About Knowledge Base Guides Everything You Need to Know About Broadband Internet: A Glossary

Everything You Need to Know About Broadband Internet: A Glossary

The internet has come a long way since ARPANET and sub-1 Mbps dial-up internet. As broadband internet has evolved and become a mainstay for getting online, it's changed dramatically, including cutting cords, utilizing space, and even using light signals to deliver super fast speeds. There is a lot you should know about, especially when you're figuring out what kind of broadband you need, so Ookla® put together a broadband glossary of all the terms you need to know to understand your internet service. Read on to learn some of the basics of broadband internet, learn about fixed and wireless broadband, and a few other terms you'll encounter around the internet.

What exactly is broadband internet? And a few other terms you'll need to know

  • Broadband internet

    Broadband internet can be many things, but most ubiquitously, it's internet that is faster than a dial-up connection over a phone line, which tapped out at a maximum analog speed of about 56 Kbps (or about .056 Mbps).

    Broadband internet technologies can include DSL (though increasingly obsolete), cable over coaxial (television) lines, cable over copper, fiber, satellite, wireless, and more. Some regulators have minimum speed requirements to be categorized as broadband.

    Historically speaking, broadband first appeared as ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line), which was first approved in 1998, and offered a then-super fast speed of 8 Mbps download and 1 Mbps upload. These days, fiber-optic broadband is commercially available in some markets that offer 10 Gbps (10,000 Mbps) for symmetrical download and upload speeds. Even wireless 5G can achieve download speeds of over 1 Gbps these days. Still, the global median download speed was 81.60 Mbps for fixed broadband and 42.92 Mbps during June 2023 according to the Speedtest Global Index™, so it's safe to say most people aren't yet seeing or paying for those kinds of speeds.

  • Data limit

    Data limits often refer to the maximum download and upload data transfer of your monthly internet plan. They're an important factor to consider when you're looking at a mobile or fixed broadband plan, as you can be severely limited (or not!) in how much data you can use each month. If you need to download a lot of large data files, stream high-quality video, do online gaming, or video conference at home, you'll want to pay special attention to the limit of your data plan, as you often pay a premium or have your internet speeds throttled if you ever go over your limit.

  • Download speed

    Download speed is how quickly you can get data from a server on the internet to your computer, mobile phone, or internet-enabled device. Most connections are designed to download much faster than they upload, which is an asymmetric connection. This is because the majority of online activity, like loading web pages or streaming videos, consists of downloads. Download speed is measured in megabits per second (Mbps).

  • Gbps (Gigabits per second)

    Gbps refers to gigabits per second, which measures the rate of how fast your internet bandwidth transfers data. A gigabit is 1 billion bits (a bit being the smallest unit of data, which is represented with a 0 or 1) of information and 1 Gbps is the equivalent to 1,000 Mbps. While you can get a 1 Gbps connection over cable internet, 1 Gbps speeds are typically found on fiber and 5G connections.

  • IP address (internet protocol address)

    An IP address is the unique address that every connected device on the internet has. This is important because it helps data to be requested from a source, as well as a destination for that data to return to. Think of it a little like your home address; if you're looking up how to get somewhere, you'll need a starting location to get there.

    IP addresses can pertain to both public and private networks, and you can anonymize your IP address using a VPN, which can ensure a bit more privacy, help get around geo-restricted content, and keep your information and data safer. There are two versions of IP — IPv4 and IPv6. IPv6 is slowly replacing IPv4 because we are running out of IPv4 IP addresses.

  • Latency (ping)

    Latency, also referred to as ping, is the reaction time of your roundtrip connection — how quickly your device gets a response after you've sent out a request. Think of it as your computer sending out a signal to a server to do the action you want like playing a song on the internet then having the data come back to you. A low latency indicates a more responsive connection, especially important in applications where timing is everything, particularly for video games and video chats. Latency is measured in milliseconds (ms).

  • Mbps (Megabits per second)

    Mbps refers to megabits per second, which measures the rate of how fast your internet bandwidth transfers data. A megabit is 1 million bits of information. This is a standard measure of internet speed and 1 Mbps is 1,000 times faster than 1 Kbps. This shouldn't be confused with megabytes (MB) which is a measure of size rather than bandwidth. Also known as M/bits in some countries.

  • Network

    A network is a group of interconnected servers and internet-enabled devices such as computers or phones that can be both hardwired or wireless. In broad terms, the internet is a network of networks.

    Every ISP has one network of internet service that consists of multiple networks that deliver those services, which then communicate with other external networks. And your home or work technically comprises its own personal network of devices, which includes LAN (local-area networks) that use hardwired ethernet connections to routers or Wi-Fi systems.

    The term "network" can also indicate an end-to-end transport mechanism to deliver information, data, voice, and services, also known as internet traffic, to and from equipment, devices, and systems for an end user. There are wireless and wired networks which can use various physical mediums to deliver the internet to end users, including fiber-optic lines, microwave radio, cellular radio frequencies like 3G, 4G LTE, and 5G, satellite, copper DSL, and cable.

  • Service area

    Service area refers to the physical locations that ISPs and mobile operators serve the internet to. For fixed broadband, this is directly associated with where cable or fiber lines are located — if you live somewhere that doesn't have a cable or fiber line, you might not be able to get service. For mobile connections, you'll need to be near a cell tower or FWA deployment to be able to get a signal. Luckily, if you don't have access to either cable or mobile connections, satellite connections can be accessed in many parts of the world.

  • Wi-Fi

    Wi-Fi is the technology that sends and receives wireless signals via a wireless router, which then relays information through a modem to connect to the internet. Wi-Fi operates like a hardwired LAN, except without wires, and can also be referred to as a Wireless LAN (WLAN). Many technologies these days are Wi-Fi enabled, which has become a necessity as we cut cords, work from home, and increase the amount of internet-enabled devices like televisions and smart home connections

    Wi-Fi technology continues to evolve, with a seventh generation framework, Wi-Fi 7, set for widespread availability in 2024. Most standard Wi-Fi protocols use 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency bands to transmit data (with 2.4 GHz allowing for slower signals but covering a larger area and 5 GHz — not to be confused with 5G for mobile phones — transmitting fast signals in a smaller area), with new technologies utilizing 6 GHz bands, which will offer up faster speeds.

    Wi-Fi has limits to how far a wireless router can transmit a signal, and will encounter issues with dense walls or interfering signals, so make sure to troubleshoot your Wi-Fi if you're having any trouble. Wi-Fi signals can be boosted using extenders or even mesh Wi-Fi networks. Wi-Fi utilizes Wi-Fi protocols defined by IEEE 802.11, so you'll often see the generation of Wi-Fi or a number with letters that begins with 802.11 like 802.11ax, which represents Wi-Fi 6. If you're using anything older than Wi-Fi 4 or 802.11n, you might want to consider upgrading your wireless router.

  • Upload speed

    Upload speed is how quickly you send data from your device to the internet. A fast upload speed is helpful when sending large files via email, gaming, pictures to group chats, or in using video-chat to talk to someone else online since you have to send your video feed to them. Upload speed is typically measured in Mbps. If you're finding yourself uploading large files through the internet, you may want to invest in an ISP that has symmetrical speeds.

Fixed broadband and networking terms you need to understand:

  • Bandwidth

    Bandwidth is the measure of data transfer capacity while using the internet. This capacity is typically measured in Mbps for current internet connections, with some fiber and 5G connections can be measured in Gbps.

    When you are shopping for an internet plan, the "speed" that is advertised is often the maximum capacity bandwidth that will be available on a plan. For example, if you pay for a 300 Mbps plan, the rate at which data can transfer will be a maximum of 300 Mbps for download speeds. Most data plans are asymmetric, meaning that download bandwidth is greater than upload bandwidth, though we increasingly are seeing symmetrical bandwidth with similar download and upload speeds.

  • Cable

    Cable internet is currently one of the most widely available modes of delivering internet. Cable connects your home or office to your ISP's network and the rest of the internet typically using coaxial cable lines used by television companies. With cable internet lines, you'll need a modem to connect to the internet, and a router or Wi-Fi router to connect to the modem.

    Cable over coaxial cable typically has a low end speed of about 50 Mbps, with maximum speeds reaching 1 Gbps. Cable over copper, which utilizes copper wire instead of coaxial connections, typically has a maximum bandwidth of 300 Mbps. It isn't as utilized as often as it used to be because the price of copper has greatly increased while fiber-optic internet has become a much more affordable option. While symmetrical connections are possible, albeit slower, most cable ISPs provide asymmetrical bandwidth.

  • Cloud

    The cloud refers broadly to the internet as we know it today, but more specifically, the data centers where information and infrastructure are stored, data is relayed, and internet services are performed like web hosting, video streaming, and online data services.

    While the cloud makes it so users don't have to rely on being at a physical network, the cloud is made up of physical server racks positioned around the world (often where space and energy are cheap and near major backbone networks). Platforms like Amazon AWS or Microsoft Azure allow users and enterprises to access private cloud computing networks where they can perform operations, efficiently manage large data sets, and store data.

  • Digital divide / digital desert

    The digital divide describes the gap between those who have access to broadband internet and those who do not. In many places around the world, rural communities are often less built out for broadband access than their urban counterparts — but even in urban areas some members of communities still don't have broadband access.

    Areas without broadband access (mobile or fixed) are referred to as "digital deserts" because people there lack the ability to do many things on the internet, like streaming video, because they don't have enough — or any — internet bandwidth. In the U.S., broadband is defined at 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload speeds — areas without those speeds would qualify as a broadband digital desert, even though they may have internet access.

    Satellite internet and government investments are changing the landscape of the digital divide, but for many folks, high-speed broadband internet is still out of reach. In many other countries, consumers are mobile-first users who rely on cell networks because fixed broadband infrastructure is too costly to install.

  • DSL (Digital Subscriber Line)

    DSL is the first generation of broadband internet offered to consumers. While mostly outdated and antiquated by today's technological standards, DSL is still in use in some parts of the world, particularly rural communities. With a theoretical bandwidth of 100 Mbps, DSL is limited by its older infrastructure and utilizes telephone networks, so speeds are typically much slower than cable over coaxial and fiber.

  • Ethernet

    Despite its name, ethernet is a hardwire network technology that connects computers to the internet, routers, and other computers. Many businesses have ethernet LANs, and gamers can use the ethernet to play multiplayer games. These days, Wi-Fi has begun to replace many ethernet connections, particularly in the home, but ethernet is still very important in many workplaces.

  • Fiber

    Fiber is the next evolution of internet networking that uses fiber optics to transmit light signals and allow users to experience much faster internet connectivity than traditional cable and DSL connections.

    Fiber-optic lines are laid throughout a community often by individual ISPs, governments, or other institutions, and cities can also have backbone fiber-to-the-curb (FTTC) instead of directly to a home, whereupon homeowners can pay for their own fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) line. FTTH, also known as fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP), is often referred to as a "last-mile" connection, as it directly connects a home to hubs that connect to the larger internet grid.

    Fiber is capable of speeds greater than 1 Gbps, which can be both asymmetrical and symmetrical over download and upload, with consumer offerings already up to 10 Gbps in some markets.

  • FTTH/FTTP (fiber-to-the-home/fiber-to-the-premises) & FTTC/FTTN (fiber-to-the-curb/cabinet and fiber-to-the-neighborhood)

    FTTH, also known as fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP), is often referred to as a "last-mile" or final connection for a fiber internet line from the ISP to the consumer, as it directly connects a home to the larger internet grid. Often, FTTH requires an exterior installation box, which converts your home network to your ISP's fiber network. FTTC, also known as fiber-to-the-curb or fiber-to-the-neighborhood (FTTN), is the installation of fiber in a neighborhood, but not directly to the home. FTTC offers the possibility of fiber-optic connections within a general area, which may be converted into cable connections.

  • ISP (internet service provider)

    An ISP is an entity you can contract to deliver the internet to your home in whatever form that may be including cable, fiber, DSL, FWA, satellite, etc. ISPs often — but not always — offer bundles for television and hardwire telephone lines, and increasingly mobile connections as well.

    ISPs can be local, regional, and national networks, but no matter their size, they connect your home network to increasingly larger networks that make up the backbone of the internet. If you don't have the equipment you need to connect to the internet, ISPs often have rental services that include a modem and/or router. If you're looking for an ISP in your area, check out the Speedtest Performance DirectoryTM to learn what's available.

  • LAN (local area network)

    Local area networks or LANs are a contained network, usually no larger than what can fit within a building. LANs connect computers and devices to each other, as well as servers. LANs connect through ethernet cable connections. A LAN network can connect to the internet, but sometimes they are self-contained from the internet depending on the scenario. Before online gaming, LANs let gamers play multiplayer games affectionately known as LAN parties.

  • Landline

    Landline is a term that typically refers to a hardwired telephone internet connection, most commonly referring to a dial-up or DSL connection. However, landline can refer to any hardwired connection, which can additionally include cable or fiber connections. Wi-Fi, FWA, mobile, and satellite connections are non-landline internet connections.

  • Modem

    A modem is a device that allows ISPs to deliver broadband internet to your home via a coaxial cable or fiber optic line. Modems directly connect your computer to the internet, but you'll need a hardline ethernet cable to make that connection. Traditionally, modems provided hardwire connections, but increasingly, modems are paired with wireless Wi-Fi routers as standalone devices or even a combination of the two. Broadband Termination Unit (BTU) or Optical Network Unit (ONU) may also refer to a modem.

  • Mesh Wi-Fi

    Sometimes people have difficulties with getting a traditional Wi-Fi signal within their home or office (particularly in dense homes made of brick or steel), but still want to have wireless connection. Mesh Wi-Fi networks offer a solution wherein a router connects multiple Wi-Fi router connection points, including Wi-Fi extenders, throughout a space that normally isn't able to support one connection well. Before you go all in on a Wi-Fi mesh network, make sure to troubleshoot your Wi-Fi or try extenders.

  • Router

    A router is a vital piece of equipment for most home and office networks. Routers provide access points or gateways for multiple devices to connect — either wirelessly on Wi-Fi or through hardwire ethernet connections — to the modem, which then connects to the internet. Most routers in homes these days are wireless Wi-Fi routers, though wireless and hardwire routers are commonly used in office LANs. Routers use standard TCP/IP protocols to help route information through networks.

  • Symmetric and asymmetric speeds

    Symmetric and asymmetric speeds are terms that describe download and upload speeds you need to know when you are buying broadband internet from an ISP. Symmetric speeds describe download and upload speeds that are similar, and are more common over fiber internet. Asymmetric speeds describe download and upload speeds that are not the same, with download speeds typically much faster than upload speeds. Most broadband connections are asymmetric because historical use cases for using the internet like downloading files, streaming video, and updating systems and apps relies mainly on download speed. Increasingly, upload speeds (and consequently, symmetric speeds) are becoming more important, particularly for those who video chat, and for creators that need to upload large files quickly.

  • Throttling

    Throttling is a term that refers to slowing down internet speeds. Some ISPs or mobile operators will limit the amount of speed (and often, the amount of data you can use) a user can experience (especially if you're roaming on another operator's network). This can be limited because of bandwidth capacity limitations, types of traffic like video streaming, and even base download speeds.

    Many ISPs offer different speeds and bandwidths when offering different contracts to users with faster speeds costing more money every month; throttling is a way ISPs can limit each of those tiers. Limiting users by throttling speeds and bandwidth allows for more capacity on networks — when users have their internet throttled, they should experience fewer instances of internet bottlenecks, which slow down everyone's experience.

  • Traffic

    Traffic describes the two-way flow of information over a network, with information being sent and received from one point to another and back again. Traffic is dictated by the amount of bandwidth available on a given network, with lower bandwidth having less capacity to transfer information and higher bandwidth having more capacity to transfer information. High traffic over a low bandwidth can result in a bottleneck of information that slows down a network, which is why network engineers utilize traffic shaping and protocols to route information around the internet more efficiently.

  • VPN (virtual private network)

    A virtual private network, commonly referred to as a VPN, allows users to create secure connections on a network. VPNs offer users a way to secure devices and computers over public networks and offer an extra layer of security and data encryption. VPNs create a point to point connection with an external network through direct network or Wi-Fi a user logs into, which then connects the devices through a "tunnel" to privately access the internet — so if you want to watch the latest episode of your favorite show from abroad, you might be able to find some creative ways to stream that with a VPN.

Mobile and wireless terms do you need to understand:

  • 3G

    3G refers to the third generation of mobile technology, which marked the start of mobile data and internet browsing. Developed with International Telecommunication Union (ITU) standards, 3G was introduced in 2001. Original 3G offered a theoretical download rate of about 2 Mbps (though later updates got up to over 10 Mbps), and is still used around the world today; though is increasingly being upgraded for 4G LTE and 5G technologies.

  • 4G LTE

    4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) was launched commercially in 2009 and has redefined how we use our mobile devices and connect with the world. 4G LTE was standardized by the ITU in 2010, and offers real world download speeds of up to 100 Mbps (with a theoretical limit of 1 Gbps). 4G LTE serves as the core technology to many current day mobile networks and has allowed the world to experience mobile broadband speeds.

  • 5G

    5G was initially deployed in 2019 and is the first wireless technology that can compete with fixed broadband internet for performance. 5G offers a theoretical maximum download speed of 20 Gbps, but most users aren't yet seeing those speeds due to a variety of factors including spectrum availability, 5G deployments, and user and operator adaptation.

    In the U.S. during Q2 2023, the median 5G speed was 136.35 Mbps, whereas the median 5G speed in South Korea was 501.56 Mbps during the same time period. 5G isn't necessarily underperforming its promise of fast speeds — mobile operators need to keep upgrading their networks, obtain the necessary spectrum for fast speeds and higher bandwidths, and find where 5G is going to be most useful. Want to learn more about 5G? Check out our 5G FAQ.

  • Antenna

    While most cell phones haven't had visible antennas for more than a decade now, internal antennas are still critical to being able to send and receive non-wired signals — and we wouldn't be able to have Wi-Fi or Bluetooth without them. Antennas utilize radio frequencies within a set bandwidth to transmit and receive electromagnetic wave signals to mobile deployments (like a cell tower), which mobile devices can then decode those signals into data. Cell phones often have multiple antennas for different frequencies, including the ones used for mobile signals, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi.

  • Bluetooth

    Bluetooth is a wireless technology that transmits data over short distances using radio frequencies and antennas. Often used for audio and mobile devices, Bluetooth creates a wireless personal area network (WPAN) that operates similar to a wireless LAN, but on a much more contained level with usually only one device connecting to another device in a point to point connection like Bluetooth earbuds to a cell phone.

    Developed by Ericsson, Bluetooth utilizes random frequency changes over 80 channels 1,600 times per second on the 2.4 GHz radio frequency spectrum, which helps avoid interference and other Bluetooth connections. Bluetooth can also help facilitate hotspotting mobile connections between cell phones and other devices like laptops or tablets. Want to learn how to tether your device to your phone? Check out our handy guide on how to set up a hotspot.

  • Congestion

    Congestion happens when fixed and mobile networks don't have enough bandwidth to handle all of the traffic that is occurring at a given moment. This leads to slower upload and download speeds, poor quality of service, or even the inability to access anything from the network. If you are trying to attempt to do something that requires high-bandwidth like video streaming and have a congested network, you may not be able to stream anything. This is particularly important for smaller home networks (both Wi-Fi and wired), which can more easily be affected by the amount of devices using bandwidth. However, this also affects larger networks, which is why there are often contingencies to help mitigate congestion.

  • Converged networks

    Converged networks, also known as convergence, are when mobile and fixed broadband networks seamlessly operate between both technologies. With the emergence of 5G, convergence is becoming more common, especially with in-home 5G networks and FWA technologies. Convergence also refers to a mobile device switching between a cellular network and a fixed broadband Wi-Fi network, though both fixed ISPs and mobile operators are increasingly offering both fixed and mobile internet services as one plan, where they traditionally separate plans.

  • FWA (fixed wireless access)

    Fixed wireless access (FWA) is a wireless broadband connection type that typically covers "last mile" connections between a fixed broadband connection to an in-home device using radio frequencies and antennas to connect your home network to the internet. FWA usually operates over 4G LTE or 5G networks, and usually covers a service area similar to that of mobile networks. FWA differs from fixed broadband lines like DSL, cable, and fiber because it uses a mobile transmission deployment like a tower or even a cell site to transmit and receive data. FWA is useful in areas without an established wired infrastructure because it can be a more affordable option than laying new fixed broadband lines, particularly in rural communities that are costly to connect to backbone fixed networks, and close the digital divide.

  • Hotspotting

    Hotspotting, or tethering, is the process of using your mobile connection to connect other devices like your laptop or tablet to the internet. Typically, hotspotting can be done through your cell phone's Bluetooth, a USB cable, or even a Wi-Fi connection, which allows other devices to use your mobile network. Click here to learn how to tether your cell phone to your laptop.

  • Mobile internet service

    Mobile internet service refers to a non-hardwired connection typically referring to cellular broadband internet over 3G, 4G LTE, and 5G networks. Mobile internet can also include FWA and other hotspotting connections.

  • Receiver

    A receiver is a device that receives radio frequency signals, which is often paired with a transmitter that sends radio frequency signals. Receivers have antennas that accept signals that then get processed into data. Receivers can be found in cell phones, mobile network deployments, Wi-Fi routers, and Bluetooth.

  • Roaming

    Roaming refers to when you leave your mobile network and use another operator's network, whether that is within a country or in another country. Often, there are agreements in place between operators, but you may be charged extra for any data you use and you may experience throttling and data limits.

  • Satellite internet service

    Satellite internet service utilizes satellite technologies to transmit radio frequencies from earth to space and provide internet to locations around the world, which is important for remote and rural areas with little or no internet options.

    Satellite internet comes in three primary varieties: geosynchronous earth orbit (GEO) satellites, medium earth orbit (MEO) satellites, and low-earth orbit (LEO) satellites, all of which have varying distances and bandwidth capacities. Since internet signals travel physical distances to transmit signals over satellites, satellite internet often has much higher latencies, particularly for GEO constellations, which are about 36,000 km from earth. LEO constellations, which orbit at about 500 to 1,200 km, have much lower latencies and can deliver download speeds of over 100 Mbps. For more information about satellite internet, check out our ongoing satellite internet series.

  • Spectrum

    Broadband spectrum refers to the range of usable electromagnetic radio frequencies that can transmit signals used by cell phones, satellite technologies, and Wi-Fi. There are both licensed and unlicensed frequency bands that are regulated by countries, which often auction blocks of spectrum to telecom companies that then use that spectrum to transmit their networks for consumer or enterprise use.

    There are three core spectrum bands: 6 GHz -- 40 GHz high-band frequencies including millimeter wave (24 GHz -- 40 GHz) for close, dense areas and very fast speeds; 1 GHz -- 6 GHz mid-band frequencies, which includes the C-Band frequencies (4 GHz -- 8 GHz) that provide a balance of fast speeds and range; and, <1 GHz low-band frequencies, such as 600 MHz, which transmit long-range bands that have slower speeds. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth typically operate on the unlicensed 2.4 GHz band, with Wi-Fi 6 utilizing the 5 GHz band and Wi-Fi 7 also utilizing the 6 GHz band. Mobile technology uses radio frequencies to transmit and receive data with antennas that then communicate with the intended deployment like a cell tower or satellite, which can send and receive internet data and communicate with networks around the world.

    Radio Frequency Spectrum

    Spectrum is limited, which makes it highly sought-after, and many countries hold spectrum auctions to see who will be able to obtain long-term leases of certain bands of spectrum. Some of these dedicated bands may also already serve 2G, 3G, 4G LTE, and other radio communications for technologies like satellites or aerospace, and can be "refarmed" to become standalone 5G networks.

  • Transmitter

    A transmitter is a device that sends radio frequency signals, which is often paired with a receiver that receives radio frequency signals. Transmitters have antennas that send data that is converted into radio frequency signals over networks, which then get received by a receiver where the data is being sent or routed. Transmitters can be found in cell phones, mobile network deployments, Wi-Fi routers, and Bluetooth.

Want to learn more about broadband and other broadband uses?

At Ookla®, we believe access to a sufficient, reliable internet connection is a fundamental human right. That's why we strive to make sure that no matter where your broadband journey starts, we want you to make sure you have the resources you need to better understand your connected experience.

If you want to find out how your network is performing, download the Speedtest® app for Windows, Mac OS, iOS, and Android and take a Speedtest today. And if you want to make sure you have up-to-date status reports on the websites you visit most, be sure to check out Downdetector® to track service disruptions across the internet.

About Knowledge Base Guides Everything You Need to Know About Broadband Internet: A Glossary