Table of contents
- Fixed Wireless Internet
- DSL
- Key Takeaways
Advancing technology is changing how we consume entertainment content in our daily lives. More and more people are cutting the cord, choosing a completely wireless lifestyle where they are not tied to a cable TV connection and instead sailing smoothly on an on-demand streaming platform.
With more than 15000 titles available, Netflix is one of the biggest OTT platforms that everyone just loves. From creating its own originals to having a library full of popular classics and present-day content like FRIENDS, House of Cards, and many more.
It is inevitable to live without a subscription to this OTT platform. However, living in rural America poses some disadvantages to people who are fans of streaming. Limited internet options and slow internet speeds are a prevalent issue in rural America that still needs a lot of development and work.
According to stats by Census Bureau, at least 1 in 5 Americans live in rural America. In those terms, there are so many people who could be missing out on good quality content on Netflix due to glitchy internet. However, this problem does not come without a solution. There are a bunch of internet types that are primarily targeted towards providing internet access in rural areas.
For Netflix streaming, there are internet speed requirements and some bandwidth issues that you must consider. So, let’s take a look at some of the most common rural internet options and which one of these is good for Netflix streaming.
Fixed Wireless Internet
Fixed wireless internet works by using airwaves to deliver internet to its end users. It delivers the internet signals created by cell towers or access points, and broadcasts these signals to the reception dishes that are installed on the user’s premises. By using the line-of-sight technology, this type of internet works without any cables, unlike DSL or any other typical wired internet connection type. Don’t confuse this with mobile or cellular networks. A mobile network connects to any device that is in range of a broadcast tower. Fixed wireless is directed towards specific end-users and uses completely wireless connectivity to broadcast the internet signals.
Coverage
It is available in 46% of the US. It is more readily available and a primary source of internet in rural and suburban areas.
Average Speed
The speeds offered by fixed wireless are comparable to DSL. You can get speeds ranging between 5 and 50 Mbps. On average, you get 10-20 Mbps of internet speed with fixed wireless.
Providers
Rise Broadband is the largest provider of fixed wireless internet in America. AT&T is another major provider of fixed wireless internet.
Verdict
While internet speeds offered by fixed wireless are almost the same as DSL internet, the latency is definitely lesser. Plus, fixed wireless internet has an extensive coverage area particularly for the rural communities, making it suitable for Netflix streaming. Its 20-50 Mbps speeds can be ideal for basic SD streaming on multiple devices.
DSL
DSL internet delivers internet to its users over telephone lines. Don’t confuse this with dial-up internet as that is entirely different and the only common thing between the two is that they use telephone infrastructure to create an internet signal. The biggest advantage of DSL is that it does not have shared bandwidth, so peak-time usage will not affect the internet speeds.
Coverage
As of now, DSL is one of the most widely available internet types, with coverage in almost 89% of America. It is also an older internet type compared to cable and fiber internet.
Average Speed
DSL internet provides 5 to 25 Mbps of internet on average. Its speeds are usually all under 100 Mbps . However, certain ISPs do offer DSL speeds above 100 Mbps via their hybrid fiber-DSL networks.
Providers
- Earthlink internet
- CenturyLink
- Windstream
- Frontier
Verdict:
DSL provides ample internet speeds for basic SD streaming on Netflix. Its average speed is 5 Mbps, which is good for 1-2 users. It has multiple providers in the country, but Earthlink is one of the latest DSL providers with excellent coverage.
Key Takeaways
- Internet options in rural America are limited. However, providers like Rise Broadband and Earthlink put in extra efforts to increase their service coverage by using technologies like fixed wireless and DSL.
- DSL internet promises 5 to 25 Mbps of average speeds. However, these speeds are only theoretical and the actual DSL speeds can be a little disappointing. For this reason, DSL is good for streaming Netflix in SD only for 1-2 users.
- Fixed wireless offers average internet speeds as high as 50 Mbps. This, along with its low latency quality, makes it ideal for streaming Netflix in HD on a device, or in SD on multiple devices.
- Rise Broadband is the largest fixed wireless internet provider.
- Earthlink piggyback on pre-existing internet cables to provide DSL internet in rural America. However, speed availability is variable and a little confusing. It is best to reach out to Earthlink customer service to find available speeds in your area.
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