Fiber Optic Service (FiOS) is a technology still in its infancy, but quickly becoming a common internet connection. Information between you and the internet is carried on electromagnetic carrier waves formed by light. With speeds of up to 30 megabits (30 million bits) fiber-optic connections are by far the fastest available. Cable uses a digital network and coaxial cable, making the distance between the provider and the user irrelevant. However, the connection is shared and the more people using the network, the slower your internet speed.

DSL is a dedicated line, which eliminates speed fluctuation, but you’re still relying on a phone cord—the same tools of dial-up. There will be a cap on how fast your speed can go. The difference between DSL and dial-up is the dedicated digital connection, which plugs in directly to the central office of your provider. Satellite uses radio signals to transmit data, which is slowest and can be affected by weather conditions, but is still faster than dial-up.

Tagged as: cable, dsl, FiOS