Fiber, cable, DSL, and wireless explained
Fiber to the home
Fiber carries data as light and usually connects to an optical network unit (ONU or ONT) at your premises. It can support high capacity and low latency, but the package and local network determine your actual speed. Some services share upstream capacity with neighbours. Ask about upload speed and performance during busy hours rather than judging by the fiber label alone.
Cable and Ethernet
Cable broadband uses coaxial infrastructure for part of the route. A provider may instead deliver an Ethernet cable from equipment shared within a building. Both can provide a useful service. Ask how the building connection is powered and maintained, and whether the offered speed applies to international traffic.
DSL over a telephone line
DSL sends data over copper phone lines. Performance depends on line quality and distance from the provider equipment, and upload capacity may be much lower than download. If DSL is your available option, ask for the expected speed at your address and how faults on the line are handled.
Fixed wireless and mobile internet
A wireless service can be practical where a cable is unavailable. Signal strength, radio congestion, weather for some links, and indoor placement can affect performance. Test at the intended location and during busy hours. Check data limits, fair-use restrictions, and whether the connection can be shared through a router.
Choose the service, not only the technology
A well-run local network can outperform a poorly supported service with a more impressive label. Confirm installation costs, recurring charges, a support number, and equipment ownership. For remote work, consider a backup connection using a different access network and keep your router and ONU powered.
If you need inbound remote access, ask about carrier-grade NAT, public IP options, and IPv6. Do not expose your router administration page to the internet merely to enable remote access.