Internet speed test
The Internet is based on a combination of TCP / IP protocols and, in fact, consists of millions of servers and computers connected by a cable and wireless network.
The Internet does not have a single home base and control center, its segments are distributed all over the world, mainly in developed, civilized countries. According to the latest data, in 2023 more than 5.16 billion people use the Internet, which is more than 50% of the world's population.
Internet connection types
All existing options for connecting to the Internet can be divided into two groups: wired and wireless connections. So, the former include telephone wires, twisted pairs, coaxial cables and fiber optic cables, and the latter include radio communications, Wi-Fi, satellite and mobile Internet.
Wired connections
The highest data transfer rate is provided by wired connections, when servers/computers are directly connected to each other: without the use of radio frequencies, one way or another used in all types of wireless communications. Wired connection methods include:
- Dial-up, or dial-up access. It is carried out through telephone lines, with a data transfer rate of no more than 60 kilobits per second. At the moment it is obsolete, but is still used in remote settlements where there is no possibility to conduct a full-fledged high-speed Internet.
- Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL). An enhanced version of dial-up that is a bridge between dial-up and FTTB technology. For its operation, you need a telephone cable, a modem and a splitter. The speed of receiving data via ADSL reaches 24 megabits per second, but the sending speed is much lower, which can be attributed to the main disadvantages of this technology.
- DOCSIS. Transmits and receives data over a TV/coax cable. At the moment, it is also practically not used, with the exception of remote villages and urban outskirts. The speed of such an Internet reaches 42 megabits per second and decreases noticeably while watching digital TV. DOCSIS requires access to a TV cable and a special modem.
- FTTB. Today, the most common type of connection is via fiber optic cable. Internet speed reaches 1 gigabit per second, with the possibility of additional connection of telephony services and digital TV.
- GPON. The fastest, but so far - a little common type of connection via fiber optic cable. For its operation, you need a special ONT modem and cable laying directly to the user's apartment / house (without a switch). The GPON speed reaches 2.5 gigabits per second, and the ping is almost zero.
Wireless Connections
As for the wireless connections available to users, we will refer to them:
- Wi-Fi. Operates up to 300 meters away, with the ability to connect laptops, smartphones, tablets and peripherals (such as printers) equipped with Wi-Fi modules.
- Mobile Internet. It is provided through cell towers and requires an advance payment for a service package. It works many times slower than Wi-Fi, but with almost 100% coverage in large settlements and beyond (wherever there are 3G, 4G and 5G towers).
- Satellite Internet. Can work in the field, where there are no Wi-Fi translators and cell towers. But it requires expensive equipment and has the highest ping - up to 250 milliseconds.
There is also an Internet radio that works up to 50 kilometers from the signal source provided by the ISP. The data is transmitted by radio and picked up by an antenna placed on a hill or on the roof of a building. This is a rather expensive connection option, which is used only as a last resort.
What internet speed do you really need
The rule “the more the better” does not quite work here, because for every extra 50-100 megabits per second you have to pay a lot, sometimes many times over.
Therefore, it is important to find a middle ground that is right for you. For example:
- 2 Mbps is enough to watch 480p SD video.
- 5 Mbps is enough to watch 720p HD video.
- 10 Mbps is enough to watch Full-HD video at 1080p.
- 30 Mbps is enough to watch Ultra-HD video at 2160p.
Given that most providers offer a home Internet speed of 50 megabits per second, this is quite enough for the needs of several people (family), and more than enough for one person. Higher speeds are needed only for specialists working with large data arrays or broadcasting streaming video in 4K format.
