Are you tired of your current internet service provider because it is super slow? Or recently got the option to work from home and want to find a good internet provider? You are at the right place.
A good internet connection is among the essential requirements to work remotely. Without it, you will not be able to do your job.
And the key to finding that perfect internet is knowing which connection type is the best.
So in this guide, we will look at some of the most common internet connection types available and what they have to offer.
But before we do that, let’s have a quick look at the minimum internet speed requirements to work from home.
Minimum Speed Requirement for Working from Home
The internet speed requirement would vary based on the tasks you are going to perform. If your internet usage is bare, you do not need a faster speed. But if your tasks include sharing large files, regular video calls, and downloading files, you might need faster internet.
Following are the internet speed requirements based on the tasks you will be performing.
- Basic Browsing and Emails – 2-5 Mbps
- Video Conferencing – 10 Mbps or more
- Downloading and Transferring Large Files – 25 Mbps
Keep in mind that this does not consider factors such as various users or multiple devices connected simultaneously. If there are more users, you will have to think about getting a better internet speed.
Types of Connections for Remote Workers
When working remotely, the internet options will be the same as those typically available for home internet. These options include fiber, cable, DSL, and satellite.
Let’s look at these and see which one works best when working from home.
- Fiber Internet
Among all connection types, fiber internet is the fastest and most reliable internet connection so far. It offers symmetrical download and upload speed where the minimum speed starts from 100 Mbps and usually goes up to 1000 Mbps.
There is also the option of up to 2000 Mbps offered by Xfinity internet. But since that costs a lot, not everyone can afford it.
Moreover, fiber internet is affordable and generally offers unlimited data. That makes it an excellent choice for working from home and connecting multiple devices simultaneously.
The downside of fiber internet is that it is not widely available. There are only a few cities in selected states that have access to fiber. Companies like CenturyLink internet
- Cable
Cable internet is the second most-wanted connection type available in the US. The good news is that, unlike fiber internet, it is widely available. So, there are better chances that you will be able to find it in your area.
As for speed, customers can get a download speed of up to 1000 Mbps via a cable connection. However, the upload speed is not going to be that good. Generally, you will get an upload speed of about 10 Mbps with a download speed of up to 100 Mbps.
Most cable internet providers offer unlimited data, various plans, and opportunities to bundle the services with TV and the phone. So, that’s a plus for you, especially when you are looking for more than one service.
- DSL
If you cannot find fiber and cable internet in your area, the third option you should consider getting is DSL internet.
It uses phone lines to deliver internet services. That makes it possible for people in rural areas to get internet services through a wired connection.
As for speed, DSL internet is not exactly best known for it. However, it is not bad either. For instance, CenturyLink internet offers a download speed of up to 100 Mbps via its DSL connection.
The downside is that the speed depends upon the availability in your area while the price remains the same. So, if there is a faster speed option, you will be able to get that. Otherwise, you will have to go with the maximum download speed available while paying the same monthly price.
- Satellite
Satellite internet is the most widely available internet connection in the US. Whether you live in the suburbs or a remotely located farm, there are fair chances that satellite internet would be available there.
That is because it does not depend on a wired network for connectivity. Instead, it uses the satellite dish to send/ receive signals and keep users connected.
So, you can get internet services anywhere as long as the dish antenna can get connected to the satellite in space.
With a satellite internet connection, you can get a download speed of up to 100 Mbps (although that’s a rare sight to see). Generally, the download speed that is readily available everywhere is up to 25 Mbps.
That is still pretty good if you had no hopes of getting any internet services before.
However, the downside of that is the satellite internet is expensive and has soft data limits. In other words, if you go over a specific data limit, your internet would not stop working, but your service provider will reduce your speed automatically.
Best Internet Connection in Your Area for Working Remotely
Since you already know the best internet connection type, now it is time to find a good internet service provider in your area.
In doing so, it is better to get help from platforms such as LocalCableDeals. In there, you can get a list of all available internet providers, the type of connection that they use, and their plans by simply entering your zip code.