Internet connectivity has become a vital resource for our everyday lives, from online banking to connecting with loved ones, even more so after the 2020 Covid-19 lockdown. Knowing what different types of internet solutions exist and are available in your area will help you make the best choice, both financially and strategically.
We will look at the four main types of internet connectivity; Fibre, LTE. Wireless and ADSL, focusing on how they work and pointing out the top pros and cons of each.
Fibre
Fibre internet connectivity uses fibre-optic cables which are installed underground to avoid disturbance from elements, such as bad weather. Light signals are emitted and received through these cables, creating a binary code where light equals 1 and no light equals 0.This means that Fibre connectivity can literally send data as fast as the speed of light and achieve internet speeds of over 1000Mbps. Fibre is by far the best connectivity solution available. However, Fibre installations can be costly and, while constantly being installed across South Africa, there are still many companies that will need to rely on alternative internet solutions until Fibre becomes available in their area.
Fibre is generally uncapped so you don’t need to worry about how much data you require, but can rather focus on the line speed that you choose which will generally be a fixed speed, such as 100Mbps. Most Fibre to the Business (FttB) connections are dedicated (their infrastructure is not contended or shared) so you should get the speed you pay for most of the time. Some Fibre to the Home (FttB) connections are contended so your speeds may be slower at some times of the day, especially as the network grows and takes on new customers. The contention is usually managed, though, and should not impact your user experience too much.
LTE
While not as stable as Fibre, LTE (Long-Term Evolution) is the next best choice. 4G LTE can reach up to 100Mbps, but 5G, which recently became available in South Africa, is able to reach exceptional speeds of up to 4000Mbps!
The main benefit is that LTE internet access is easy to obtain from one location to the next without the need for additional installations or cables. It uses wireless connectivity to access data transmissions from local towers or “cell sites”, similar to listening to a radio station in your car. Most mobile devices and mobile service providers make use of LTE connectivity. The downside of LTE is that you cannot choose a specific line speed, as it is subject to contention (numerous users making use of the same tower or access point), meaning that you get the speed available at the time of connection and may potentially experience congestion (slow speed) at peak times. Currently most LTE packages in South Africa are capped, so you need to make sure you choose the correct package for your needs to avoid potentially high costs for topping up if you run out of data. LTE is definitely the way to go if you are on the move often, or if you are renting your office or home and cannot lay Fibre cables.
Fixed Wireless
Fixed Wireless internet is an incredibly versatile technology that beams the internet from a provider’s tower directly through the air into your home or business. Your home or business will need direct Line of Sight to the tower. The internet is transmitted over radio waves and connects to your network through a small radio antenna that we attach to your roof or the outside of your building. One of the advantages of wireless internet is its reach. Not only does it work well in cities, but it also allows you to connect outlying suburbs, farms and businesses to fast, affordable internet without needing to trench kilometers of road or paving at great expense to bring Fibre to the area. With Fixed Wireless connections there are numerous speed and managed contention options available to suit clients’ budgets as well as their needs.
ADSL
Considered the slowest and more archaic of the four, ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) is still a popular connectivity option because it is available in more areas and is more affordable than Fibre, however, Telkom is trying to convert their network slowly from Copper to Fibre and many of their ADSL subscribers have been informed that their copper-based services will no longer be supported or replaced if they are faulty or get stolen. ADSL uses existing copper telephone cables to send and receive data. As telephone cables are pretty much everywhere, lots of subscribers are still connected to ADSL lines, but they will probably need to move over to a newer technology quite soon since the existing telephone lines are quite old which can lead to more technical troubles. ADSL connections are also heavily contended or shared in an area, meaning that reduced speeds are inevitable once more users are online. We recommend moving to LTE, Fibre or Wireless as soon as you can!
If you are still uncertain of which option is best for your business, please contact us today. No matter what the size of your business or your need or budget, contact us and our team will find the solution for you based on your location and requirement.
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