You must have asked yourself more than once what types of internet connections are there and chances are you could answer this question yourself with a very simple answer: wireless and wired. Among the first would be Wi-Fi and in the second a classic connection via Ethernet.

This answer is correct but incomplete because there are multiple types of Internet connections within these two major branches. Some are more used than others, that’s also true, but that doesn’t mean we should underestimate them, because certain types of minority connections They are of great importance in certain situations, and have also shown that they can offer considerable value.

In this updated article I will share with you What are the most important types of internet connections, and I’ll tell you what their most interesting features are and what value they generally offer. As always, if you have any questions, feel free to leave them in the comments and we’ll help you out.

Internet connection types

Wired connection subtypes

Switched telephone network

As many of our regular readers will know, it was a a key standard in the first phase of mass Internet adoption At the consumption level, it was the pillar that allowed us to get to where we are today, facilitating the gradual grid connection of thousands and thousands of homes.

She was a true pioneer, even if she is completely outdated today. This type of connection used the telephone network to transmit the analog signal, it had bandwidth 56 kbps and could not work with voice and data at the same timemeaning that if we were connected to the internet and making a phone call, we would lose connection if someone picked up the call.

ISDN digital network

It’s a standard that’s also outdated and less and less used, although admittedly it had a golden age in its day and still has some presence in the professional sector. However, at the level of consumption Its use is practically unofficial.

The basis of this type of Internet connection is basically the same as that of a switched telephone network, but it has the peculiarity that transmits digitally instead of analog. In the digital ISDN network, a specific network adapter is not used, and a specific infrastructure is needed, which represents significant costs.

Optical fiber

Type of cable connection more popular which we currently have and also one of the fastest and best rated both for its speed and for the stability and latency that this type of connection generally offers. Its high price and low availability initially put it in a complicated position, but over time it has become more democratized and today it is available to almost everyone.

Fiber optics will allow us to enjoy a stable high-speed Internet connection with low latency, although some providers use a combination of fiber optic cabling and coaxial cable, the latter having poorer performance and quality. Home connections using fiber optics can easily reach speeds of symmetrical 1 Gbps and even beyond. That would translate to 125MB/s, which means we could Download 1GB files in less than 10 seconds.

ADSL connection

In time, when enjoyed great popularity mainly due to the lower availability and higher costs of optical connections. Today, it is still one of the most popular, but it is losing ground to fiber optic connections, which are generally better in every way.

This type of Internet connection is known in English by an acronym that stands for “Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line” and represents an evolution that combines the basics of the switched telephone network and the ISDN digital network. It uses a telephone line made up of a classic copper pair, which makes its implementation much easier and cheaper, and enables it to achieve considerable speeds, which are more than sufficient for the average user in many cases.

Wireless subtypes

Mobile data connections

This type of connection has been with us for a long time, although it was quite late to popularize it, as they originally offered very limited speeds. The 3G standard was a huge step forward, and with 4G we experienced a small revolution peaked with 5G, the standard we currently use.

Each of these standards differs in the amount of features and capabilities as well as the maximum performance level they offer. For example, the oldest version can transmit a maximum of 10 Kbps, while with 5G we could reach a theoretical maximum of up to 20 Gbps, always in optimal connection conditions and with hardware that enables it.

the WiMAX standard

The acronym stands for Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access. It is a type of wireless internet connection that uses radio waves on frequencies 2.5 to 5.8 GHz, and that it is able to achieve a maximum coverage of up to 70 kilometers, a huge number that will allow you to make a day out of the value it offers.

This type of Internet connection is primarily intended to achieve hard-to-reach places with difficult coverage, such as areas far from large cities and towns. Outdoor antennas must be used in the home or office where we want to reach the connection, and they can offer high performance (its theoretical maximum is 1 Gbps).

LMDS system

These abbreviations correspond to “Local Multipoint Distribution System” and this is another type of Internet connection based on radio waves, although this time it is not low-frequency, but rather high frequencybecause they operate between 28 GHz and 40 GHz. This means that it has a lower maximum range than the previous one, as it can cover max. 35 kilometers.

These connections are established in a cellular manner using a network of fixed antennas are located in certain areas to cover specific sectors. It can achieve bandwidth of up to 155 Mbps in the 28 GHz band, but is widely affected by obstacles and sources of interference.

Satellite connection

This type of connection is one of the best in terms of range and we can use it to transfer the Internet connection to any corner of the world although a lot of equipment was required (antenna, specific modem and noise reduction converter) which entailed high costs and the price of this service used to be very high

I speak in the past because The reality of satellite internet connection has changed immensely thanks to Starlink. This company has made access to this type of connection much easier and has greatly reduced both the cost of the necessary equipment and the monthly cost of the service. This type of connection in the Ukrainian war has once again shown the value it offers in situations of humanitarian crisis and war conflicts.

Standard Wi-Fi

A standard that needs no introduction and that remains the most widely used of its kind today. As many of our readers know, this type is divided into several standards that offer a specific power level and a specific performance, although they all work through donut-shaped radio waves.

They are currently the most widely used standards Wi-Fi 5 and Wi-Fi 6, although Wi-Fi 4 still has a significant user base and Wi-Fi 7 will become the next big standard for those who want to enjoy the highest possible performance. Older standards are deprecated and may cause performance issues.

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