It’s been a long time coming, but we’ve finally reached the point where ultra-fast fibre internet is available to almost all of Armagh. This major fibre broadband programme has been building consistently over the last decade, granting us the modern international upper standard in home internet speed. Whether or not everybody in Armagh will want or need ultra-fast internet, however, is a different question entirely.
If you’re not up-to-date with the latest internet technology you might still be sitting on your older DSL connections, wondering if the upgrade to fibre will be worth the change. Taking a look at what fibre offers and how people in Armagh commonly engage with the internet, we want to explore the functional differences between DSL and fibre. Do you really need to upgrade now, or could you wait until a later date before finally making the switch?
What are DSL and Fibre Anyway?
DSL and fibre are two different systems used to carry an internet signal. The term DSL stands for Digital Subscriber Line, while fibre refers to a fibre optic cable. DSL comes in several forms such as regular DSL, ADSL, and VDSL. Each offers slightly different advantages and disadvantages, but it is the overall DSL system which was once the king of high-speed internet.
DSL works by adapting existing phone line systems as a basis for data transmission. This was a fantastic first step over older dial-up connections since as long as you had a phone line you could subscribe to DSL. Fibre, on the other hand, was developed from the start as a separate and dedicated internet system. Using purpose-built transmission technologies and light to transfer signals makes it generally far faster than DSL systems, though it necessitates installing an entirely new network infrastructure.
In terms of differences that matter to the end user, while fibre can be much faster, it can also be more expensive. It’s a newer technology, so the market can get away with higher prices, and installs will also need to physically modify a property to work. DSL is slower, but because it’s an established technology it will also tend to be much cheaper than fibre, and it won’t require the same level of physical home modification.
Everything Depends on Usage
To return to the main question of whether or not you can or should stay with DSL, it’s all a matter of your particular use case. The potential of fibre is immense, but, like every new technology, its promise doesn’t always match its usefulness. At the time of this article, the current standard for cutting-edge home internet speeds in Armagh is 1 Gbps, or 1,000 Mbps, which DSL systems can’t reach. DSL will generally reach up to 100 Mbps at a maximum, so let’s look at how each of these speeds might matter.
On the lower end of internet speed demands, consider what could be expected from users looking to engage with new online casino sites. This would begin with collecting signup bonuses like deposit matches and free spins on services like GoldSpin and Kingmaker, creating accounts, and playing games. Some of these games, like live roulette, even involve high-quality video streams. Yet, while cutting-edge new internet providers may be on the cards, sites like these won’t require more than 20 Mbps at most, which is 50 times less than what a new fibre connection can offer.
The highest requirements that most online users will experience will come from ultra-high-quality video streams. The bandwidth required for 4K video streaming tends to reach the higher end at 32 Mbps, though even this is unusually high and still dozens of times less than what one 1 Gbps fibre connection can provide.
There are only really two caveats here to consider. Firstly, people who download large files a lot won’t have to wait as much with higher bandwidth. The second caveat is that bandwidth is essentially shared between each connected user and device, meaning that two people each requiring 25 Mbps will require 50 Mbps combined, where more users means more demand.
Do you Need a Change?
Fibre in Armagh is a nice step, but given the realities we’ve explored above, it might not be what you need right now. With that said, it also might be a good idea to explore what new options are out there. Internet service providers will often decrease the cost of plans over time without telling existing customers, so you might be able to spend less on your current plan or pay the same amount for a faster connection.
In some cases, fibre providers might even offer free installs and plans at the same price you pay now. So, as long as you can aim for an unlimited data allowance or an allowance you’re confident you won’t go over (your current usage should be included on your bills), there’d be no downside to upgrading here. Just don’t feel you need to impulse purchase an upgrade now if you experience no real issues, despite what fibre advertising might try to tell you.
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