What’s Dial-up Internet Access?

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Dial-up Internet access is a type of connection that works over a standard telephone line. By dialing the phone line to a modem device in your computer and configuring it to dial a specific phone number, your computer can connect to the Internet. This type of connection is usually inexpensive, but slow, and may not be appropriate for users who use the Web for multimedia and other high-bandwidth applications.

How does it work

This type of Internet access is offered through many Internet Service Providers (ISPs). Most ISPs lease a series of phone numbers, sometimes local, sometimes national, that allow a computer to send information down the network pipelines that feed the Internet. ISP subscribers typically pay a monthly or yearly fee for online access at any time of the day or night.

Before a person can subscribe to a dial-up service, they must have a computer and the correct type of modem. A modem is a device that converts digital data into signals that can be sent over the telephone line; some models plug into a free slot inside the computer, while others are external and connect to the machine with a cable. A telephone line is connected to the modem to connect it to the telephone system.

The modem is controlled by software in the computer that allows the user to set up a profile for the ISP, which will tell the modem what phone number to dial and how to communicate with the service. Once the modem dials the phone number and makes a connection, a “handshake” occurs in which information is exchanged between the computer’s modem and the remote server. The subscriber chooses a username and password or has one assigned by the ISP, and this information is transmitted by the modem to allow the user to connect to the service.

Advantages
Dial-up service is usually the least expensive type of Internet access and may even be free in some places, though often with added advertising. It’s also available to anyone with a phone line, so there’s no need to add a separate connection to a home. Most computers already have modems installed, so there is often no need to purchase additional hardware to start the service.
Disadvantages
The biggest problem with dial-up internet is that it’s slow. Due to limited bandwidth, which is the modem’s ability to send and receive data, downloading large files can take a long time. Most dial-up services don’t work faster than 56 kilobits per second (kbps); downloading a several megabyte (MB) file would likely take several hours, making it too slow to stream video or music. Saving copies (called “caching”) of frequently visited pages and other software tricks can speed up the experience in some cases, but most people who want to access a lot of multimedia content will probably find the speed unsatisfactory.
Dial-up Internet is also dependent on the regular phone line, which means a home has to pay for regular phone service to connect. The phone cannot be used for any other purpose, such as voice calls, while the computer uses the line in most cases, and any drop in the line will usually break the connection. In most cases, the user must connect to the service every time he wants to go online, which means that the connection is not always active; it is also likely to disconnect if the connection is not used for some time. Also, only one computer can use the phone line at a time.
Alternative options
Some of the most common and fastest Internet options include cable and DSL (Digital Subscriber Line or Dedicated Service Line), although these alternatives may not be available in all areas. Like dial-up, DSL uses a regular telephone line, but transmits data on a digital frequency rather than the standard analog one, so that the telephone and the Internet can be used at the same time. Cable Internet service uses the same lines that bring cable television into your home. Both provide 24-hour Internet connection, allowing subscribers to leave their computer connected to the Internet at all times. These services can be much faster than dial-up, but they can also be more expensive.
In some places, Internet users may have other options for connecting, including satellite, fixed wireless network, Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN), leased lines, and fiber optics such as fiber optics (FTTP). These technologies are all broadband, which means they can transfer data at at least 1.5 megabits per second (Mbps). Unlike dial-up connections, broadband connections are usually much better for downloading media content.
Internet options and speeds

Data transfer speed

Remote access
and 56 at 64 kbps

ISDN basic tariff interface
Up to 128 kbps on dual channel

Satellite
6 Mbps from above

DSL
Up to 8 Mbps for normal DSL, but 250 Mbps for the most advanced standard (VDSL2). The speed is lower the farther the user is from the network hub.

Cable
Up to 20 Mbps, but usually less

Fixed wireless broadband
30 Mbps or higher, but a clear line of sight between the access point and the end user is required

Leased lines: T1 and T3
1.5 Mbps e 45 Mbps

FTTP
Up to 100Mbps

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