Internet Speed & Internet Options in the Piedmont Triad of North Carolina

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An Internet Service Provider (ISP) is a company that provides Internet access to companies, families, and even mobile users. ISPs use fiber-optics, satellite, copper wire, and other forms to provide Internet access to its customers.

The type of Internet access varies depending on what the customer requires. For home use, cable or DSL (digital subscriber line) is the perfect, affordable choice. The price of home use can range anywhere from $20 to roughly $120 a month. The amount of bandwidth is usually what drives the price. Bandwidth is the amount of data that can be sent through an internet connection in a given amount of time. The speed for home use usually varies from 14 kilobits per second to 100 megabits per second. For large companies and organizations, their bandwidth requirements may be 1 to 10 gigabits per second.

INTERNET OPTIONS AVAILABLE

IN STOKES, FORYSTH & SURRY COUNTIES

INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDERS

There are multiple ISPs in the Piedmont Triad to choose from. Many of which offer bundled services for Telephone and Television Packages. Below are direct links to these companies websites for you to review current offers and services.

Bringing Your Tech to Life does not endorse or claim to be a sponsor or partner of any of the above mentioned companies.

FIBER

Fiber internet is the fastest widely available internet technology. It uses fiber-optic cables, which are capable of transmitting large amounts of information quickly. While fiber is fast, it isn’t available in as many areas as other types of internet. Much of the limitation in its availability stems from the high cost of creating its network infrastructure.

CABLE

Cable internet uses the same types of cables that transmit cable TV services. It has broadband capability and thus can reach high speeds. It is usually available through current or former cable TV providers in their respective areas. Cable internet speeds are usually similar to DSL speeds, but can be even faster in some areas.

DSL

DSL, short for Digital Subscriber Line, uses a connection that looks similar to a phone line, but the wiring inside is different and allows for broadband transmission. This makes DSL much faster than dial-up. Current or former telephone companies that also provide internet service often use this technology, and it is usually available throughout their service areas.

SATELLITE

Satellite internet is delivered wirelessly to the receiver, but it still requires wires to transport the signal from the receiver to different locations throughout the building. Because it’s wireless, it’s available almost anywhere in the United States. Satellite internet has bandwidth comparable to DSL and cable but can often feel slower due to latency.

CELLULAR

LTE (Long-Term Evolution) is a high-speed wireless communication technology used for cell phones and mobile data devices such as tablets. LTE is designed to allow up to 300 Mbps download and up to 75 Mbps upload with latency as low a 5ms. LTE works on multiple frequency bands often varying by country. Common

WISP

A wireless Internet service provider (WISP) is an Internet service provider that allows subscribers to connect to a server at designated hot spots (access points) using a wireless connection such as Wi-Fi. This type of ISP offers broadband service and allows subscriber computers, called stations, to access the Internet and the Web from anywhere within the zone of coverage provided by the server antenna. This is usually a region with a radius of several kilometers.

DIAL UP

Dial-up is the slowest connection technology because it can’t support broadband and thus has limited bandwidth. Because of its technological limitations, it is almost obsolete.