Broadband Methods of Internet Access

Broadband over Power Line or BPL technology uses power lines that supply your home with electricity to transmit high-speed Internet data. The technology has garnered significant attention because it does not require tremendous infrastructure investment compared with other broadband technologies like fiber-optic cable. As of June 2011, the technology is still in its infancy and suffers from signal interference. U.S. based Gridline Communications Holdings is conducting a pilot of the BPL technology in the U.K. to demonstrate the viability of this technology in a deep rural setting.

Satellite is another broadband technology you can use to access the Internet. Subscribers place a mini-dish on the premises that communicates with a geostationary satellite about 22,000 miles in the sky. Providers of this technology in the U.S. offer plans that allow download speeds that may range up to 2 Mbps as of June 2011. The Internet technology is especially popular in rural areas where options such as cable and DSL may not be available.

More than 123 million U.S. households have been wired with coaxial cables for high-speed Internet service as of June 2011. Cable allows download and upload speeds that can make streaming high-definition movies or engaging in online, multiplayer gaming experiences effortless. Some providers offer speeds in excess of 100 Mbps, although the average cable plan allows download speeds around 3 Mbps.

Digital subscriber line or DSL technology transmits digital data over existing telephone lines so you can access the Internet. Consequently, a requirement for this service is having an available and active landline installation. An enhanced form of this technology, referred to as "naked DSL," does not require an active landline.

Wireless broadband Internet uses wireless towers and wireless devices on the premises to provide high-speed Internet access to subscribers. Where satellite Internet is susceptible to latency and adverse weather conditions like heavy rainfall and snow, wireless broadband towers are on the ground and within a short radius of subscribers' homes, so data transmission occurs over relatively short distances.

Fiber technology has vast potential when it comes to data transfer speeds and volume. Data travels along fiber-optic cables that contain tiny strands of fiber that are about as thin as a strand of hair. Providers pursuing this technology are making considerable investments because of the lack of infrastructure. As of June 2011, the technology has yet to reach its true capacity. Even so, residential subscribers can currently access download speeds of up to 150 Mbps and upload speeds of up to 35 Mbps with specific providers.