Wired Broadband Technologies: What Are They?

Ever wondered how that 300 MB PDF reached your boss in a few minutes. It was made possible due to your broadband connection. High-speed internet and high bandwidths are the pre-requisites of a broadband connection, which has replaced the slow speed and low bandwidth function of dial-up connections. Broadband connections are of two types- wired and wireless. In this article, we focus on wired broadband connections.

Wired Broadband Technologies

When it comes to wired broadband connections, internet service providers (ISPs) in Hyderabad offer different types to the residential or business consumer. The types include fiber optic technology, coaxial cable connection, and Digital Subscriber Line (DSL). All three types have their share of pros and cons, let us define each broadband connection type:

1. Digital Subscriber Line (DSL)– In this broadband connection, existing telephone lines are used for the transfer of data. Because almost all buildings are likely to have telephone cables, DSL is one of the most popular ways of providing internet services. High-speed internet in this connection is transferred with the help of DSL splitters that divide the frequencies (upstream and downstream) to ensure an uninterrupted connection.

Pros of DSL Broadband:

• No Extra Infrastructure Required: Since DSL transmits data via existing telephone copper cables, it eliminates the need to invest in new cables. So the installation process is easy peasy.
• It is Pocket-friendly: With no need for new infrastructure, it automatically brings down your installation costs.

Cons of DSL Broadband:

• Unequal Download and Upload Speeds: In DSL, the connection that you receive is unequal, which may be restrictive for users who have an equal dependency on upload speeds.
• Outdated Broadband Technology: The broadband network has improved such that now connections with higher bandwidth are available. So, DSL can be limiting in the current context.

2. Coaxial Cable Connection- The second type of broadband connection is offered by cable television providers. Here data are transmitted through coaxial cables, the same ones that are used to provide audio and video feed to your television sets. This connection is definitely faster than DSL, so depending on your ISP plan, you can receive high-speed internet up to 20 Mbps. Cable companies offer the broadband service as part of a bundle where you get access to both television and internet services.

Pros of Coaxial Cable Broadband:

• Easily Available: Like telephone cables, television cables can also be found in most households. It makes the distribution of this broadband service easier.
• Faster than DSL: As mentioned above, one of the biggest advantages of coaxial cable internet connection is that it is faster than DSL. So, such a connection supports heavy internet usage activities like gaming, streaming, etc.

Cons of Coaxial Cable Broadband:

• Shared connection: Unlike DSL, which involves a dedicated connection, in case of a cable broadband connection, you share the connection with everyone in that network. This can slow your internet connection, especially during peak hours.
• Fast, but not the best: When it comes to high-speed internet, this connection falls short of the speeds offered by a fiber optic cable. Speeds will also not be symmetrical and its reliability will depend upon the number of users, etc.

3. Fiber Optic Connection- The revolutionary fiber optic technology has upgraded the performance of broadband networks. In this innovative connection, electric signals are converted into light and then transferred through fibers made of glass. Each fiber optic cable includes 100s of strands of these glass fibers, which transfer the data at the speed of light.

Pros of Fiber Optic Broadband:

1. Superfast Speeds and High Bandwidth– If we compare DSL or cable connections with fiber optic cables, the latter supports a higher bandwidth (large volume of data transfer in one time). Hence, the speeds that you receive with this broadband connection are superior to the other two and more importantly, it is symmetrical.
2. Consistency and Reliability: Since the connection is not dependent on electricity, this connection is not affected by factors such as power outage, electromagnetic interferences, etc. The connection is also secure as there is no loss of signals and physically cutting the cable will result in a complete breakdown of the connection.

Cons of Fiber Optic Broadband:

• Comparatively Costlier: Due to its many advantages, the fiber optic connection can be costlier than the other broadband types. But in the long run, this connection would be better.
• Fragile Cable: The thin cable is delicate and fragile and hence, can get physically damaged due to bends and cuts.

Conclusion

Thus, if you are seeking a wired internet connection in Hyderabad, these three broadband variants will be available. We suggest you opt for a fiber – optic broadband connection, as its pros outweigh the cons, which makes it the best broadband connection available in the city today!