Internet Service Providers (ISPs) are companies that connect you to the Internet. There are various types of ISPs. In order to select the best ISP, you need to know what technology is available, which technology is right for you, how much speed you need, and what the service will cost.
Most ISPs use either an existing phone line (for Dial-up or DSL), a Cable television line, or a Satellite connection to connect you to the Internet. Depending on your area, some connections may not be available.
Review the following interactive to learn the differences between each type of connection, so you will know what type of ISP you are looking for.
Some DSL and Cable providers are now replacing cable lines and phone lines with fiber optic lines. It’s a newer technology with limited availability, but definitely something to watch. You might check to see if there are any ISPs that offer fiber optics in your area for the same price as older DSL or Cable connections. Most of us would not need a connection that fast right now; it’d be like paying to have a racecar that we only use to drive around the neighborhood.
If you need portable Internet access for a mobile device such as a phone, tablet or laptop, you will need an ISP that offers a service such as 3G, 4G, Wi-Fi or Wi-Max. This would not typically be your primary method of connecting to the Internet; you should also have a Dial-up, DSL, Cable, or Satellite connection.
In most cases, the faster the Internet connection, the more you are going to pay for it. You only want to pay for the level of speed and performance that you will regularly use.
A slower connection (~ 56 Kbps) might be all you need for email and light browsing. You will need a fast connection (greater than ~ 1 Mbps) if you do lots of browsing, download a lot of music, watch streaming videos, or if there are multiple people in your household using the Internet at the same time. The fastest connections (greater than ~ 3 Mbps) benefit serious gamers and users who are regularly sending and receiving large files.
The following chart shows average speed and price comparisons for the four most common types of Internet connections, and also for fiber optics connections.
When looking at the chart, you'll notice that Internet connection speed is measured in Kbps (Kilobits per second) and Mbps (Megabits per second). In 1 Megabit, there are 1024 Kilobits.
There is a range in download and upload speeds for each connection type, abecause you can often choose to pay more for more speed. For example, in a typical advertisement you can choose to pay 19.95 for a standard DSL connection, or 24.95 for a faster DSL connection.
There is no standard price for dialup, DSL, Cable, or satellite. ISPs set prices based on the area, type of connection, speed of the connection, and what they think their company’s services are worth. Look around for the best deal.
Do you also need Cable or phone service? Many ISPs give you a discount if you sign up for a package of their services. If you already use a Cable or phone company, check to see what discounts are available if you add Internet to your existing services with them.
Make sure you factor in the terms of the contract when examining total cost. What is the period of time you must agree to be a customer? What is the penalty for terminating the service? If this is a promotional rate, how much will the cost increase when the promotional period is over? Choose an ISP that offers contract terms you are comfortable with.
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