Broadband: Technology comparison

With xDSL, cable/DOCSIS, the optical fibre technology, radio broadcasts and new mobile standards, a variety of broadband technologies are available on the market that ensure reliable broadband services. However, it is important to choose a technology that is suitable for the individual region. Below, the main characteristics of each technology are summarised. An overview table allows for quick comparison at a glance.

Wired Broadband Technologies

ADSL, ADSL2, ADSL2+

Downstream/Upstream rate: 24/3 Mbps

Efficiency range: 5 km

Infrastructure Architecture: internet access by transmitting digital data over the wires of a local telephone network copper line terminates at telephone exchange

Suitability: use of existing telephone infrastructure; fast to install; small efficiency range due to the line resistance of copper connection lines

VDSL, VDSL2, Vectoring, 35b Supervectoring

Downstream/Upstream rate: 250/40 Mbps

Efficiency range: up to 300 meters - 1 km

Infrastructure Architecture: internet access by transmitting digital data over the wires of a local telephone network copper line terminates at street cabinet (VDSL); Vectoring allows elimination of cross talks for higher bandwidths.

Suitability: use of existing telephone infrastructure; fast to install; small efficiency range due to the line resistance of copper connection lines

Future of the technology: further speed and range improvements by enhancing and combining new DSL-based technologies (phantom mode, bonding, vectoring); bridge technology towards complete fibre optic cable infrastructure

G.Fast

Downstream/Upstream rate: Gbps bandwidths possible

Efficiency range: up to 100 m

Infrastructure Architecture: G.Fast: Frequency increase up to 212 MHz to achieve higher bandwidth

Suitability: use of existing telephone infrastructure; fast to install; small efficiency range due to the line resistance of copper connection lines

Future of the technology: further speed and range improvements by enhancing and combining new DSL-based technologies (phantom mode, bonding, vectoring); bridge technology towards complete fibre optic cable infrastructure

CATV & DOCSIS

Downstream/Upstream rate (DOCSIS 3.0): 1 Gbps/200 Mbps

Efficiency range: 2-100 km

Infrastructure Architecture: coaxial cable in the streets and buildings; fibre at the feeder segments. Network extensions to provide backward channel functionality

Suitability: use of existing cable television infrastructure; fast to install; high transmission rates

Future of the technology: Further implementation of new standards (DOCSIS 3.1 & 4.0) allow provisions of higher bandwidth to end-users. DOCSIS 4.0 enables multi-gigabit symmetrical speeds while retaining backward compatibility with DOCSIS 3.1.

Optical Fibre Cable

Downstream/Upstream rate: 10/10 Gbps (and more)

Efficiency range: 10-60 km

Infrastructure Architecture: signal transmission via fibre; distribution of signals by electrically powered network equipment or unpowered optical splitters

Suitability: highest bandwidth capacities; high efficiency range; high investment costs; bandwidth depends on the transformation of the optical into electronic signals at the curb (FTTC), building (FTTB) or home (FTTH)

Future of the technology: Next generation technology to meet future bandwidth demands

Wireless Broadband Technologies

LTE (Advanced) (4G)

Downstream/Upstream rate: 300/75 Mbps

Efficiency range: 3-6 km

Infrastructure Architecture: mobile devices send and receive radio signals with any number of cell site base stations fitted with microwave antennas; sites connected to a cabled communication network and switching system

Suitability: highly suitable for coverage of remote areas (esp. 800 MHz); quickly and easily implementable; shared medium; limited frequencies

Future of the technology: commercial deployment of new standards with additional features (HSPA+, 5G) and provision of more frequency spectrum blocks (490 - 700 MHz); meets future needs of mobility and bandwidth

5G

Downstream/Upstream rate: 10/1 Gbps

Efficiency range: 3-6 km

Infrastructure Architecture: mobile devices send and receive radio signals with any number of cell site base stations fitted with microwave antennas; sites connected to a cabled communication network and switching system

Suitability: high achievable data rates; low latency; high reliability; higher frequency bands; advanced multi-antenna transmission; handling of extreme device densities; flexible spectrum usage

Future of the technology: meets future needs of mobility and bandwidth; enables connectivity for a wide range of new applications

GEO Satellite

Downstream/Upstream rate: 100/20 Mbps (ViaSat-2)

Efficiency range: High

Infrastructure Architecture: End-user terminals (e.g. satellite dishes) send and receive signals to/from geostationary satellites orbiting at ~36,000 km altitude. These satellites relay the signal to and from terrestrial ground stations (gateway hubs) connected to the global internet backbone. Communication involves long-distance radio wave propagation, introducing higher latency (~600ms). The entire network includes satellite payloads, ground infrastructure, and user-side equipment, forming a bi-directional link between users and internet services via space-based transmission.

Suitability: highly suitable for coverage of remote areas; quickly and easily implementable; run time latency; asymmetrical

Future of the technology: speeds over 100 Mbps based on the next generation of high-throughput satellites (e.g. ViaSat-3)

LEO Satellites

Downstream/Upstream rate: 50–250 Mbps down / 10–40 Mbps up, with latency 20–40 ms, signal distribution to user via WiFi/4G/5G

Efficiency range: High

Infrastructure Architecture: User terminals (e.g. phased-array antennas) connect to satellites in low Earth orbit (~340–2,000 km altitude). These satellites form a moving mesh network that dynamically routes data between themselves and down to terrestrial ground stations linked to the internet backbone. Because LEO satellites constantly move, continuous service requires handovers between satellites and ground stations. The system includes satellite constellations, ground gateways, user terminals, and control systems to manage orbital paths and connectivity, enabling low-latency, high-speed broadband access across wide and remote areas.

Suitability: reduced latency; affordable internet access possible; controlling by the necessary ground stations of non-stationary flying satellites is very challenging

Future of the technology: internet service for very rural and remote areas possible

INTERNET balloons

Downstream/Upstream rate: Signal distribution to user via WiFi/LTE/HSPA

Efficiency range: ~80 to 100 km in diameter per balloon

Infrastructure Architecture: Internet balloons operate at altitudes of around 18–20 km in the stratosphere. Each balloon carries a transceiver that establishes a wireless connection with ground-based antennas (on rooftops or ground stations) using LTE or WiFi signals. These airborne base stations are networked either through satellite links or point-to-point laser/radio communication between balloons. Data is then routed from the balloon to the internet backbone via terrestrial ground stations. The balloons are remotely steered using altitude adjustments to navigate wind currents.

Suitability: currently in a testing phase; challenging controlling; controlling by the necessary ground stations of non-stationary flying balloons is very challenging. Project Loon closed in 2021 due to economic non-viability.

Future of the technology: internet service for very rural and remote areas possible

Wi-Fi (802.11n) (IEEE 802.11ad)

Downstream/Upstream rate: 600/600 Mbps (802.11n); 6.7 Gbps (IEEE 802.11ad)

Efficiency range: indoor 70/ outdoor 250 m (802.11n); 3.3 m (IEEE 802.11ad)

Infrastructure Architecture: Wi-Fi operates through wireless access points (APs) connected to a local area network (LAN) or internet router. User devices connect to these APs via unlicensed spectrum (e.g., 2.4 GHz for 802.11n; 60 GHz for 802.11ad). The APs serve as the bridge between wireless users and the broader internet, using Ethernet or fibre connections for backhaul. Wi-Fi networks are typically local and decentralised.

Suitability: inexpensive and proven; quickly and easily implementable; small efficiency range; shared medium

Future of the technology: increased use of hotspots at central places

WiMAX

Downstream/Upstream rate: 6/4 Mbps; 70 Mbps (IEEE802.16e)

Efficiency range: 60 km line-of-sight (LOS) in rural or flat areas; in urban settings, range is much shorter.

Infrastructure Architecture: WiMAX uses fixed or mobile base stations with sector antennas to wirelessly connect end-user terminals over licensed or unlicensed bands. These base stations are connected to the internet backbone via fibre or microwave links. It supports both point-to-multipoint (PMP) and mesh network topologies.

Suitability: inexpensive and proven; quickly and easily implementable; high efficiency range; shared medium

Future of the technology: it has been continually replaced by Wi-Fi and 4G/5G technologies. As a result, it no longer plays a significant role, and further developments are not expected.

LiFi

Downstream/Upstream rate: Up to 224 Gbps under laboratory conditions; typically ranges from hundreds of Mbps to low Gbps in practical deployments.

Efficiency range: several meters

Infrastructure Architecture: mobile devices transmit and receive light-based data signals using LEDs and photodetectors. These signals are then routed through LiFi access points, which are connected to a wired communication network and switching system.

Suitability: only delivers communication over short ranges; low reliability; high installation costs; only effective and permanent within closed rooms

Future of the technology: useful in electromagnetic sensitive areas such as in aircraft cabins, hospitals and nuclear power plants where it can provide wireless communication without causing electromagnetic interference.