High Speed Internet Guide

High speed Internet allows access to the Internet at speeds far greater than dial-up, however choosing the right plan is not necessarily straight forward. There are three main types of high speed Internet providers. These are DSL, cable and satellite Internet. Not all types of Internet access are available in all areas so you will need to check the availability of different providers in your area.

DSL High Speed Internet

DSL stands for digital subscriber line and provides Internet access from the transmission of data over telephone lines. In the US, DSL is provided through the copper wires of the telephone system. There are a few main downsides to using DSL for high speed Internet access. One major issue is that speeds decrease the further away you are from the telephone exchange delivering your connection. Another limitation is the amount of data copper wires can transmit which limits maximum speeds. This is less of an issue for cable high speed Internet services.

Cable High Speed Internet

Cable high speed Internet delivers a high speed Internet connection over fiber optic and coaxial cable. This technology is capable of faster speeds which do not deteriorate very much as they travel along the fiber optic cable to distances up to 200km. Use of cable Internet is growing as it is widely regarded as a superior technology to DSL.

Satellite Internet

The third popular type of high speed Internet access in the US is satellite Internet. Satellite Internet, as the name suggests, sends data via satellite. Satellite broadband is typically more expensive and is often popular in areas with no DSL or cable availability.

Choosing a High Speed Internet Plan

When choosing a high speed Internet plan there are a few factors to consider.

Firstly, consider the type of Internet user you are, for example activities such as watching movies online will benefit from a reasonably fast connection so would suit a plans offering faster speeds. Alternatively, if you do only intend to use your connection for browsing websites and emailing there’s no point spending more than you need to on a super-fast connection.

Secondly, it’s worth considering the contract length of the high speed Internet plan you are interested in. It is usually expensive to get out of a contract earlier so it’s worth considering this before committing to one. Typically contracts are between 6 and 24 months.

Finally, it’s worth finding out about what others think of their Internet providers; it’s hard to judge factors such as customer service and reliability without reading reviews of what other customers have thought of the high speed Internet providers they are using so reading some customer reviews is usually time well spent.

 
   
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Related links

Internet Access Guide : ADSL
Internet Access Guide : Cable
Internet Access Guide : Fiber-to-the-Home
Internet Access Guide : WiMAX
Internet Access Guide : Satellite