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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You will be able to see how internet access has progressed over time and the details of how each system works. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Defining “Internet Service Provider”<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Before we\nbegin, it is important to know what an Internet Service Provider (ISP) is.\nWhile anyone can use their computer as a standalone unit or connected to other\ncomputers on a local area network (LAN), you need to have an ISP to be able to connect\nto the various resources available on the internet. <\/p>\n\n\n\n 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\u2019s biggest telecommunication service providers. Both these companies have invested in immense network infrastructure that enables widespread and easy internet access. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Do note that what\ntechnology ISPs use to connect you to the internet has changed through the\nyears, and the type of internet service available may vary depending on your\narea. Below are some of the most common forms. <\/p>\n\n\n\n First, we will\nfocus on the wired technologies for internet access. These typically enable you\nto get online at home. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Cable<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Cable is one\nof the older technologies for high-speed broadband internet. This type of\ninternet connection utilizes the same type of copper coaxial cable that you might\nbe using for your cable TV service. Cable internet uses a standard called\nDOCSIS (Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification), with a compatible\nmodem that can sort the TV signals from internet data signals so that both may work\non a single line. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In the Philippines,\none of the more popular cable internet service providers is Sky Cable which\nuses a hybrid cable-fiber optic connection. They still utilize copper coaxial\ncables from the subscriber\u2019s modem to Sky\u2019s network equipment in the area which\nis connected by a fiber-optic line to Sky\u2019s central office or main switching facility.\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Fiber Optics<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n At the\noriginating end, a transmitter converts electrical signals to light. This light\nthen bounces along a special cable normally made from either glass or plastic. As\nsoon as it reaches its destination, the receiving end converts the light back\ninto data that your desktop or laptop can use. <\/p>\n\n\n\n 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The term\n“fiber to the home” or FTTH to describe this type of access may\nalready be familiar to you due as part of the marketing campaign of most popular\nISPs. However, fiber optic cable is used in many other ways, such as lines\nacross the ocean. Fiber optics could effectively transmit data across much\nlonger distances compared to traditional cable, thus making it a better option\nthese days. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Cable\nor Fiber Internet? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The\ntwo most common forms of broadband internet are cable and fiber. But which one\nis better for you? If you have the option of both, which one should you go with?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dial-Up<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Dial-up is already\na legacy technology, but it is still worth mentioning as it was the first widely\nused method for internet access in the Philippines in the 90\u2019s and early 2000\u2019s.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n Like DSL, it\nuses copper-based phone lines to connect to the internet. However, unlike DSL,\nonly one type of communication can pass through the line at a time. A dial-up modem\nconverts digital signals from a computer into analog signals that go over the\nphone line by running a “phone call” to the ISP’s server. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Of course, dial-up\nhas a lot of limitations. The analog signal of dial-up is very inefficient\ncompared to digital signals. And if you are still familiar with dial-up technology,\nmaking a phone call while you are online is not possible since it will leave\nyou offline. <\/p>\n\n\n\n DSL<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n DSL, which\nstands for Digital Subscriber Line, uses your existing copper-based telephone\nlines to transmit digital data. Because the data transfers at a higher\nfrequency than voice calls, you can use the internet and talk on the phone simultaneously.\nNormally With DSL, you install a physical filter that separates the voice and\ndata signals. Otherwise, you will hear a high-pitched hiss when talking on the\nphone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Some ISPs in the\nPhilippines also utilizes Very high-speed Digital Subscriber\nLine (VDSL<\/em>) and Very high-speed Digital Subscriber Line 2 (VDSL2) which are\ndigital subscriber line (DSL) technologies that could deliver faster data\ntransmission speeds compared to traditional Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line\n(ADSL). VDSL\/VDSL2 also allows greater bandwidth like fiber-optic lines or FTTH.\nVDSL\/VDSL2 uses legacy copper-based lines from the subscriber\u2019s modem to the\nISP\u2019s network equipment in the area which is connected by a fiber-optic line\nto ISP\u2019s central office or main switching facility. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In the Philippines\nwhere FTTH infrastructure is not yet available in all areas, VDSL\/VDSL2 is\nstill popular until such time that the local ISPs has decided to fully phaseout\nthe said technology in favor of FTTH or pure fiber-optic technology which should\nhappen in the next two to three years as per PH Telco giants PLDT and Globe. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Mobile\/Wireless\ntechnology has become the most common way to access the internet wirelessly whether\nyou are away from home or inside your home if any form of cabled internet is\nnot available in your area. So, what are these types of wireless internet services?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Satellite Internet<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Satellite\ninternet, as the name suggests, is a wireless solution that uses satellite\ndishes in the sky. However, since Satellite is a line-of-sight technology, you will\nbe needing the help of a professional to be able to set up a satellite dish\nattached to your house that is directly pointed at the service satellite. <\/p>\n\n\n\n As you\nprobably know, the farther a signal travels, the more likely it degrades.\nBecause satellite dishes can be thousands of miles away, they often suffer from\nhigh latency. This makes satellite connections poor for real-time activities\nlike gaming. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Another issue\nwith satellite internet is that it normally radiates signal into a sizeable area.\nAnyone in your area that is using the same satellite connection must share the\nbandwidth, which could be a large group. <\/p>\n\n\n\n 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Mobile Broadband<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Internet\naccess over a wireless network comes in various forms. Like satellite internet,\nwireless broadband for the home allows you to pick up a signal from your ISP minus\ncables. It is not ideal since it has the same disadvantages, including slower\nspeeds and susceptibility to interference. <\/p>\n\n\n\n When we refer\nto “mobile internet,” we mean wireless access technologies on mobile\nphones. Smartphones can transmit and receive wireless radio waves, which allows\nthem to transfer digital data as well as make and receive voice calls. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Mobile internet also allows you to get your laptop online pretty much anywhere and your smartphone can even serve as\u00a0mobile 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n We have examined\nthe basics of internet connection technologies, both wired and wireless. In most\ncases, what you use is limited to what is being offered in your area. Unless\nyou live in an extremely remote location, you probably have cable or fiber\noptic internet access at home and an LTE or 5G connection on your phone. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" 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 Read More …<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1009","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-tech-guide"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/netlab.com.ph\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1009","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/netlab.com.ph\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/netlab.com.ph\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/netlab.com.ph\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/netlab.com.ph\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1009"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/netlab.com.ph\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1009\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/netlab.com.ph\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1009"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/netlab.com.ph\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1009"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/netlab.com.ph\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1009"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Types of Wired Internet Access<\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Types of Mobile\/Wireless Internet Access<\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Summary<\/em><\/h4>\n\n\n\n