What kind of internet is broadband

Some of the most widely used Internet connections are described below. Many cell phone and smartphone providers offer voice plans with Internet access. Mobile Internet connections provide good speeds and allow you to access the Internet. Wifi Hotspots are sites that offer Internet access over a wireless local area network WLAN by way of a router that then connects to an Internet service provider.

Hotspots utilize WiFi technology, which allows electronic devices to connect to the Internet or exchange data wirelessly through radio waves.

Hotspots can be phone-based or free-standing, commercial or free to the public. Dial-up connections require users to link their phone line to a computer in order to access the Internet. This particular type of connection—also referred to as analog—does not permit users to make or receive phone calls through their home phone service while using the Internet.

Now more outdated, a dial-up connection used to be among the most common Internet connection type. This high-speed Internet connection is provided through either cable or telephone companies. One of the fastest options available, broadband Internet uses multiple data channels to send large quantities of information. The term broadband is shorthand for broad bandwidth.

Broadband Internet connections such as DSL and cable are considered high-bandwidth connections. DSL, which stands for Digital Subscriber Line, uses existing 2-wire copper telephone line connected to one's home so service is delivered at the same time as landline telephone service. Contact CenturyLink today about our high-speed internet service and expanding fiber internet network and see what speeds are available in your area.

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Find Available Services. Was this page helpful? CenturyLink Services Support. Home Phone. All Rights Reserved. Residential Small Business Chat. Accessories Check for Deals at My Home. Support Support Center Contact Us. Support Sign In. Residential x. Cancel Continue. Support Center Internet What is broadband internet? What is broadband internet? Subscriber Account active since. Simply put, broadband is any high-speed internet service. Broadband is the most common kind of internet service available, and that's been true in most populated regions of the US for a couple of decades.

Prior to the widespread availability of broadband, most internet was delivered to residential homes via dial-up service — the same technology used for telephone calls. This meant that picking up the phone would turn off your internet access, and internet speeds were pathetically slow — about 0.

These days, nearly every home in the US uses broadband. And in contrast to dial-up, the average broadband speed in the US is about Mbps, according to DecisionData. While the average broadband speed is Mbps, actual broadband speeds vary dramatically depending upon where you live, your service provider, and your actual broadband service plan. Since , the Federal Communications Commission has defined broadband as any service that delivers at least 25Mbps download speed and 3Mbps upload speed, though broadband can also reach "gigabit" speeds — 1,Mbps.

Broadband isn't the same thing as Wi-Fi. Wi-Fi is the wireless network that broadcasts internet signals around your home or office. The router can then send the internet to your computer and other devices via Ethernet cable or wirelessly via Wi-Fi.

There are four major kinds of broadband service. Not only do they use fundamentally different technologies to get the data to your door, but they vary by speed and price. Here is a brief overview of each:. Broadband cable internet uses the same coaxial cable that brings cable TV into your home; it's become a popular form of broadband because it lets consumers use the same company for their television and internet access.

Cable is fairly fast, usually able to reach speeds as high as Mbps depending upon the service plan you choose. Cable's bandwidth is shared among everyone in a service area, though, so you might find it slows down in the evening when everyone is at home and streaming video.