What Type of Internet Connection Do You Have When Upload Speed Differs from Download Speed? [Solved]

What type of internet connection do you have when upload speed differs from download speed?

That’s an asymmetric connection.

What is this?

Find out 5 basic types of connections as well as the reasons for inequality between download and uploads.

This article is for you.

Let’s jump right in!

Upload speed differs from download speed

Types of internet connection

To pick up the right type of internet connection for you and your family as well as to answer the above question, it’s important to understand the difference between each type.

In general, there are 5 basic types: Dial-up, DSL, Cable, Fiber, and Satellite.

• Dial-up: This type is cheap but very slow. Users access the Internet by linking their phone line to a computer. Therefore, internet signals are poor because telephone lines regularly experience interference. Besides, a computer or other device sharing the same phone line cannot be operational simultaneously.

• DSL (Digital Subscriber Line): Service is given at the same time as landline telephone service using an existing 2-wire copper telephone line linked to one's house. DSL requires a router to transfer data, and connection speeds range from 128K to 8 Mbps depending on the service supplied. As consequence, DSL is faster than dial-up

DSL connection

• Cable: A cable Internet connection is a type of broadband connection. Users can connect to the Internet via cable TV lines by using a cable modem. There are variable speeds depending on whether you are uploading or downloading data. You can receive faster speed access since coax cable has a significantly higher bandwidth than dial-up or DSL telephone connections. Speeds on cable range from 512K to 20 Mbps.

• Fiber: It is the most commonly available and quickest internet technology. It employs fiber-optic cables, which are capable of rapidly transporting massive volumes of data. While fiber is fast, it is not as widely available as other forms of the internet. Much of its limited availability is due to the expensive expense of developing its network infrastructure. Speeds on fiber-optic range from 40- 80 Mbps. Especially, its average internet download speed Mbps can reach 250-1000 Mbps. 

Fiber-optic connection

• Satellite: A satellite Internet connection may be provided in locations where a broadband connection is not available. A satellite in Earth's orbit provides access to the internet. When compared to cable and DSL, the large distance that a signal travels from earth to satellite and back again results in a delayed connection. Satellite connections range in speed from 512K to 2.0 Mbps.

What type of internet connection do you have when upload speed differs from download speed

What is your current internet plan? Take an internet speed test, you are able to realize that your download speed is much faster than upload speed. What causes this inequality?

This makes sense because users download far more data than they upload. Many internet activities do not require upload bandwidth once they have started:

• Streaming audio or video

• Read a blog post or an online article

• Surf web, social media feed

• Download files/ documentations

Upload speed matters when you do video conferences, online games and share files with others. Slow WOW internet upload speed or other ISP’s internet plan can cause choppy, distorted uploading files. 

Downloads are often faster than uploads

That’s why almost all types of connections have uploads smaller than downloads. Moreover, In general, internet speed on ISP’s advertisement refers to download speed. In detail, WOW internet 500 upload speed is just 50 Mbps while download speed can reach 500 Mbps. 

Nevertheless, there is an exception to fiber connections. The fiber-optic networks offer symmetrical upload speeds. It means that a 1 Gbps (1,000 Mbps) connection has 1 Gbps upload and 1 Gbps download rates. 

For example, fiber WOW internet 200 upload speed means that you have 200 Mbps internet download speed. Fiber is also the most reliable type of connection, therefore, if you broadcast Livestream during busy hours, it is able to occur seamlessly.