You will come across several different types of internet connections when you are shopping for internet options. They each differ in speed, the way they transfer data, and they have their unique advantages and disadvantages.
The most common types of internet connection are fiber optic, cable, DSL, and satellite. Here you will read about the difference between fiber optic internet connection and the DSL internet.
If you are looking for an internet connection, whether a fiber optic one or DSL, you must also consider Xfinity. They have Xfinity double play packages where they are offering discounted prices on having TV and internet connection collectively in a single bill.
The basic package starts with a 100Mbps download speed easily able to support up to five devices and 10+ TV channels along with it. With the premium package, you also get to connect to five devices at a time but with 125+ channels on your TV and 200Mbps download speeds on your internet.
You can choose whichever suits your budget and make use of having to enjoy maneuvering through TV channels and the internet at the same time.
DSL and fiber optic internet – the differences
DSL or Digital Subscriber Line had been known as the most commonly used type of internet connection for years before fiber optic internet connection came along and challenged its reliability.
According to Federal Communications Commission (FCC), 88% of American households have a DSL internet connection. But DSL is still used along with the fiber optic internet connection and is considered as the future-oriented internet connection. Let’s explore a few differences between these two internet connections and see what makes them both unique in their way:
- DSL uses existing infrastructure to connect to the internet i.e. the telephone lines. In your homes, it links your device to a modem, which is, in turn, is connected to the phone lines. These phone lines contain two copper wires which help to send and receive data. To get a fiber optic internet connection, there have to be fiber connection wires from your homes to the nodes or where the ISP is. If there is no fiber internet connection around your home, which is most likely the case, ISP may install one by digging under the ground.
- Although fiber optic internet connection poses a better and faster network connectivity than the DSL because new technology is always better, it also requires support for infrastructure and resources to build it. That is why fiber optic internet connection is not readily available anywhere yet. FCC has stated that 39% of the internet users in the US have access to at least one fiber ISP, which shows its lesser availability than that of DSL.
- The download speed of a DSL connection ranges from 5 to 35Mbps with an upload speed of 1 to 10Mbps. The highest speed that a DSL internet connection can reach is 100Mbps, whereas a fiber internet connection has a download speed of 1000Mbps (1Gbps) and its upload speed is almost the same. Where Fiber internet connection is capable of reaching a top speed of 2000Mbps (2Gbps).
- DSL internet wires are made of copper, which causes the signal to lose its strength over long distances and become easily vulnerable to electromagnetic interference. Therefore, the internet connection is naturally weaker if an internet user is far away from the nodes or ISP’s home office. The connection wires of fiber-optic internet are composed of bundled lines of fiberglass, transmitting data with the help of a beam of lights. This material is hard to come by, which explains their pricey installment.
- With fiber internet, you get to play online video games, stream movies in 4K, upload and download large files, have a teleconference over Skype or Zoom without any lagging, etc. The list goes on. But with DSL internet, all of these activities will have a delayed response time under 25Mbps.
- Due to its very fast speed, yet limited availability and having no competition in the market, it is considered a pricey option. DSL internet has access to every household, which is why it is much cheaper to install than fiber internet connection.
Which is better?
Out of these arguments enough, the final verdict states that fiber is the fastest, most reliable internet there is for domestic usage. However, due to its limited availability, internet users will be forced to look towards having a DSL internet connection. DSL is cheaper than fiber internet and it is available literally everywhere.
Internet users may experience buffering and lagging if the download speed is below 25Mbps, but a connection with speeds higher than 25 Mbps will work well with downloading large files and streaming movies while using multiple devices at the same time. However, in the end, fiber internet is no match for DSL internet and it will always win when it comes to potential quality and speeds.