High Speed Internet Basics

Written by: ShopForT1.net - Aug 20, 2008

What Is High Speed Internet, and Why Do I Need It?

The term High Speed Internet refers to any digital Internet access that enables the user to upload and download more data at a much higher speed than a traditional dial up connection. It’s that simple.

High Speed Internet’s Key Advantages:

Speed. It is just that fast. If you have ever waited for a picture to download from an email or for a website page to load so that you could see it, you will appreciate the speed that you can get.

Always connected. You will never have to hear that screechy dialing in noise again. Random disconnects will become a distant memory.

No need for a second phone line. You won’t need special incoming call alerts or a second phone line to support your Internet service.

Bonus Features

High Speed Internet is also great for playing on-line games, downloading MP3s, sharing pictures with your friends and family or working from home. If you love your current email address, most ISPs (like AOL, MSN, EarthLink, Juno and more) have a special Bring Your Own Access (BYOA) rate that is as much as 50% off per month.

Types of High Speed Internet

DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) connects a user to the Internet via regular phone lines. Typical DSL speed is 768 Kbps up to 1,500 Kbps, which at top speed is 25 times faster than standard dial up service. It usually does not require professional installation but it does require a local phone line and availability is limited to upgraded areas. Activation once took weeks, but now it typically takes a few days.

Cable Internet connects users to the Internet through digital (coaxial) cables. Typical Cable speeds range from 500 Kbps up to 2,000 Kbps, which at top speed is 30 times faster than standard dial up service. Cable Internet can sometimes require professional installation and the speeds are not always consistent. It is however widely available and very affordable. Many cable companies offer special rates if you sign up for cable Internet and have digital cable.

Satellite Internet connects users to the Internet via satellite dish. The speeds typically run at 500 Kbps downstream, which is still considerably faster than dial up. Although it is relatively expensive and requires professional installation it does allow high-speed access to people in rural and semi rural areas that would otherwise only have dial up as an option. Current satellite Internet technology is two way, which means you can upload as fast a you download. You can also work with your selected provider to coordinate or upgrade your satellite TV and satellite Internet systems.

Get It Now

If you are interested in seeing which companies can offer you High Speed Internet, you can begin by entering your information in the DSL prequalification tool. A list of High Speed Internet providers for your location will be displayed. From there you can click and compare to find out which service best suits your needs. Just follow the checkout procedure once you are ready to order.