When it’s time to select your internet service, it can seem like staring at a tall building with many floors. Without a basic understanding of where you need to go, you’ll be left at the ground floor or left wandering from floor to floor. With internet, you need to know the level of service you need, as well as which services are available in your area. It’s worth checking the offers and services of several internet providers in Mebane to get the best fit for your needs.

How Much Internet Do You Need?

Are you a home or a business? For obvious reasons, residential consumers require much less bandwidth than business consumers. Unless you’re an avid gaming junkie or serial Netflix watcher or extreme downloader, you won’t need more than 5 to 10 Mbps in your home. Consider how many devices will be connecting to the internet at the same time. Even 5 to 10 Mbps can handle several connected devices. If you’re running a small business from your home, you should consider business-level internet.

What Kind of Internet Should You Get?

There’s a smorgasbord of internet connection options, but generally, they follow these tiered levels:

• DSL (Digital Subscriber Line): This runs on telephone lines and is the lowest level of speed, maxing out at a download speed of approximately 7 Mbps. For standard residential usage, this is usually the most affordable option and handles the needs of an average household reasonably well.
• Satellite: This internet is available almost everywhere and depends on a signal from a satellite orbiting the earth. This option is best for those who are in remote areas or areas not serviced by other internet providers. Download speeds generally max at 15 Mbps.
• Cable: For businesses or households needing more capability, cable is the way to go. Cable runs on television lines and can handle up to several dozen simultaneous users. With download speeds reaching up to 505 Mbps, cable can facilitate the needs of heavy residential use and many small businesses. Keep in mind that cable lines are shared with other subscribers so this could slow performance during peak hours.
• Fiber Optic (FIOS): This is the gold standard in internet and offers blazing speeds up to 1 Gbps. It runs on fiber optic lines, which aren’t available everywhere yet. It’s pricier, but less susceptible to weather conditions and harder to hack.

If you’ve already got cable TV, Dish, or DirectTV through one of the internet providers in Mebane, check with your provider about the internet options already available through them. Or you can skip all the ponderous research by talking with a provider like Carolina Connections, where you can compare multiple options, but only talk to one sales rep!