The best broadband service depends on personal priorities. For speed, fiber optic broadband is the fastest but expensive. Cable TV is a good choice for speed and DSL is affordable. Customer service can vary, so research providers and read reviews. Consider other factors like news feeds, email addresses, and modem options.
The best broadband service is defined by those factors that are most important to you. If money is no object, the best plan may be the fastest plan. If money is the primary concern, the best broadband may be the least expensive service. If convenience defines the best, it’s probably easier to call your cable TV company; or perhaps customer service is your number one concern, making your choice of Internet Service Provider (ISP) the most important factor in choosing the best broadband provider. Chances are it will be a combination of these factors taken in varying degrees that will define the best broadband for you, so let’s take them one at a time.
Fastest: If you need speed and your wallet is willing to look the other way, look out for fiber optic broadband. While only available in certain areas, fiber-optic cable is replacing copper phone lines and can take a quantum leap when it comes to bandwidth. This cable can provide television, digital telephone and the Internet with plenty of free space. As of February 2009, one provider offers speeds of up to 50 megabits per second (Mbps) for about $140 US dollars (USD) per month. If your wallet has just looked back, consider the lower tier 10Mbps plans for around $45 USD per month.
Cable TV would be the best broadband choice, if speed is your requirement. Cable can handle transfer speeds of up to 30 Mbps, although most cable plans place bandwidth caps to accommodate more customers at speeds as low as 3-20 Mbps. Even a high local load (many local residents browsing simultaneously) can slow down the service if the allocated bandwidth is low.
A top-tier DSL plan can whistle at speeds of up to 6Mbps, but be sure to ask if you live near your local DSL router or digital subscriber’s line access multiplexer (DSLAM). The closer your physical address is to the DSLAM, the closer your speed will be to the plan’s upper limit.
In Japan, South Korea, and other areas, second-generation very high-bitrate digital subscriber line (VDSL2) puts fiber to shame at speeds up to 100 Mbps over copper lines. Unfortunately you will be hard pressed to find VDSL2 in the US.
Cheaper: DSL plans have introductory speeds at affordable prices, making this the best choice for broadband when budget is the primary concern. DSL providers offer plans with speeds up to 768 kilobits per second (kbps) for around $14 USD per month in most areas. Dial-up runs at less than 54kbps making even the slowest DSL plan many times faster for your cruising pleasure.
Easier: If you don’t have time to buy a provider and just want Internet access for as little time investment as possible, contact your local cable TV provider. They will provide Internet access through your cable lines either directly or by signing up with a third party that provides them with broadband services.
Many people consider cable Internet to be the best broadband choice because it is faster than DSL, although there is some cross-over in terms of speeds and plans. Cable can theoretically accommodate up to 30 Mbps, but is usually limited by your provider to speeds between 3-20 Mbps. Wired internet costs around $45 USD per month or more.
Better Customer Service: It may be that you are new to broadband and want the convenience of knowing you can be guided through the process if needed without the headache of long phone tones and automated menus that get you nowhere starts slowly. In many cases a local or smaller DSL company will provide superior customer service to large national conglomerates, telecommunications companies or cable companies.
Search for a list of DSL providers in your area, then contact a potential provider by calling the customer service number listed on the ISP’s website. You shouldn’t have to navigate more than one menu to reach an actual person, and the wait should be reasonable given the time of day. Ask the company’s customer service rep, then follow up with a little research online to see how they’re rated by current customers.
Websites like DSL Reports have a wealth of information about ISPs and rate providers based on feedback. Note, however, that people who are satisfied with a company rarely leave feedback compared to disgruntled customers who tend to be more motivated in comparison. No company can please everyone, but you should get an idea, along with your phone calls, of which company might be the best broadband provider for you.
Regardless of your priorities, if you use USENET newsgroups, make sure the provider offers a news feed or you’ll be forced to get a third-party service. The number of email addresses offered may also matter if you’ll be sharing the plan with family members. Providing your own modem can also save you a small monthly fee, assuming you’re comfortable setting up your DSL or cable modem to connect to the service.
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