“Wi-Fi” and “Broadband” are sometimes used interchangeably. Even though they are quite similar, they are truly different, read on to know more.
This misunderstanding is frequently brought on by the relationship between the two. You might be utilising broadband at home, but due to how you connected or something similar, you might think it’s Wi-Fi. Here, we tell you the difference between the two.
What is broadband?
Mobile “broadband” uses 3G, 4G, or 5G to connect directly to the internet via a mobile operator’s network, whereas broadband is your home internet connection that runs via a wire.
A router or modem that delivers a broadband connection to the internet was practically standard in every home up until recently. Your phone line, a cable connection, or even a fiber-optic cable may be used to carry this out. Fixed mobile broadband is a relatively recent development where a modem or router uses a 4G or 5G wireless connection for internet connectivity. On the other hand, satellite technology can provide broadband access to remote locations.
However, when used at home, your phone, tablet, or laptop will use Wi-Fi to connect to that router. The only time a network cable will be used to connect to the router or modem is if you have a PC, a gaming console, or a set-top box without Wi-Fi.
How does a broadband connection work?
In contrast to older dial-up connections, which used a single line to transfer large amounts of data, broadband uses many lines to give you internet access. The word “broadband” refers to the use of many bands to convey data.
In layman’s terms, you may think of dial-up as a one-way street where only one car can move at a time, but broadband is like a multilane motorway where numerous cars can move simultaneously. Here, each car acts as the data packet that is transmitted to you or the other way around.
The speed of the internet via broadband is increased by the parallel transport of many data packets at once.
What is Wi-Fi?
In essence, Wi-Fi uses radio waves to replace the conventional Ethernet network cable with a wireless network. And although the majority of people mistakenly believe it to be a wireless internet connection, it’s actually only a network connection between two devices.
Therefore, Wi-Fi is not the internet; rather, it only enables wireless internet traffic to reach your phone or other device.
It’s a common misconception that it stands for Wireless Fidelity; in reality, it’s only a brand name that’s used in place of IEEE 802.11x’s official name. There is a wildcard prefix called “x” that covers all Wi-Fi protocols, including the most recent one, 802.11ax.
Faster Wi-Fi speeds and additional capabilities are common with newer Wi-Fi standards. Wi-Fi 6 includes improved router capabilities that can manage more devices connecting at once.
In your home, you could have had a few Wi-Fi gadgets a few years ago, but now it’s not unusual to have upwards of 20 devices that require a wireless internet connection. Security cameras, smart speakers, media streamers, and other devices are all competing for your internet and
Wi-Fi.
How does a Wi-Fi connection work?
All Wi-Fi connections operate in two simple steps, sending data and receiving data, on the two frequency bands of 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. To access the internet for information, your router and modem must first receive a request. The desired response is then transmitted to the router by way of the modem. The data is then wirelessly sent back to the device by the router.
What’s the difference between broadband and Wi-Fi?
Your internet service provider may provide you a broadband internet connection. Wi-Fi is a technology that can be used to connect to a broadband connection and gives you access to the internet. By connecting your router and device directly using a LAN cable, you may access your broadband. The benefit of Wi-Fi is the ability to access data without a direct physical connection between two devices, though.
Wi-Fi is regarded as a service that allows users to connect their devices, such as mobile phones, laptops, and computers, to the internet by locating nearby wireless devices and connecting to them. In order for the client system to connect to the online services, hotspots are created utilising a remote connector and a Wi-Fi connection. In order to give individuals access to the internet so they may utilise it to acquire information and browse different websites, broadband internet is regarded as computer networks.
Pros of a Wi-Fi connection
- If you are within its range, you can connect to many devices at once.
- Depending on your service provider and the hotspot/range, dongles you can connect anywhere.
- Frequently less expensive than a broadband connection.
Pros of a broadband connection
- It lets you download massive files at far faster speeds than a Wi-Fi connection ever could. You typically receive a large amount of data each month.
- There is essentially no restriction on what you can do online with an unlimited subscription. You may perform any demanding work, including 4K streaming, live gaming, and live scripting, without experiencing any stuttering when using a fast connection.
- Compared to Wi-Fi connections, broadband connections are much safer and more reliable.
- In addition, you can always connect it to a Wi-Fi network to take advantage of simultaneous high-speed wireless internet connectivity on your computer and mobile devices.
- It is reasonably priced given the faster speed and significantly more data you receive on a broadband connection each month. The only drawback is that, according to your broadband plan, you can only physically connect a certain number of devices.
It is obvious that each sort of broadband connection has advantages and downsides of its own. However, you are more likely to choose one according to the enormous amount of data, faster speeds, and superior security you get with a broadband connection. With the free Wi-Fi router, you can still connect to the internet through a wireless connection. Why then do you have to sacrifice speed, security, and data—a lot of data, in fact—that’s important? Browse through Excitel’s many broadband connection plans and choose the perfect one to suit your internet requirements.
