What is broadband?

Broadband definition 

According to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), broadband is high-speed internet access and allows users to access the internet or internet-related services at “significantly higher speeds than those available through dial-up services.”

Broadband speeds vary based on technology, provider and plan, but the general term is used to classify modern-day, high-speed internet as opposed to the nascent days of internet technology, which delivered much slower speeds.

Today, the FCC defines 100 Mbps download and 20 Mbps upload as the minimum speed required for an internet connection to be classified as broadband internet. 

Broadband vs. internet vs. Wi-Fi

You’ve probably heard the word broadband mixed in with more common terms like ‘internet’ and ‘Wi-Fi.’ While these are related, broadband is distinguishable from the internet in general, which is also different from Wi-Fi.

The internet is a global system that connects computer networks worldwide. Through the internet, people can share information and communicate with each other.

Wi-Fi, on the other hand, is a local area network that allows you to connect your various devices wirelessly to the internet. Without Wi-Fi, you would only be able to connect a device to the internet by physically connecting it to your modem. While possible, it is inconvenient for most households that have multiple internet users connecting to one network. 

Learn more about the difference between Wi-Fi and internet.

Who can access broadband services?

Broadband internet access has been at the forefront of digital divide discussions since the early days of high-speed internet. While the FCC claims over 90% of Americans have broadband access, many of these areas have a limited number of internet providers to choose from. 

Access also tends to be increasingly limited in rural areas and Tribal lands. Someone in a rural area may only have access to a satellite or DSL internet option, while someone in a more populated area could have a choice between cable, fiber and even 5G internet from multiple providers. 

Different types of broadband service

There are various types of broadband technology available, each delivering an internet connection in a different way. We’ll go over each of them below.

Cable internet – Cable internet is one of the most common broadband technology types. It uses cable television infrastructure to deliver a broadband connection to your home, making it widely available in the U.S. 

Fiber internet – Fiber-optic internet is the best internet connection type available since it provides the fastest speeds and the best reliability. Unlike cable and satellite, it still has somewhat limited availability, but if you can get it at your home, this is the best type of broadband available. 

Satellite internet – Satellite internet uses satellites in space to bring the internet to your home. It is available to almost 100% of the U.S. but delivers slower speeds than cable and fiber and is usually expensive. 

5G internet – 5G internet is a newer internet technology type that uses cellular network technology to deliver an internet connection. 5G Home Internet is popular as a bundled service with a mobile plan from a provider like T-Mobile or Verizon. 

DSL – DSL internet stands for “Digital Subscriber Line,” and uses telephone lines to deliver a connection. DSL speeds are much slower than the other tech types, and many providers have started to phase out DSL service in favor of more advanced technology. 

Why is broadband important?

In the early days of the internet, having a connection in your home was a privilege but not necessary for everyday society’s function. Things have changed since then, and virtually every system in modern times relies on the internet in some manner — and not just any internet connection, but high-speed broadband internet service. 

Whether it’s a government, education, financial or health care institution — or just a small business — broadband service plays a vital role in the everyday functioning of our lives. 

Find out what would happen if the internet shut down for a day.

The digital divide 

Since broadband now plays such a crucial role in daily life, efforts to close the digital divide have taken on renewed importance. According to the FCC, 24 million Americans still like high-speed internet access, most notably those in rural and Tribal areas. 

Efforts to close the gap have come to fruition mainly through the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment Program (BEAD), a federal funding program providing over $42 billion to expand high-speed internet access through planning, infrastructure deployment and adoption programs in all 50 states. 

The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) was also central to providing low-income households with affordable or even free internet, but funding ran out in May 2024. Since then, individual internet providers have introduced their own affordable internet programs geared toward low-income households.

Explore cheap and low-income internet options. 

The future of broadband 

Broadband technology has been consistently advancing year after year, and we can expect to see even faster speeds, advancing technology and more expansion in the future. 

Speed and tech

Until the mid-2000s, the global internet speed was just shy of 1 Mbps. Today, an internet connection has to be at least 100 Mbps to be considered high-speed broadband in the U.S. — and most households need much more than that to support multiple devices streaming, gaming, working and learning from home. 

Internet providers have been increasing their speed tiers in recent years, and multi-gigabit speeds are now quite common. Residential fiber providers like AT&T and Frontier offer speeds up to 5,000 Mbps and others like Optimum and Google Fiber offer speeds as fast as 8,000 Mbps in certain areas. 

This is more speed than the average household needs, but as technology continues to advance, we can expect to see even faster residential speeds going forward.

Expansion 

The main challenges broadband expansion faces are the cost of building out infrastructure and consumer affordability. For internet providers, it makes little sense to invest in broadband expansion in areas with small populations, especially for fiber internet, so they expand in areas with larger populations instead. 

Unfortunately, the unserved and underserved populations are mainly located in rural and Tribal areas with small, spread-out populations. Current expansion initiatives, like the BEAD program, aim to solve these challenges and ensure connectivity for all by 2030.

Learn more about broadband expansion and government funding.

Broadband FAQs