What Is Broadband Internet Access?

Digital Subscriber Line service provides Internet access through copper telephone lines. You have full telephone use while connected to DSL. Service is limited to a certain radius surrounding an access point and some telephone lines may be too poor quality to carry the connection, so it isn't available to everyone with a home telephone. In addition, DSL is one of the slower broadband technologies.

Cable broadband service is delivered via the coaxial cables that bring cable TV into your home. The Internet connection doesn't disrupt TV watching and the modem stays connected to the Internet continuously. Cable offers comparable upload speeds to DSL, but the download speeds are quite a bit higher, making this the faster choice between cable broadband and DSL.

Many cellphone service providers offer mobile broadband Internet service through 3G and 4G networks. These services transmit to a small modem that plugs into your computer's USB port, creating truly portable computing. With a mobile broadband connection, you're no longer confined to Wi-Fi hot spots. You can create your own hot spots wherever you go.

Although satellite download speeds are a bit slower than even DSL, satellite broadband service provides Internet access to populations living in rural areas that don't have cable lines or can't access DSL due to poor line quality or distance from a hub. Anyone can use satellite broadband, provided he has the proper equipment, which includes both a satellite modem and a 2- to 3-foot satellite dish. While this is a more costly investment than other services, satellite Internet is sometimes the only option in an area.

In addition to the more common types of broadband Internet services, high-speed Internet access can also be delivered through fiber-optic cable or even power lines. These newer technologies provide even more accessibility and expand the options you have when choosing Internet services. Some telephone companies are currently offering fiber-optic-based Internet service, but many of the existing homes aren't wired for fiber optics and either need to be wired or they can't receive fiber-optic service. Broadband over Powerline is the newest technology and involves transmitting data over low and medium voltage power lines. It's available in limited areas as of June 2011.