Types of Internet Access Technologies

Do you have any idea what kind of internet access is available right now? Broadband? Satellite? Fiber? Below is a breakdown of internet connection types.

You will be able to see how internet access has progressed over time and the details of how each system works.

Defining “Internet Service Provider”

Before we begin, it is important to know what an Internet Service Provider (ISP) is. While anyone can use their computer as a standalone unit or connected to other computers on a local area network (LAN), you need to have an ISP to be able to connect to the various resources available on the internet.

An ISP is simply a company that provides its customers with access to the internet. In the Philippines, they include PLDT and Globe which are the country’s biggest telecommunication service providers. Both these companies have invested in immense network infrastructure that enables widespread and easy internet access.

Types of Wired Internet Access

Do note that what technology ISPs use to connect you to the internet has changed through the years, and the type of internet service available may vary depending on your area. Below are some of the most common forms.

First, we will focus on the wired technologies for internet access. These typically enable you to get online at home.

Cable

Cable is one of the older technologies for high-speed broadband internet. This type of internet connection utilizes the same type of copper coaxial cable that you might be using for your cable TV service. Cable internet uses a standard called DOCSIS (Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification), with a compatible modem that can sort the TV signals from internet data signals so that both may work on a single line.

In the Philippines, one of the more popular cable internet service providers is Sky Cable which uses a hybrid cable-fiber optic connection. They still utilize copper coaxial cables from the subscriber’s modem to Sky’s network equipment in the area which is connected by a fiber-optic line to Sky’s central office or main switching facility.   

Fiber Optics

Fiber internet connection is currently the most popular choice among internet users in the Philippines and is being offered by big ISPs like PLDT, Globe, and Converge ICT. Fiber optic connection is one of the fastest home internet options available. Instead of using the traditional copper cable, they use light to transmit information.

At the originating end, a transmitter converts electrical signals to light. This light then bounces along a special cable normally made from either glass or plastic. As soon as it reaches its destination, the receiving end converts the light back into data that your desktop or laptop can use.

Expectedly, light travels a lot faster than electricity flowing through a wire. Disappointingly, fiber-optic networks are not as widespread as copper-based technologies like cable and DSL, and with fiber, it is more expensive to build new lines. This is the same reason why this type of connection is not available in remote areas where it would be too expensive for any ISP to set up new lines.

The term “fiber to the home” or FTTH to describe this type of access may already be familiar to you due as part of the marketing campaign of most popular ISPs. However, fiber optic cable is used in many other ways, such as lines across the ocean. Fiber optics could effectively transmit data across much longer distances compared to traditional cable, thus making it a better option these days.

Cable or Fiber Internet?

The two most common forms of broadband internet are cable and fiber. But which one is better for you? If you have the option of both, which one should you go with?

Dial-Up

Dial-up is already a legacy technology, but it is still worth mentioning as it was the first widely used method for internet access in the Philippines in the 90’s and early 2000’s.

Like DSL, it uses copper-based phone lines to connect to the internet. However, unlike DSL, only one type of communication can pass through the line at a time. A dial-up modem converts digital signals from a computer into analog signals that go over the phone line by running a “phone call” to the ISP’s server.

Of course, dial-up has a lot of limitations. The analog signal of dial-up is very inefficient compared to digital signals. And if you are still familiar with dial-up technology, making a phone call while you are online is not possible since it will leave you offline.

DSL

DSL, which stands for Digital Subscriber Line, uses your existing copper-based telephone lines to transmit digital data. Because the data transfers at a higher frequency than voice calls, you can use the internet and talk on the phone simultaneously. Normally With DSL, you install a physical filter that separates the voice and data signals. Otherwise, you will hear a high-pitched hiss when talking on the phone.

DSL is also known as Asymmetric DSL (ADSL), as the term would suggest just means that your upload and download speeds are different or not equal. This makes a lot more sense since the majority of internet users nowadays download content from the internet more than they upload.

DSL is still being offered today by some ISPs, mostly in rural areas where fiber-optic infrastructure is not yet available. Having a DSL line is enough if you don’t need a fast connection but is obviously limiting with today’s demand for more bandwidth-intensive tasks currently available on the internet.

Some ISPs in the Philippines also utilizes Very high-speed Digital Subscriber Line (VDSL) and Very high-speed Digital Subscriber Line 2 (VDSL2) which are digital subscriber line (DSL) technologies that could deliver faster data transmission speeds compared to traditional Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL). VDSL/VDSL2 also allows greater bandwidth like fiber-optic lines or FTTH. VDSL/VDSL2 uses legacy copper-based lines from the subscriber’s modem to the ISP’s network equipment in the area which is connected by a fiber-optic line to ISP’s central office or main switching facility.

In the Philippines where FTTH infrastructure is not yet available in all areas, VDSL/VDSL2 is still popular until such time that the local ISPs has decided to fully phaseout the said technology in favor of FTTH or pure fiber-optic technology which should happen in the next two to three years as per PH Telco giants PLDT and Globe.     

Types of Mobile/Wireless Internet Access

Mobile/Wireless technology has become the most common way to access the internet wirelessly whether you are away from home or inside your home if any form of cabled internet is not available in your area. So, what are these types of wireless internet services?

Satellite Internet

Satellite internet, as the name suggests, is a wireless solution that uses satellite dishes in the sky. However, since Satellite is a line-of-sight technology, you will be needing the help of a professional to be able to set up a satellite dish attached to your house that is directly pointed at the service satellite.

As you probably know, the farther a signal travels, the more likely it degrades. Because satellite dishes can be thousands of miles away, they often suffer from high latency. This makes satellite connections poor for real-time activities like gaming.

Another issue with satellite internet is that it normally radiates signal into a sizeable area. Anyone in your area that is using the same satellite connection must share the bandwidth, which could be a large group.

Do note that there are newer Satellite Internet technologies that are going to be available in the coming years. Elon Musk of Tesla envisions the widespread availability of his space satellite technology known as SpaceX Starlink, which will utilize in-orbit satellites to deliver high-speed Internet services to practically anywhere in the world.

Mobile Broadband

Internet access over a wireless network comes in various forms. Like satellite internet, wireless broadband for the home allows you to pick up a signal from your ISP minus cables. It is not ideal since it has the same disadvantages, including slower speeds and susceptibility to interference.

When we refer to “mobile internet,” we mean wireless access technologies on mobile phones. Smartphones can transmit and receive wireless radio waves, which allows them to transfer digital data as well as make and receive voice calls.

Mobile internet also allows you to get your laptop online pretty much anywhere and your smartphone can even serve as mobile Wi-Fi hotspot if needed. Most cellular phone service providers sell 4G/LTE/LTE-A and 5G modems and other mobile internet devices like Pocket Wi-Fi that allows you to connect to your provider’s network through mobile technology. Just like your cellular phone, it allows you to access the internet without the need to connect to a fixed Wi-Fi network at home, school, or office.

Summary

We have examined the basics of internet connection technologies, both wired and wireless. In most cases, what you use is limited to what is being offered in your area. Unless you live in an extremely remote location, you probably have cable or fiber optic internet access at home and an LTE or 5G connection on your phone.

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