Cellular Internet Connection
Internet comes in a variety of connection types and selecting one is similar to ordering from DoorDash—different food chains and restaurants provide different quality meals with different price ranges, the speed at which your food arrives will vary by vehicle of transportation, and you don’t truly realize how many options for food there are until you start scrolling. However you choose to order from DoorDash, whether it’s by smartphone, a tablet, laptop, or even a desktop computer, what all these gadgets have in common are their usage of connectivity technologies, such as the internet, WiFi, Bluetooth, and cellular.
When it comes to the different forms of internet the fifth generation of mobile cellular network, also referred to as “5G,” is the mystical and relatively new technology that has captured everyone’s attention. Based on wireless cellular networks, 5G may not be widely available as of right now, however it shows potential to become a solid home internet type over the next few years. The more common types of internet connection are DSL, fiber, and cable, but you also have satellite internet and fixed wireless in the running. Of all of these, however, a cellular internet connection is the best available option.
What is the difference between Cellular and WiFi?
Cellular and WiFi are both popular connectivity technologies that possess a common feature—access to the internet through wireless connectivity. Given this shared similarity, what is the difference between the two? In short, the primary difference between cellular and WiFi is that cellular devices require a data plan and cellular towers to support internet access whereas WiFi requires wireless devices to connect to a router for internet access.
WiFi, which contrary to popular belief doesn’t stand for anything and is simply a user-friendly term the wireless industry created, is by definition the wireless technology used to connect computers, tablets, smartphones, and other wireless devices to the internet. It is the radio signal sent from a router to a nearby device, which is then translated into data you can see and use. The device being used transmits a radio signal back to the router, which then connects to the internet by wire or cable.
A WiFi network is an internet connection that is shared with several devices in a house or business through a wireless router that is connected directly to your internet modem. A modem is a box that connects one’s home network to the wider internet, while a router is simply a box that lets all of one’s wired and wireless devices use the internet connection created by the modem box all at once. To paint this into a clearer picture, imagine a suburb and a highway; the houses within the suburb represent wireless devices and the streets winding through the suburb connect these people as a router would connect said devices and allow them to talk to one another. These “router” streets guide the people from their homes to the main highway, or in this case the modem box, that then connects them to the world and can take them to any location they desire just as a modem provides home devices a connection to the magical internet.
Unlike WiFi networks, cellular (or mobile) network is a type of wireless connection facilitated by cellular towers. People generally use cellular networks for making phone calls, streaming videos, and browsing the internet. Cellular internet can be accessed from nearly anywhere as long as there are cellular towers nearby and your mobile devices are connected through a cellular provider such as AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, Sprint, etc. The strength of the internet may be hindered by any obstacles that may interfere with the connection (trees, buildings, terrain), however the more cellular towers there are, the faster and more reliable your cellular network will be.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Cellular Internet
There are advantages and disadvantages to the use of cellular as a primary internet connection. The necessity of cell towers is arguably both a positive and negative aspect to cellular internet. While it vastly expands the range of internet connection whereas, for example, WiFi is wholly restricted to the limits of a router, you also must be near a cell tower to attain internet access and ensure there are no obstacles hindering your internet connection. The range is not completely limitless, though it is indeed expanded significantly.
Another disadvantage that comes with cellular internet applies to the cellphone and data plan you choose to pay for. You must have a cellphone plan that includes cellular data and unless you’re paying for an unlimited data plan, you have to keep a watchful eye on how much data you use or you could be facing a costly bill at the end of the month.
On the other hand, thanks to the world of technology that is actively evolving, we are living in a mobile world. Now, our productivity increases when we use our mobile devices rather than stalls—work calls can be hosted on laptops rather than be in person, emails sent by our phones, there are apps we can download that are designed to better organize our daily schedule and to-do lists to ensure we get all our work done in a timely manner (Google Keep, Microsoft To Do, and Evernote serve as examples). Furthermore, a regular mobile device has a large storage capacity, allowing you download all the apps you need to get through the day, whether in regard to work, food, relaxation, or entertainment. All these benefits are accessible anywhere you go thanks to cellular networks.
Another major advantage to using cellular as a primary internet connection is cloud computing. Cloud computing means your data is saved in secure places online. If you lose your device, your data is still saved in these cloud-based apps. For example, say you’ve been building a work presentation on your laptop that only needs some minor tweaking but your laptop suddenly dies; you can simply pull out your phone and make any necessary adjustments through that mobile device instead. There are a variety of these cloud-based apps, such as Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive, Dropbox, and Google Photos.
Conclusion
There are a variety of internet connectivity options one can utilize, ranging from cable to wired to wireless, however cellular networks are swiftly becoming the most advantageous and beneficial. A cellular network is a type of wireless connection that accesses the internet through cellular towers. With this form of internet connection, your devices must be cellular (mobile, such as a smartphone or tablet) and have a data plan through a cellular provider (Verizon, Sprint, etc.), and you must be within the range of a cellular tower—the greater the quantity of towers, the stronger your internet access and connection will be. Using cellular as a primary internet connection is both safer because of the use of cloud computing, and it allows you to take advantage of the ever-evolving nature of cellular tech that allows us to do almost anything on our smart devices.
