Bandwidth is like a pass that connects the internet to your computer. Increasing it allows more traffic to flow, increasing speed. Internet bandwidth testers are available online to test your connection speed. ISPs allocate bandwidth based on package price. DSL is affordable, cable offers higher bandwidth, and fiber-optic is the fastest but most expensive. ISPs often bundle TV and phone services. To find an affordable ISP, search online or visit local cable and telephone companies.
Internet bandwidth can be thought of as an electronic pass that connects the Internet to your computer. Increasing bandwidth (widening the lane) allows more traffic to flow, increasing speed. Having little or a lot of Internet bandwidth available makes the difference between watching a graphics-intensive web page load in phases over a period of several minutes or having it appear in your window in a flash. The higher the bandwidth of your connection, the faster it will load and the more time you will save.
Internet bandwidth testers are available online to test your connection speed. The hosting site will upload chunks of data logging the time it takes to complete the transfers. Speed is a measure of how much data can be transferred from the Internet to your computer per second. A graph will display the results, allowing you to see if your connection is working as expected. Close unnecessary background processes and programs before starting and run several bandwidth tests from different sites to establish a true average speed.
Unfortunately we can’t “unroll” bandwidth as we please. Internet Service Providers (ISPs) allocate as much bandwidth to your computer connections based on the price of the package you purchase. To get more speed, you need to upgrade to a package with higher bandwidth availability. In the case of dial-up, the slowest type of Internet service, the technology itself limits connection speeds to less than 56 kilobits per second (kbps). As a point of reference, one megabyte equals 8.192 kilobits, so transferring one megabyte of data over a dial-up connection can take nearly three minutes. This limitation ultimately pushes most customers towards faster technologies.
There are different types of high speed internet that you can get depending on your local availability. Options include Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) offered over conventional copper telephone wires, cable Internet through your neighborhood cable TV provider, and fiber optic services available over newer fiber optic cables that are replacing copper lines conventional in many regions. If you live in a rural area, dial-up or satellite internet may be your only choice.
DSL offers the most affordable Internet packages, many times faster than dial-up. DSL entry packages can start as low as $13 – $15 US dollars (USD) per month for speeds up to 768 kilobits per second (kbps). Such a connection typically delivers a Megabyte of data in 12-15 seconds, a vast improvement over three minutes of dial-up. DSL also offers much faster packages that rival cable.
Entry-level cable packages typically offer a higher amount of Internet bandwidth, perhaps up to 3000 kbps (advertised as three megabits per second), delivering a megabyte in about three seconds. Subscription prices vary, usually starting at $30 – $40 USD per month. The packages increase in speed and price from there, although many cable providers only offer a single package. The faster the package, the higher the price which tends to be within the normal range of the cable market.
Fiber-optic Internet services start at 10 or 20 mbps, with top-tier packages offering 50 mbps of Internet bandwidth. This is a transfer rate (speed) of approximately one Megabyte per second, two Megabytes per second and five Megabytes per second, respectively. The fastest internet packages currently offered cost an excess of $100 USD per month.
Cable and fiber optic services often bundle a TV and digital phone with Internet access for one monthly bill. Bundles are optional and can be customized to exclude an unsolicited service. For those who want DSL but don’t have landline service, some phone companies now offer “naked DSL” or DSL with no phone service for customers who use cell phones instead of landlines.
To find an ISP with affordable Internet bandwidth in your area, enter your city into a search engine with the type of service you want: DSL, cable, or fiber optic service. You can also visit the websites of local cable and telephone companies. Also, there are several websites dedicated to comparing, reviewing and listing ISPs by region and area code. Some of these sites allow customers to leave feedback about their opinions and experiences with DSL providers, cable companies, and fiber optic providers.
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