Chapter 4: Types of Alternative Broadband Providers

The world of broadband doesn't stop with DSL and cable, as much as the phone companies and cable providers would like you to believe that. You have other options.

To be honest, most casual Internet users rely on DSL or cable and make one of those mainstream choices their service provider if possible. But both technologies have service limitations, including distance and the cost of building a cable and service network to support outlying broadband clients.

Some folks just live too far from large communities to get mainstream broadband service. Some folks like to do things differently from everyone else. Some folks want an alternative broadband connection so if their cable goes out for a few days they can keep working.

Building the network necessary to reach every home with cable or DSL costs more money than providers can recoup. Satellite and wireless technologies do not need to run wires of any kind to each customer.

Niche broadband service providers, which includes satellite even though it's the most successful, remain vulnerable to market forces. Plainly, great ideas appear from companies with little money and then those companies disappear. On the other hand, most new innovations appeared in some little company first and took off and created a market. Just realize that DSL and cable broadband providers corner the majority of this market, making all others fight for customer at the fringes of the market.

That said, there are a thousand reasons to use an alternative broadband service providers. And while there aren't thousands of alternative options, there may be more out there than you think.

Satellite Broadband

  How it works

    One-way systems

    Two-way systems

    Latency

  Service providers

    Availability

    Distance and speed

    Reliability

    Security

    Costs

Community Wireless

  How it works

    Line of Sight wireless networks

    Non Line of Sight wireless networks

  Service providers

    Availability

    Distance and speed

    Reliability

    Security

    Costs

  Wi-Fi Hotspots - Public 802.11b

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Chapter 5

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