What is high-speed Internet and how does it work? High-speed Internet, commonly referred to as broadband Internet, is defined by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) as a minimum of 200 Kbps (kilobits per second) of Internet access, but can reach up to 60 megabits per second (Mbps).
Broadband Internet speeds allow users to take advantage of technologies such as video conferencing via computer, voice calls via computer streaming quality audio and video. As of 2011, the main types of broadband available in the United States were DSL, cable, satellite, fiber and mobile broadband.
What is High Speed Internet and how does it work?
DSL
DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) is terrestrial broadband internet carried over copper phone lines. Traditional DSLs require an active phone line, but there are also “dry loop” DSLs that do not require a phone line. Traditional DSL speeds range from 768 Kbps to 7 Mbps, but for optimal speeds you need to be within two miles of your phone company’s central office.
Fiber High Speed Internet
Fiber broadband, commonly referred to as “fiber”, is broadband Internet carried over fiber optic lines using light to transmit data signals at significantly higher speeds than traditional copper or coaxial cables. As of 2011, major DSL providers, including AT&T, Qwest and Verizon, were using fiber optic technology to achieve a higher DSL speed called Very Fast DSL (VDSL). VDSL can achieve download speeds above 25 Mbps.
Cable
Wired broadband Internet is a terrestrial broadband technology that transmits data at broadband speeds over cables used to transmit television data. Basic wired internet speeds range from 4 Mbps to 6 Mbps, and advanced wired internet speeds can reach speeds of 20 Mbps or more. Cable internet speed can be affected by users in the same vicinity using the same cable connection.
Satellite
Satellite broadband uses orbiting satellites to send and receive broadband data. Satellite broadband is primarily used in areas where terrestrial broadband technologies such as DSL, fiber and cable are not available. Satellite broadband has speeds comparable to traditional DSL, ranging from 768 kbps to 5 Mbps, although data rates can be affected by weather conditions and changes in satellite position.
Mobile broadband
As of February 2011, mobile 3G networks are wireless broadband technologies that can be accessed through smart devices such as 3G-enabled mobile phones and e-book readers. In June 2010, PC Magazine tested the top 3G carriers and found that the national average download speed was between 1.04 and 2.11 Mbps. Speeds vary by carrier and can be affected by your location and your carrier’s range.
