With the globe accepting the internet and getting hooked to it, there have been multiple technological advancements in this arena, which thankfully equates to people having access to quicker broadband speeds. Also, Wi-Fi has upgraded enormously to meet broadband developments.

Broadband

Broadband is a broad or wide bandwidth data transmission. It is a high-speed signal, which is transferred through fibre optic cables or coaxial copper cables.

Wi-Fi

In contrast, Wi-Fi is a wireless connection that uses radio frequency signals to effectively connect your devices to an internet network.

What’s the confusion with the word “Wi-Fi”?

Over the years, as we steadily moved towards the smartphone-dominated arena, many of you would have started addressing the internet as Wi-Fi – as that’s what you get connected to through your phone at home, work or wherever you travel – so that you do not consume your mobile data cap instantly. However, connecting to your Wi-Fi permits your device to interact back and forth using your router.

In fact, even if you don’t log in with your internet service provider, you can connect to your Wi-Fi router by selecting the right name of the Wi-Fi SSID and inputting the right passcode. Post this, you can browse through any social media channel or website.

Wait, are Wi-Fi and broadband the same?

No, as covered above, Wi-Fi is a wireless network which you can use in your house to connect your phone to your router. In contrast, wireless broadband is a kind of internet network connected to nearby cell towers (the same as your mobile network would do when you use it out). Using the signal, it receives and sends the data through the nearby cell towers. Even if you are using a wireless broadband connection you would require connecting your phone to your Wi-Fi router to make perfect use of this connection at your home.

What’s the difference between Wi-Fi and broadband

Broadband and Wi-Fi are two distinct entities with the major fact being Wi-Fi connects with the broadband through a router. The cable that connects to your residence is your broadband and when such network signals are attached to a wireless router, then it is a wireless WI-FI network. In this manner, WI-FI distributes the wireless internet network to various internet-enabled devices via radio waves.

Basically, WI-FI is a wireless internet connection in a home or business that efficiently connects your computer or phone to your router or modem, while broadband refers to an actual network connection that your router or modem uses to receive and send data from your home to a wider world.

As we have chalked out ways how both WI-FI and broadband function, let’s understand the major distinctions between both connections –

·       Basic difference between WI-FI and broadband is that WI-FI makes use of wireless technology to endow access to an internet network. It locates the radio signals to establish a connection with the nearby devices. Broadband internet is a wireless or wired computer network and is available on an international scale, which endows access to you as a user so that you can connect your electronic device easily to the internet network and share information. Broadband, on the other hand, makes use of an industry-standard mode of communication protocol to endow internet access to you as a consumer.

·       Broadband offers internet services to various devices attached to a single internet network. WI-FI helps in efficiently connecting distinct devices wirelessly to attain network service.

·       The next crucial point of distinction between WI-FI and broadband is interdepend ability. Broadband can endow internet connection to you without the need for WI-FI. Without WI-FI, a broadband network connection will be a wired connection. WI-FI removes the need for wires. However, the other way around isn’t possible. WI-FI cannot offer access to the internet without a broadband network.

·       Coverage area is another point of distinction between broadband and WI-FI. The coverage area for a WI-FI is just a few yards. Note that the WI-FI signal weakens with the increase in the coverage area. So, you may witness a slowdown as and when you deviate from the router. While there is zero defined distance range for broadband, an individual in one corner of the globe can simply access the internet to share the info with another individual anywhere throughout the globe.

·       Also, there is a difference in the number of users accessing this service. In a WI-FI set up more the users access the WI-FI, the slower the service. This is because WI-FI is a means of service to offer you as a user with smooth internet access. So, WI-FI can shoulder a fixed load, and going beyond the load may negatively impact the signal strength. On the contrary, broadband from a good internet service provider enables unlimited users to simply connect to the internet network at once.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of a broadband network?

Pros –

·         There are zero requirements to switch off or on the connection on a periodic basis and the connection is all the time available. It would endow you with a good internet connection and you can simply download and upload huge files at a similar speed.

·       As it is a connection cabled in nature, you may not witness an intermittent slowdown. The high speed often is constant.

·       The connection is secure as well as economical.

Cons –

·       Broadband connection by nature is secure in the sense that other users cannot establish proper access to the connection without you providing your login credentials.

·       Connection to the system will be via the broadband cable.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of using a WI-FI network?

Pros –

·       It endows a high-speed internet connection and getting connected is instant in nature.

·       The WI-FI device allows multiple devices to get connected to it.

·       Pricing is affordable. It majorly is based on the internet service provider, and you must look for the one that offers a plan matching your need at an affordable cost.

Cons –

·       One of the major drawbacks of WI-FI is, it cannot be looked upon as a totally secure system and you must have knowledge about the packet sniffers. Packet analysers or packet sniffers do not cause any harm to the network but can cause harm at an individual level as they may allow hackers to get access to your confidential details like passcodes, PINs, etc. and more particularly, the information that is in standard text.