When it comes to choosing an internet solution, there are a lot of options to choose from. But which solution is the best for you? Every type of internet solution has pros and cons, and this can be overwhelming. Faircom is here to help you find the best solution for your needs: Fibre, Wireless Fibre, Fixed LTE or ADSL.
There’s Fibre, Wireless Fibre, LTE and ADSL, but first, what’s WiFi?
WiFi is a wireless networking technology that enables your smart devices to connect to the internet. Your internet signal is transmitted from your router throughout your home or business, connecting to your smart devices without the use of physical cables. All internet solution types support the use of a router, which creates the WiFi network within your home or business. If you’re struggling with your WiFi connectivity, we’ve put together a guide on the 5 common connection issues and how to fix them.
What is Fibre?
A Fibre internet connection uses Fibre-optic cabling, which sends information at lightning-fast speeds using light pulses. This form of data transmission is much more efficient than traditional methods using electricity or copper wires (ADSL). The result is that your information is moving at the speed of light and is only restricted by the devices you’re using. Below are a few advantages and disadvantages of fibre;
Advantages:
- Fibre offers the fastest line speeds (up to 1000 Mbps on specific packages)
- Fibre-optic cables are more durable over time than copper wires (ADSL)
- Fibre is a stable internet solution and can handle more users and data at consistent speeds.
Disadvantages:
- Not all areas have Fibre as the infrastructure is costly to install.
You can see if your area has fibre coverage here.
What is Wireless Fibre?
Wireless Fibre uses wireless technology to transmit data instead of a physical cable. This technology provides high-speed internet access to homes and businesses in areas where fibre optic cabling is not yet available.
Faircom’s Wireless Fibre makes use of our incredibly powerful Internect Fibre connection, which transmits a high-speed fibre signal from one of our strategic high-sites to an antenna that is placed on your building. This antenna then transmits the Fibre signal to the router placed inside your home. You’ll have all the benefits of Fibre with none of the fuss! We’ve listed some of the advantages and disadvantages of Wireless Fibre for you:
Advantages:
- All the benefits of Fibre connectivity without the cables
- Wireless Fibre coverage capability in areas with no Fibre cabling infrastructure
Disadvantages:
- High upfront equipment and installation costs
What is Fixed LTE?
Fixed LTE is a wireless internet solution which uses radio waves to transmit data between a router and a cell tower.
A relatively new technology, Fixed LTE, provides high-speed internet access in areas where other types of internet solutions are not available. Fixed LTE is also an alternative to traditional broadband for people who want a fast connection without having to pay for a fixed line. Below are the advantages and disadvantages of Fixed LTE:
Advantages:
- Fixed LTE is available in areas where traditional broadband connections like Fibre optic and ADSL cabling are not available – perfect for rural and remote areas.
- Fixed LTE routers are portable, which means you can take them with you when you travel – excellent for staying connected while on the go.
Disadvantages:
- Fixed LTE signals are transmitted by cell towers, which are vulnerable to outages during load-shedding (depending on the ISP) because their battery backups are targets of theft.
More often than not, your signal quality will decrease or completely drop during load-shedding.
What is ADSL?
ADSL, or Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line, is a type of Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) technology. It uses telephone lines to transmit data, which makes it a relatively slow and unreliable type of Internet solution compared to Fibre-optic or Wireless Fibre.
We’ve highlighted some of the advantages and disadvantages of this kind of internet solution below:
Advantages:
- A viable solution in areas (rural) with limited access to advanced internet solutions.
Disadvantages:
- Slower speeds than Fibre-optic, Wireless Fibre, or Fixed LTE connections
- Reliance on telephone lines which are prone to outages and interruptions
- Limited bandwidth means you may experience slower speeds during peak hours when many people are using the Internet at the same time.
- ADSL is on its way out
When choosing an internet solution, consider your needs and location. If you want the fastest and most reliable connection, Fibre is your best bet!
However, if Fibre is not available in your area, Wireless Fibre or Fixed LTE is a good alternative. If you are in a rural area, ADSL may be your only option.
