Fiber, cable, DSL, satellite. Do you know the difference? How do you know which option is best for your household? Let’s break it down:

We will start with satellite. By far the slowest option, satellite works by beaming signals from satellites in space to an installed dish. Due to lagging performance and data caps, streaming, video conferencing, and gaming will likely be challenging with satellite. While satellite internet might not be ideal, it may be the only option for those living in rural areas.

A step above satellite is DSL. DSL internet carries data over a landline phone network, which is outdated and makes it relatively slow. Most forms of DSL reach speeds of less than 100 Mbps, with upload speeds being even slower. Also, DSL’s signal weakens the farther away you are from the main network.

If you’re a small household that only uses the internet for the basics, such as checking email, streaming video on one or two devices, and occasionally gaming, DSL may be good enough to get you by.

Next, there’s cable. Cable internet is faster, with typical download speeds ranging between 10 to 500 Mbps. Cable internet is run through the same coaxial wires that supply your cable TV and works well for casual web browsing, streaming on multiple devices, file uploads, video calls, and some online gaming.

The downside is that cable speeds are often throttled during peak usage times, upload speeds fall short of download speeds, and customers may be subject to seasonal price hikes.

We saved the best for last — fiber internet. Using light to transmit data over fiber-optic cabling, fiber internet is the fastest, most reliable, and most advanced option compared to other broadband types.

Fiber delivers unlimited data and speeds up to 1 Gbps for residential users, including symmetrical download and upload speeds. This makes it a great choice for everyone, especially high-bandwidth users, serious gamers, large households, content creators, or those who work from home.

Now, you can enjoy the gold standard, too! TWN and Heartland REMC are bringing high-speed fiber internet to your front door. Say goodbye to slow internet and hello to the best broadband available in your area!

If you haven’t already, visit twncomm.com/heartland or call 833-727-5563 to sign the Underground Agreement or to sign up today!

*Services provided by TWN Communications. Not available in all areas. Restrictions, terms and conditions apply. Taxes, regulatory, surcharges and other charges are applicable. A one-time line connection fee of $199.00 may be applicable for internet service. This non-refundable fee will be applied after network construction has been completed in your area. Call for details or visit twncomm.com terms-conditions for additional information and terms and conditions of services. Residential customers on qualifying internet plans will receive download/upload speeds of 25.0 Mbps to 1.0 Gbps, per respective plan. A 30-day notice is required to cancel service.