Fiber, cable, DSL, satellite. Do you know the difference? How do you know which option is best for your household? Let’s break it down:
We’ll start with satellite. By far the slowest option, satellite works by beaming signals from satellites in space to an installed dish. Chances are that you’ll find streaming, video conferencing, and gaming to be difficult with satellite due to lagging performance and data caps. While satellite internet might not be ideal, for those living in rural areas, it may be the only option.
A step above satellite is DSL. DSL internet carries data over a landline phone network. This outdated technology makes DSL relatively slow. Most forms of DSL reach speeds of less than 100 Mbps, with upload speeds being even slower. Also, DSL’s signal weakens the farther away you are from the main network.
If you’re a small household who only uses the internet for the basics, such as checking email, streaming video on one or two devices, and occasional gaming, DSL may be good enough to get you by.
Next, there’s cable. Cable internet is faster, with typical download speeds ranging between 10 to 500 Mbps. Cable internet is run through the same coaxial wires that supply your cable TV and works well for casual web browsing, streaming on multiple devices, file uploads, video calls, and some online gaming.
The downside…cable speeds are often throttled during peak usage times, upload speeds fall short of download speeds, and customers may be subject to seasonal price hikes.
We saved the best for last—fiber internet. Using light to transmit data over fiber-optic cabling, fiber internet is by far the fastest, most reliable, and most advanced option compared to other broadband types.
Fiber delivers unlimited data and features best-in-class technology. This makes it a great choice for everyone, especially high-bandwidth users, serious gamers, large households, content creators, or those who work from home.
Now you can enjoy the gold standard too! TWN and HREMC are bringing high-speed fiber internet to your front door. It’s time to say goodbye to slow internet and hello to the BEST broadband available in your area!
If you haven’t already, visit twncomm.com/heartland or call 833-727-5563 to sign up for service or to sign the Underground Agreement today!
