There is an e-mail going around in my country with the statement that
internet speed connections( ranging from from 156 to 512 Kbp/s ) is
worldwide possible using the conventional line, and in our country
if you need a fast internet connection you have to buy an ADLS Modem
( about 100,00 US$ ) and pay an extra fee of 20 - 100 US$ for the
connection plus a 10-30,00 US$ for the provider per month.( the price
of the "special line" and the provider´s price varies depending on
the speed) My question is:You, who live ouside Brasil , and have a
fast internet need or do not need special modem and rates? All
included in the telephone´s monthly bill. It is a steal! My telephone
bills are killing me!!! Help!
I went back to this email, to answer your question more directly. There
are basically three kinds of high speed internet connections for homes
(not requiring special lines being installed into the home). One,
DSL/ADSL (the difference between DSL and ADSL is that in DSL, the speed
is the same in both directions; in ADSL, the uplink is slower than the
downlink), can be transmitted over normal phone lines. The basic price
ranges from $30-$50/month, depending on a number of factors (for
example, the more expensive plans allow you to do things like run
servers from your home computer, or allow you to connect by dial-up line
when you're not at home). There are also cable modems, for which you
need to have television cable wired up to your house. With that, you are
actually connected to a local area network with other subscribers in
your area. Your speed is potentially higher than DSL, but depends on how
many others are actively using the same line at the moment. You also
need to increase the level or protection on your computer, because your
fellow subscribers can access your computer through the LAN, especially
if you have multiple computers set up in your home. Finally, to those
who can't get access to either (due to the equipment not being set up by
the phone or cable companies), there is satellite access. That can be
had almost anywhere in the world. Essentially, you have a regular
dial-up connection. But, when you request a page, instead of being sent
via the phone line, it is sent by a satellite signal. This means you
have high-speed downlinks, and low-speed uplinks. This is usually the
most expensive solution, and therefore only used as a last resort (for
example, where my brother lives in South Burlington, Vermont, satellite
is the only available high-speed service).