There is a wide range of broadband connection types available in Ireland including ADSL, fibre, wireless, mobile and satellite. Choosing the right one can be challenging and confusing. All five types are explained below, along with their pros and cons.
What is DSL?
DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) is the generic term for an internet connection that uses copper telephone lines and a modem to transmit data. Because of this, DSL is the most widely available internet connection type across Ireland but it has almost been surpassed by fibre broadband in recent times, especially in urban areas.
There are different types of DSL. There’s SDSL, VDSL, and ADSL. ADSL stands for Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line. This type of service means that the speed of data sent is known as upstream, and the data received is known as downstream, and the speeds are not always guaranteed to be the same.
Because DSL uses the traditional copper telephone network, most households will not need to install a second line, a cable or any other type of new wiring or device in the home. It also means that you can avail of a service that includes a landline and broadband as a bundle if you wish.
DSL is usually capable of delivering speeds of up to 20Mbps or so. However, the speed of your service can be affected by how far away your home is from your local telephone exchange and the condition of the copper wires. The further away, and the older the wires, the slower the connection will be. In addition, the service can slow down at peak usage times, such as the evenings and weekends. That's because DSL services work on shared connections.
You’ll sometimes see the phrase “contention ratio” in the small print for DSL providers. This is industry jargon for sharing. If the contention ratio is 50:1, it means that at peak times you could be sharing your connection with as many as fifty people. And this will slow your connection down considerably. The lower the contention ratio, the better.
What is fibre broadband
Fibre broadband can boast speeds of up to 2,000Mbps and uses fibre optic cables to transmit data. In recent years Eir and SIRO, a joint venture between the ESB and Vodafone, have been rolling out fibre networks across Ireland.
Virgin Media has been investing in its own network too and recently introduced a 1,000Mbps service.
There are two main types of fibre broadband: fibre-to-the-home and fibre-to-the-cabinet.
With fibre-to-the-cabinet broadband, the network of fibre optic cables runs to your local telephone exchange cabinet from where data is transferred through (often old) telephone copper cables for the final few hundred metres or kilometres to your home.
Since copper wires significantly slow down the speed of a connection, FTTC broadband has a maximum speed of 100Mbps. But depending on how far your home is from your local cabinet box, the speed you're able to get could be far lower.
To get anywhere near the superfast broadband speeds of 2,000Mbps that are possible with fibre broadband, you need to live in an area where there are FTTH (fibre-to-the-home) connections available. In these cases, fibre optic cables run all the way into your home. Fibre-to-the-home is often called pure fibre as it doesn't rely on old telephone copper wires for any of the network.
What is fixed wireless broadband?
Wireless broadband is an alternative to customers in areas where DSL or fibre is not available. A small transmitter in your local area broadcasts wireless signals that are picked up by a small antenna on your house, which channels the signal to a router or connection point inside your home.
One of the big advantages of fixed wireless broadband is that it offers a ‘symmetrical’ connection, which means that you can upload data at the same speed as you download. Most other services usually have a much slower upload than download speed.
Speeds are generally limited to 7Mbps, but some services can offer up to 10Mbps or even 30Mbps. Among the downsides are that coverage can be patchy and installation costs can be pricey.
Fixed wireless broadband is common in rural areas that are not well served by phone lines and cable-based broadband providers.
What is mobile broadband?
Mobile broadband allows you to access the internet via the 4G or 5G network operated by mobile operators, usually through a small router plugged into your wall into which you insert a special SIM. Speeds of between 10Mbps and 30Mbps are widely possible with a 4G network for as little as €15 to €30 a month. And with 5G now being rolled out, speeds up to 10 times faster are possible
Some providers like 3 Ireland offer the choice of a rolling, 30-day plan or a contract between 18 and 24 months.
Depending on the plan, the router might be included too.
The beauty of mobile broadband is that you can take the router, and thereby the WI-FI, with you wherever you go. But remember, if you've got a patchy signal on your phone back home, it'll probably be true for your mobile broadband too as it's using the same network. And if you decide to go with a flexible, 30-day rolling contract you'll likely have to pay for the router yourself, which could set you back around €150.
Also, mobile broadband is never as fast and reliable as fixed broadband so is rarely suitable for homes where several people might be sharing the connection.
What is satellite broadband?
If you live in a part of the country with no cable, fibre, ADSL, fixed wireless or even mobile broadband service, but you need a reliable connection, satellite might be the answer.
By its very nature, it can provide a reliable connection to the internet no matter where you live and even if you don’t have a phone line. Just install a satellite dish and you can avail of broadband with download speeds of up to 50Mbps or more.
There are two big disadvantages compared to other services, however. The first is that the quality of the connection is more likely to be affected by adverse weather conditions. The second is the cost of the installation, which can be around €200 for labour and equipment.
Some satellite users also experience latency (i.e. delay) which is caused by the distance the signal has to travel. This can affect live gaming, streaming and services like Skype.
Check out our other broadband guides
If you found this guide helpful, you may be interested in taking a look at some of our other broadband guides:
- If you’re considering switching broadband, have a look at some of the most common questions we get asked about the switching process.
- Take a look at this list of 7 factors to consider when assessing your broadband options.
- Here's a set of simple steps you can take to help improve your broadband speed and get the most from your internet connection.
You can stay up to date with all the latest broadband news and top tips with our blogs and guides.
Compare broadband deals on bonkers.ie
It’s easy to find the best broadband deal to suit your needs at bonkers.ie.
Our broadband comparison tool lets you review available deals in your area from Ireland’s main broadband providers. Our service is free, easy-to-use, and 100% impartial.
We also have a broadband speed test that can test the speed of your current connection and help you decide whether it’s time to upgrade to a faster package.
You can check out the steps involved in the broadband switching process here.
Need any help?
Wrapping your head around broadband connection types can be confusing. If you have any questions about connection types or the broadband switching process, let us know and we’d be happy to help.
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