Types of internet connection compared

The main types of home internet are fiber, cable, DSL, fixed wireless (including 5G and LTE home internet) and satellite. If you can get fiber, it's usually the best choice: fast in both directions with the lowest latency. Cable is the common runner-up, with fast downloads but slower uploads. Fixed wireless and low-orbit satellite fill gaps where wires don't reach, and DSL is the slowest wired option.

How they compare

These are examples from providers' own published figures, not guarantees. Speeds vary a lot by plan and location.

Type	Example download	Example upload	Example latency	Source
Fiber	750–940 Mbps (1 Gig plan)	750–880 Mbps	about 4 ms	Verizon Fios
Cable	plans from 50 Mbps to 10 Gbps	plans from 10 Mbps to 2 Gbps	about 15 ms	Comcast Xfinity
DSL	about 6 Mbps on a 3–7 Mbps plan	under 1 Mbps	about 37 ms	Verizon High Speed Internet
5G home	170–498 Mbps	12–55 Mbps	not published	T-Mobile
5G home	85–300 Mbps (300 Mbps plan)	10–20 Mbps	35–55 ms	Verizon
Low-orbit satellite	25–220 Mbps	5–20 Mbps	25–60 ms	Starlink

Sources: Verizon's network performance page (Fios, DSL and 5G Home), Comcast's network management disclosure and Xfinity's gaming speed guide for latency, T-Mobile's Home Internet FAQ and Starlink's specifications.

Fiber

Fiber, or FTTP (fiber to the premises), carries the signal as light all the way to your home. Distance barely affects speed, uploads can match downloads, and latency is the lowest of any home connection. Verizon's Fios plans, for example, run from 50/50 Mbps up to 5 Gig.

Best for: almost everyone, and especially homes that upload a lot: video calls, cloud backups, streaming yourself, working with large files.

Watch out for: some "fiber" ads describe fiber to a street cabinet with copper the rest of the way (FTTC). That performs like DSL, not like full fiber.

Cable

Cable internet runs over the same coaxial lines as cable TV, with fiber deeper in the network. It's widely available and fast for downloads. Upload is typically far lower than download. Comcast's plans range from 10 Mbps to 2 Gbps upload against 50 Mbps to 10 Gbps download. Cable is shared among many homes in a neighborhood, so evening speeds can dip.

Best for: homes that mostly stream, game and browse, where fiber isn't available.

Watch out for: low upload on cheaper plans, and latency spikes when the upload is busy. See fiber vs cable for a closer comparison.

DSL

DSL uses telephone copper lines. Speed drops the farther you are from the exchange or street cabinet. Verizon's published DSL figures, taken from an older FCC measurement study, show a 3.1–7 Mbps plan measuring about 5.7 Mbps down and 0.8 Mbps up. Upgraded DSL (VDSL or FTTC) is faster, but it's still limited by the copper distance.

Best for: light use where nothing else is available.

Watch out for: DSL at these speeds falls well below the FCC's 100/20 Mbps benchmark. See what counts as broadband.

Fixed wireless and 5G home internet

Fixed wireless sends internet over the air from a tower to an antenna or gateway at your home. There are two main kinds:

• 5G and LTE home internet from mobile carriers. You plug in a gateway with a SIM. It's easy to set up, and speeds depend heavily on signal and how busy the local cell is. T-Mobile's FAQ, for example, says home internet customers may see lower speeds than other T-Mobile customers during congestion.
• Local wireless providers (WISPs), often in rural areas, using a roof-mounted antenna aimed at a nearby tower. Performance depends on the provider and line of sight.

Best for: areas without fiber or cable, renters, and anyone who wants a no-install option.

Watch out for: evening slowdowns and variable speed. Indoor gateway placement matters. Near a window facing the tower is often best. The same signal factors that slow phones apply, as covered in why mobile data is slow.

Satellite

There are two very different kinds.

Low-orbit satellite (such as Starlink) uses thousands of satellites close to Earth. Starlink publishes typical speeds of 25–220 Mbps down, 5–20 Mbps up and 25–60 ms latency on land, which is good enough for streaming, calls and most gaming.

Geostationary satellite uses a few satellites about 35,786 km above the equator. Physics sets a floor on latency. A request travels up and down, and the reply does the same: 4 × 35,786 km ÷ 300,000 km/s ≈ 0.48 seconds, so at least about 480 ms before any processing. That's fine for browsing and streaming, and frustrating for gaming and video calls.

Best for: rural homes beyond the reach of wired and fixed wireless networks.

Watch out for: equipment cost, data limits on some plans, and weather or obstructions affecting the dish.

What type of internet do I have?

Check your bill or your provider's website first. If you're not sure, the box your router plugs into gives a strong hint:

• A coaxial cable with a screw-on connector into a modem: cable.
• A phone cord into the modem or router: DSL or FTTC.
• A fiber terminal (ONT), a small box fed by a thin cable, often with a green or blue connector: fiber.
• A gateway with a SIM card and no cable from outside: 5G or LTE home internet.
• A dish or antenna on the roof or outside wall: satellite or fixed wireless.

Which type is best?

Rank your options by the three numbers that matter: download, upload and latency. As a rule of thumb, if fiber is available, choose it. If not, cable is usually next, then 5G home or low-orbit satellite depending on local coverage, with DSL and geostationary satellite as last resorts.

Then choose the plan size. Our guide to what speed you actually need works through household sizes. Once you've switched, run a speed test wired to the router to check you're getting what you pay for.