by Samuel

Created on: October 11, 2008   Last Updated: October 12, 2008

All through the years, like an evolution, Internet connections have advanced into different types to keep up with the "rapid" development of the Internet, demanding connectivity of greater speed and reliability.

The advent of web animations, videos, digital software packages, etc. has necessitated the need for more flexible and faster Internet access.

Here is an evaluation of some of the main types of Internet connections.

DIAL-UP ACCESS

Dial-up or analog Internet access was the first to hit the scene. In the early 1990s, the highest speed for a dial-up Internet access was 56Kbps, and though very slow, users didn't feel hindered because there was nothing like web videos or heavy animations to demand higher speed.

Over the years dial-up connection has evolved a bit. Its speed can go up to 921.6Kps or even higher, all depending on the modem. The modem (modulator-demodulator) is the system device that modulates the signals to something digitally compatible for the system to display on the web page. The user has to dial up with his telephone connected to the computer with the aid of the modem.

A small percentage of Internet users use dial-up connection today.

A connection like DSL falls under Dial-up Internet Access because it still makes use of a telephone line, except that you don't have to keep dialing because it is "always on" for a long time.

ISDN

ISDN (Integrated Service Digital Network) came to the scene when dial-up access couldn't meet up with the speed challenges of constantly developing Internet. It also uses a telephone line, but this time the speed is up to 64 Kps and higher.

A small percentage of Internet users use dial-up connection today.

BROADBAND

Before ISDN could be fully celebrated, Broadband Internet connectivity was launched into the market. The average speed rate for ISDN would be 1.5 mbps, but broadband connectivity goes far beyond that. Recent broadband connectivity claim a speed rate of 10mbps and higher.

Broadband can be wired or wireless.

A good percentage of Internet users are on broadband connectivity.

SATELLITE

Satellite Internet Access is an access involving a direct connection to a satellite in space. The process of connecting to the satellite and the data transmission time can make this connection slow in most cases. However, this kind of connection is suitable for global data transfer between companies. Some ISPs (Internet Service Providers) are subsidiaries or subscribers of Satellite Internet Connection.

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