Choosing the right Internet provider can be a daunting task. If you live in a large city, there are countless providers to choose from, and they all offer different plans and features. Rural areas are more limited to their options, so they need to plan more carefully before entering into a contract. In this guide, you will learn about some of the most popular types of Internet services and the pros and cons associated with each type.

Dial-Up

In the past, dial-up services were the only option available to most people. Nowadays, it is difficult to find companies who offer the services since so many other options have become available. Dial-up is very slow compared to every other type of Internet, so it is only used if there are no other options. Very rural areas may use it due to limited options. The benefit of dial-up is that it is cheap compared to other services. You can get it in a pre-paid plan or on a monthly contract.

DSL

DSL stands for Digital Subscriber Line, and it is one of the most popular choices. The speeds for DSL vary greatly depending on which company you are using. Most telephone companies provide DSL services through their company. The service uses a phone jack to connect to the Internet. DSL is fairly cheap when compared to other types of service. The plans are based on certain speeds, usually a certain megabyte per second. Most rural areas will only offer DSL services, so it is widely used in those places.

Cable

Cable providers not only provide television service, but they also offer Internet to their subscribers. Cable services are typically very fast when compared to the previous options mentioned. The only issue is that they do not serve a lot of rural areas. If you want cable Internet, you would have to pay the company to run the lines to your property. This can get very expensive. People in town will benefit from the fast speeds and relatively low prices. Cable Internet also seems more stable when compared to other types.

Satellite

Satellite isn't just for television anymore. It's now a great way for you to get Internet service just about anywhere in the world. It makes a great option for people who have no other service providers in their area. The downside is that it is often very expensive and most of the plans are based on a certain amount of data that you can use each month. Some services have started to put out unlimited plans to help people beat the data issue. The other disadvantage is that the majority of satellite providers want you to enter into a contract for two to three years.

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