The Best Option for your Broadband Needs
August 17, 2008
So you?re in the market for getting a broadband connection and are a bit confused on which to choose. Whether you?re upgrading from a slow dial-up connection or are new the Internet as a whole, going with broadband is definitely the way to go.
The main choices the typical consumer has are DSL, cable, and fiber optic broadband service. The three have different speeds and prices, and their level of access to you can depend on location. But, they all do offer a great boost over the connection speeds one would see with dial up service.
DSL is basic broadband available to most households, as it is provided by your telephone company. If you’re not close to the telephone company service station, you might not be able to get it. The price is low, usually from $15 to $30 per month, and is perfect for the consumer looking to have cheap access to broadband.
Cable broadband is a little more expensive than DSL, and is run through your local cable television provider. The service can be more expensive, with packages going up from $25 per month, but the connection speeds are generally faster than DSL.
Unlike DSL, cable is not distance limited as long there is television service in your area. For the user who wants to watch/download videos online, play ?live? games, download/stream music, or has 2+ regularly used computers, cable modem would be it.
A new technology making waves in broadband is fiber optic service. Starting with Verizon’s FiOS, fiber optics have become a great broadband option. However, limited fiber network installation nationally have resulted in this service being absent from many markets.
The price of fiber optic service can range from $30 to over $200 per month depending on the package. But, for those seeking the fastest speed, have a lot of computer users in the home, or run a website or other online business, fiber optics can be the way to go.
Before you choose a broadband provider, establish what you want to spend and your needs for service, and then shop around with your local carriers. Also, be aware of some carriers who can save you money on multiple services if you bundle the broadband with telephone and television service.
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