signal via television cabling. The device is supplied by the company itself, but if you are migrating from an ADSL, for example, you will be left with an unused modem, due to incompatibility. 

Pros of Ethernet Cable 

• Stability: Networks that use ethernet are more stable and reliable than wireless networks. While the signal provided by a wireless network is more subject to the interference of various natures, ethernet provides more stability, which helps not to interrupt work whenever the Wi-Fi connection does not provide good performance. 
• Transmission speed: It is true that, in general, the speed of uploading and downloading data via wireless networks can surpass that of ethernet-based ones. However, this depends more on the quality of the equipment and cables used. An ethernet connection with fiber optic cables will provide considerably higher speed and stability rates. 
• Safety: Wireless networks are much more vulnerable to cyber-attacks and malware than ethernet networks. Configuring Local Area Networks (LAN) allows programmers to create more protocols and layers of defense to protect sensitive information and control user traffic on the network. 

Cons of Ethernet Cable 

• A standard Ethernet cable has a maximum distance of 100 meters (328 feet). However, the maximum recommended cable length may vary depending on equipment configuration and cable quality.  
• The length of an Ethernet cable can affect data loss during transmission. 

Optic Fiber 

Fiber optic cables are made up of extremely thin cables made of glass or plastic. A single cable can have one or two wires, but it can also contain hundreds of wires. 

A single fiber optic cable is composed of fiberglass or plastic strand, approximately 60 micrometers (µm), wrapped in a refractive layer made of glass and a sheath. 

The yarn is finished with cable-strengthening fibers and a plastic outer jacket. 

Each fiber optic strand is one-tenth the thickness of a human hair and can make the equivalent of 25,000 phone calls at the same time. An entire cable can carry millions of data, without losing anything along the way. 

The material used to produce optical fiber is glass or extruded plastic. Because it is made with a very thin material and with high technology, interferences hardly occur. These wires are used instead of copper wire and therefore their speed is higher. 

Pros of Optical Fiber 

• Because it is made with a very thin material, this connection has a greater transmission capacity, that is, several data lines can use the same cable. 
• The connection signal generated through optical fiber will hardly drop or present interference and oscillations. 
• A very good advantage, both for the customer and for the Internet provider, is that for this type of connection it is possible to use transmitters with a lower frequency, as the optical fibers are less degraded. Thus, less energy is spent, and the economy is beneficial for both sides. 

• The fiber optic signal is secure as it does not need to use electricity on the fibers. This helps prevent overheating and fire. 
• To play online games and watch movies, series, and videos via streaming, is an excellent connection. 
• The cables used for installation are thin, so they don’t take up much space. 

Cons of Optical Fiber 

• Optical fibers are made of very thin material, so they are easier to damage. 
• The amount to be paid for installation and maintenance is high. 
• Because they are made with very fine wires, it is necessary to use special instruments for installation, otherwise, they may break. 
• To branch is also a little more difficult. “T” style connections are affected by a large loss of data. 

Wi-fi 

The most popular of wireless connections is a wireless version of regular broadband, delivered through a special router. That’s why they are called networks, as they need a wired connection to create the access point.  

The internet signal is sent at frequencies that vary between 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz and can reach up to 54Mbps within a few meters. 

The most interesting thing is that this type of connection, previously exclusive to laptops, has become so popular that several other devices have adopted it.  

This is the case with cell phones, smartphones, and even some home computers, which have added a wireless adapter to capture the signal. 

Pros of Wi-fi 

• Certainly, one of the biggest advantages of using this option is freedom, as you don’t need to limit the distance of a cable to be able to connect to the internet. 
• Thus, this technology can be an excellent option for people who only use the network to browse pages or other activities that do not require much stability or speed. 

Cons of Wi-fi 

• Many times, the Wireless network is not a good option for those who need to carry out several videoconferences or to watch streaming videos to perform a certain task. And this is because it ends up suffering a lot of interference from other electronic devices that operate on the same frequency, such as cordless phones or microwaves. 
• Instability, because air broadcast. 

Radio 

Today it is possible to connect to the network through signals emitted by radio antennas. 

The great advantage of this connection is to dispense with the use of any wire or cable and even modems.  

The signal is sent by an antenna and received by a transmission tower, which is positioned in a strategic location, usually on top of buildings or places that offer no barriers to the wave. 

In addition, the radio connection is very useful due to its long-range, which favors those who live in cities where the telephone or cable signal does not reach.  

The only problem is that to get the most out of the connection, the signal must reach the tower without encountering any kind of barrier, and even rain can destabilize it. 

Pros of Radio Internet 

Check out some of the advantages presented by the internet via radio below. 

• Roof:Because of the joint use of antennas, the connections can cover a large area, making the internet reach remote locations. In the city, the radio connection can supply neighborhoods that the cable or fiber-optic network has not yet reached. 

• Maintenance:When installed correctly, this type of internet requires little maintenance, in addition to not suffering from common wired internet problems, such as theft or damage to the cabling. 
• No phone or TV: It works independently, since the internet via radio does not require the installation of a telephone or TV. Thus, there is no need to pay for an extra service that you may not need. 

Cons of Radio internet 

Even with its advantages, this type of internet has considerable disadvantages. Meet some of them. 

• Instability: Instability is a very common problem among internet users via radio since this model works with electromagnetic waves, which causes the connection to have some errors. So, like satellite TV, the radio connection can be unstable on rainy days, causing drops or packet loss. Several factors can affect the quality of the connection, such as the equipment used and the distance between the customer’s and provider’s antennas. Thus, it is necessary to observe that the antennas are not installed in a place that generates a lot of interference. 
• Velocity: Providers that offer connections above 20 MB are more targeted for commercial use. For physical customers, speeds are typically around 1MB and 10MB. Because of this, for those who want to download or stream, the internet via radio may not be the most suitable. 

Satellite Internet 

Satellite connection works similarly to radio, but with the difference that it can be accessed from anywhere on the planet. Because of this, it is one of the most expensive methods to access the internet.  

To connect it is necessary to have two modems (one for sending data and another for receiving) and a specific antenna for this type of signal. 

As the distance between the satellite and the receiver is enormous (after all, we are talking about equipment that orbits around our planet), the response time and data transmission are very high and subject to multiple interferences.  

To get around this, the exchange of information is done in large “packets”, but with a large gap between one and the other. The speed is between 200 and 600 kbps. 

Pros of Satellite internet 

• Location and mobility: The biggest advantage of satellite internet is that you can receive broadband internet signals anywhere on Earth, regardless of how far you are from an internet connection gateway. This can be convenient for those who work or live in remote places or in rural areas, where the only option for connecting via the Internet is a slow dial-up modem. It is practical and useful for keeping internet access signals in different places, especially when you are traveling in a vehicle such as a ship or a train. 
• Access: Satellite internet can benefit many businesses because of what the cable-free connection can offer. For business continuity, particularly in situations where terrestrial signal providers may be down, damaged, or simply unavailable, people and businesses can still stay in touch with one another. Satellite internet is an excellent solution for companies with offices located around the world. 

Cons of Satellite internet 

• Slow connection:Since the internet signal must travel about 35,500 km to reach the satellite and return to Earth, there may be some delay or latency between the data request and the response. The average latency period for satellite internet is between 500 and 900 milliseconds — much slower than a dial-up connection. This is acceptable when the person accesses the internet for more basic activities, such as reading and sending emails or browsing websites. But it can be quite slow for applications that need real-time access, such as video conferencing, online gaming, voice chat, and VoIP phone calls. 
• Meteorological instability: Satellite internet may be affected by weather instabilities. Rain will not block power or signals, but it can trigger interference called “rain shadow” which can slow download and upload speeds and your connection unstable. 

What to consider before selecting the internet service? 

To decide which internet connection is best for your home, note the following points: 

• Speed: assess what your real needs are and if you spend a lot of time connected to social networks or watching series on video streams, for example. If that’s your case, you’ll probably prefer something faster; 
• Convenience: Your internet consumption habits do not always fit into the available plans. Therefore, opt for providers that allow customization; 
• Availability: Keep an eye on the types of coverage offered by the telecommunications services in your region. In addition to being closer to customers, regional providers often offer more cost-effective services; 
• Credibility:it is also important that the company that provides the internet is known in the market. 

Conclusion 

Broadband internet revolutionized the world and made our lives easier and people more and more connected. It is because of it that today it is possible for you to talk in real-time with people on the other side of the world or control your home security system. 

Cables made with dedicated download, upload and telephone bands allowed data transport up to 160 times faster than short-band dial-up internet. 

With broadband internet, you can watch movies, download files and connect all the equipment in your home and business, more simply and cheaply.