Internet connections

To e-mail and surf the Internet, you need a connection: something that connects the Internet and your PC, laptop, tablet or smartphone. You usually need a subscription with an internet provider for this. This gives you access to the internet for a fee. Well-known internet providers are KPN, Vodafone, Tele2, Ziggo and UPC, but there are many more.

Internet is nowadays almost exclusively offered via the broadband connection. Internet by dialing into your fixed telephone line (whereby the telephone cannot be used simultaneously) is almost non-existent. Here we therefore only discuss the broadband connection.

Broadband does not refer to the dimensions of a cable, but refers to the speed of the connection. Broadband internet is a fast connection. Websites are displayed quickly and the downloading of files is also fast. A broadband connection means fast internet, without a time limit. The connection is always active whether you use it or not. A broadband connection indicates several types of connections:

• ADSL
• Cable
• Optical fiber
• Mobile Internet

The difference between ADSL and cable is the following: ADSL uses the telephone line for the Internet connection, cable uses the cable connection. We will discuss fiber optics and UMTS (mobile internet) below.

In a fiber optic connection, the cables do not consist of copper strands, but of glass fibers. Signals travel much faster over fiber than over traditional copper cables. Fiber optic is therefore much faster than most broadband connections. But as an average user, you don’t need those high speeds. There is also a nice price tag on fiberglass.

Fiber optic is not available everywhere in the Netherlands. It still has to be built in many places. You can check whether fiber optic is available in your street here: Where is fiber optic?

To connect to the internet via ADSL, cable or fiber optic, you need a modem with your internet subscription. You get or buy the modem from the internet provider when you take out an internet subscription. Anyone who chooses an internet connection for their home can choose whether they want it wired or wireless. Wired means that there is a cable between the modem and your computer. Wireless means that there will be a WiFi network that will send the signal wirelessly. You can read more about this in the article ‘Wireless networks’.

You pay a fixed monthly fee for an internet subscription. The price of internet subscriptions varies widely. Count on a price from twenty euros per month. The cost of the connection increases if you want a faster connection. This speed is expressed in megabits per second (Mb/s).

In addition, most providers offer all-in-one packages. This includes an internet subscription, a telephone connection and digital television. You have to assess for yourself whether it is cheaper to take such a package instead of just an internet subscription. On the website Compare ISPs you can compare subscriptions.

• When purchasing a broadband connection, always opt for installation by a technician, both for wireless internet and wired internet. The installation (and sometimes the modem as well) is often free with the purchase of an internet connection.
• Most providers offer (sometimes at an additional cost) a spam filter and protection against viruses that you receive via email. Mind you, a good antivirus program on your own computer is still necessary!
• You are reading this article, so you are now on the internet. Then you can go through the websites internetten.nl and Breedbandwinkel.nl You can also compare all internet providers and see which provider offers connections in your region.

There is mobile internet for using the internet when you are on the road, for example on a smartphone, tablet or laptop. The providers of mobile internet use mobile networks. That is quite a technical story, with difficult terms such as UMTS and HDSPA.

What it comes down to is that you take out a subscription for mobile internet, and that you can then surf the internet outside your home via the mobile networks. If you have a smartphone or tablet, you will receive a so-called SIM card. Your device usually connects to the available network automatically. The 3G, 4G network is used for mobile internet. The 5G network will be released in July 2021. Which one you have at your disposal depends on the provider.

If you want mobile internet on your laptop, you can take out a subscription. Usually the connection to the mobile network is made via a USB stick or a so-called dongle.

Until a while ago, people with a mobile internet subscription could make unlimited use of the network. Watching videos and especially downloading files consumes a lot of data traffic capacity. That is why the providers have decided to change the subscriptions. If you take out a subscription now, check carefully how much data data you are allowed to use. Above a certain amount, the speed of the connection is usually reduced or you pay extra for the consumption. Your provider can tell you all about it.

Wifi is a wireless internet connection. Many people have such a connection at home these days. But you can also use a WiFi network in more and more public places. For example in a cafe, hotel or train. If you want to use the internet with a smartphone, tablet or laptop outside the home, a mobile internet subscription is therefore not necessary. If you use public Wi-Fi networks, please pay attention to your safety. Read more about this in the article ‘Safe internet on the go’.