Throughout the decades, broadband has become an integral part of our lives. Leaps and bounds ahead of its predecessor, the "dial-up" modem, broadband allows us to connect to the internet on our electronic devices in a much quicker way.
Nowadays there are many different types of broadband, each with its own unique features. There are three main types of broadband; ADSL, cable and fiber. Want to weigh the pros and cons of each to decide which is best for you? Keep reading to find out more!
ADSL
Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line, also known as ADSL, is the most common type of broadband, and it is delivered to homes through the copper wires in your telephone lines.
There are two different types of ADSL used in the United Kingdom, known as ADSL1 and ADSL2+. ADSL1 is capable of running at a maximum speed of 8Mbit/s, and ADSL2+ can run at around 24Mbit/s. ADSL is well suited for streaming TV shows and films on sites such as Netflix and moderate online gaming
Pros
- ADSL is extremely good value for money, with a fixed monthly cost. There is no extra wiring required, as ADSL uses your existing phone lines.
- Unlike the previous "dial-up" broadband, ADSL doesn't use your telephone line. This means that you can use the phone and browse the internet at the same time. It also operates at a much faster speed than dial-up
- It uses pre-existing infrastructure, meaning that it doesn't require new investments and can use the already present copper cabling. This is advantageous for broadband operators, as they won't face large costs when implementing the technology to users
Cons
- The speed of your broadband will depend on the distance between you and your telephone exchange. The further away you are, the lower the speeds.
- It isn't guaranteed to work on every phone line. ADSL only has a 3km limit of how far away it can be from the emissions centre, so having copper wiring isn't enough to keep a steady connection
- The quality of your cables and the coppering needs to be up to scratch. Copper can be quite expensive, so using isn't all that economic in these instances
Cable
Cable broadband networks use a combination of fibre optic and coaxial cables to deliver accelerated broadband, TV and phone services directly to your home. It connects you to a fibre cabinet in your area. The switch from coaxial cable to copper also gives you a much faster connection
Pros
- You do not need a phone line to access cable broadband, so your connection is always ready to go
- It is much faster than ADSL, which means that you can transfer data such as photos and videos, as well as use streaming services, at high speeds and much better quality.
- It is well-known for being reliable. It is known for doing well in instances such as power outages and electrical storms
Cons
- Speeds are highly dependable on how much others in your area are using cable. For example, if you're in a highly-populated region, you may experience delays during peak business hours
- It's generally slower than fibre-optic broadband
- Cable broadband usually implements data caps, and you can be charged if you exceed these limits
Fibre
Fibre broadband is delivered to your home via hairs-width fibre optic cables, and speeds are faster than both cable and ADSL. Fibre-to-the-cabinet (FTTC) and fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP) are the two main types of fibre broadband.
With fibre-to-the-cabinet, the cables run to the street cabinets directly from the telephone exchange, before connecting to homes using standard copper wires.
The cables in fibre-to-the-premises broadband run straight to your home. It is faster than FTTC, but only accounts for a minority of connections.
Pros
- Fibre optic broadband is more secure than ADSL and cable. It does not emit signals, so transmissions cannot be listened to when they pass through
- They provide you with a better connection. Fibre optic broadband is resistant to electromagnetic interference, which can interrupt the connection of traditional cable
- They're cost-effective in the long term. They're more expensive up-front, but their durability makes the initial payment worth it
Cons
- It is more susceptible to physical damage. The cables are much thinner, and disrupting just one of those hairs-width cables can disrupt the whole system
- Installation can be expensive. They're better value for money in the long run, but special equipment and skilled knowledge of the system is required for installation, which can ramp up the cost
- They are vulnerable to "fibre fuse." This happens when too much light meets with a fault in the fibre and can destroy the cables.
In Conclusion
Although there are more types of broadband out there, the three we have listed are the most popular. Fibre optic broadband is most people's first choice, but cable and ADSL are still viable options. Are you looking for the right broadband provider for you? Visit our homepage to compare services and choose the one that best suits your needs.
