Internet Service: Which is Best for You?

Whether for our daily work processes, reading articles, browsing social media, or shopping online, we regularly and heavily rely on Internet access to carry out our daily tasks. Numerous options are available for connecting to the Internet, each with special advantages and disadvantages. Among the most common choices, Cable Internet, Fiber, 4G/5G wireless, and Satellite each offer varying degrees of speed, accessibility, and price. To help you choose the Internet connection that is best for you, we will examine each of these options in more detail and weigh their advantages and disadvantages.

Cable

Cable Internet connection is delivered using the same cables that transport television signals. Depending on the service package and the location, cable Internet speeds are between 25 Mbps and 1 Gbps. This qualifies it for tasks like streaming video, playing online games, and downloading large files. However, one of the biggest disadvantages of cable Internet is that it may experience network congestion during times of high usages, such as weekends and evenings. This may lead to slower speeds and more latency, making it challenging to carry out some online tasks. However, because copper coax cables were used for delivering TV service many years before the Internet even existed, the cable infrastructure is everywhere, making this the least expensive option and making it a very attractive solution for home use.

Fiber

Fiber Internet uses fiber-optic cables where data is delivered using light pulses instead of electrical signals to deliver Internet service. It is the fastest and most reliable Internet connection. Compared to cable Internet, it often provides the best speeds and is less impacted by network congestion. Suppose a company purchases a dedicated Fiber Internet service. In that case, the connection is only utilized by the internal staff of the company, not other neighbors like in the case of Cable Internet. Their advantages include the following:

Faster speeds: Fiber connections can provide speeds of up to 100 Gbps or more and can support substantially faster speeds than conventional copper wire connections.

Longer distances: Fiber connections have a far greater data transmission range than standard copper wires, making them especially useful for connecting distant locations or big campuses.

Symmetrical speeds: High upload speeds are important to companies with in-house servers servicing customers outside the company.

Data centers, Internet service providers, and other companies that demand fast, high-bandwidth connections frequently use fiber connections. It is also suitable for companies and their ability to have fast downloads and uploads. This is, however, the priciest type of Internet service, making cost prohibitive for most home users and small businesses.

Satellite

Data is transmitted to and from the Internet wirelessly using a satellite. The key benefit of satellite Internet is its ability to offer Internet access in places where other types of Internet access are unavailable. The fact that it does not involve the installation of physical cables or phone lines makes it simple to set up. On the other hand, satellite Internet's main drawbacks are that it could be more expensive than Cable Internet access and that weather conditions like heavy rain or snow may interfere with the signal. Another problem is high latency, which causes Internet communications to lag significantly when a signal must travel to and from a satellite in space. However, sometimes, no other alternatives are available, so this type of Internet service becomes the go-to option. Starlink is the most advanced satellite Internet service to date. SpaceX provides it. High-speed Internet is promised in off-grid and rural locations, and pricing is determined based on the user's location. This connection has been prominent where support for Starlink was made available in Ukraine. This came after Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, received a direct request on February 24 to restore connectivity in areas where mobile networks were inaccessible due to Russian air raids. Because it is so dependable, users can work from anywhere, even in the middle of the desert!

4G and 5G Wireless Internet

While Satellite Internet is an option for those who need Internet access in unpopulated areas, it can't be used for companies where multiple users have access simultaneously. Those who have no access to fiber or cable Internet services but have good cellular reception may choose 4G or 5G Wireless. 4G is the fourth generation of wireless technology that provides faster data speeds and improved video streaming compared to previous generations. 5G is the fifth generation of wireless technology that offers significant increases in speed, low latency, and improved capacity compared to 4G.

What Advice does Infiniwiz have for choosing an Internet connection?

Infiniwiz recommends that a user's primary Internet provider be fiber Internet. It is beneficial to use it as the primary and have cable as a backup. In business buildings, AT&T provides shared fiber Internet at a low cost. Even if it is a shared connection, it offers a symmetrical option. Dedicated fiber, which is more expensive, is set aside specifically for the purpose of one particular business and provides high-speed, private, and secure data transfer. Because it is not shared with other customers, it offers dedicated bandwidth, lower latency, and higher dependability compared to shared fiber connections. Cable and 5G wireless connections are a solid second choice for individuals who do not have fiber options available, which is a prevalent circumstance.

Overall, a user's choice of Internet connection heavily relies on what they may use it for and their work processes. Make sure you do additional research and talk with Internet providers to see what is best for your daily work processes.

Our job is to help companies create more unified business functions, improve customer service, and utilize technology to move forward. Chicago-experienced IT consulting experts will make your technology work for you and keep you from spending endless, frustrating hours managing your business IT. Managed IT is when the Infiniwiz team proactively takes care of all the IT headaches and hassles for you…So you can get done on your "to-do" list – like growing the business! If you have any questions, feel free to contact us!