Updated: May 11, 2012
Obtaining a high speed Internet connection in a rural area can be a challenge depending on your location. This is because most rural areas are not equipped with Digital Subscriber Lines (DSL) or cable access due to the excessive cost of installation by the cable providers. Up until the last decade, the only type of Internet access available was dial-up through your telephone line. Dial-up access is also the slowest Internet connection available and certainly does not accommodate a lot of the current day bandwidth-intensive applications such as video streaming, VoIP programs such as Skype, and home entertainment options such as Internet TV.
So if you live in a rural area and do not have access to a Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) or cable connection what are your options?
Options for Broadband in Rural Areas
Although government agencies are working with cellular carriers to bring broadband to underserved areas, if the area in which you live has still been left behind when it comes to high speed Internet access don’t give up. You do have some options available when it comes to achieving a high speed broadband Internet connection. Here are a few possibilities that are worth looking into:
- Satellite Internet: If DSL or cable is not available in your area you may want to consider a satellite Internet connection. Regardless of where you live you can achieve a high-speed connection as long as you have a clear view of the southern sky.
A satellite Internet connection involves the installation of a satellite dish that picks up a high-speed broadband signal from the southern sky. This makes it possible for even the most remote locations to achieve a high-speed Internet connection. You can obtain a high speed broadband Internet connection via satellite through providers such as HughesNet, DISH Internet, and Wild Blue.
With a satellite Internet connection you will have the expense of the satellite installation and then a monthly fee depending upon the service plan that you choose. The connection is very consistent with the exception of the occasional heavy storm or excessive cloud cover.
- Mobile Broadband: Using a broadband card to achieve a high speed connection is another option for rural areas. If you have access to cellular telephone service you can obtain a MiFi device or USB dongle. A MiFi device is about the size of a credit card and allows you to set up a mobile hotspot using your cellular carrier service. Cell phone providers also offer USB dongles and Internet cards which plug into the USB connection or PCMIA port on your PC to allow access to high speed broadband Internet via your 3G or 4G carrier service. You can obtain this type of connectivity through your local cellular phone provider but keep in mind that some of the carriers require a contract with an added monthly service fee on top of your regular monthly cell phone bill. You must also be able to access a cell phone signal from the rural area where you are located.
- Tethering Hotspot: Some of the cellular carriers are offering tethering hotspot plans which allow you to tether your smartphone to your PC to achieve a high speed broadband Internet connection. In order to establish a connection using this method both devices must be equipped with Bluetooth capability.
If your cellular carrier does not offer a plan you can still tether your smartphone to your laptop and then connect through your 3G or 4G data plan. The process involves activating the Bluetooth service on both devices so they recognize one another and then you simply choose the appropriate WiFi network which is relevant to your smartphone.
The only drawback to using this method is the use of data for your 3G or 4G service. Depending upon the data plan you have with your cellular carrier overage fees may apply if you exceed your data limit. It is wise to check on this before considering this option for high speed broadband Internet.
- BPL: This is a relatively new technology which is up and coming and represents a real possibility for high speed broadband in rural areas. BPL stands for broadband over power lines and utilizes conventional power lines to establish a high speed Internet connection via the AC outlets in your home. It works by plugging an adapter into any available AC outlet to achieve high speed Internet access in any room of your home. The concept is currently being tested and is being used in a few different areas. Many expect it to expand to a wide variety of areas within the next few years.
- Long Range WiFi Antenna: This is a less common way to achieve a high-speed broadband Internet connection. Nevertheless it is worth looking into because the concept is being deployed in a few rural areas. A long range WiFi connection involves placing an antenna on the outside of your home to achieve a high speed access connection that is several miles away.
The concept was developed for businesses that operate from a remote site and second homeowners that have a vacation home in a remote location. You can check to see if long range WiFi is being used in your local area. If it is available there is a connection service fee and then a monthly fee thereafter.
- WiMax: If you are fortunate enough to be located within range of 4G connectivity with your cellular phone service, you can achieve a high speed Internet connection using WiMax which is much faster than a Digital Subscriber Line (DSL). WiMax is provided by a company called Imagine which provides you with a WiMax Home Hub which is a package that contains the hub unit, power cable, Ethernet cable, and a quick start guide. The power cable connects to the hub and then the Ethernet cable connects the hub to your PC.
Although the hub is a wireless connection the Ethernet cable is necessary to perform the setup and configuration. Once you are setup you will be taken to an interface when you open your browser. From there you will be prompted to enter your PIN number and use the setup wizard which walks you through the installation process. It is also possible to connect your phone to the hub to enjoy high quality phone service.
Hopefully, some of these options will help you to achieve high speed broadband Internet access if you live in a rural area. It is also important to mention that it is well worthwhile to stay updated on the latest trends in high speed Internet connectivity in rural areas. There are many initiatives underway to extend the reach of broadband plus, there are new technologies being developed which will help to accommodate those in remote or rural areas.
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{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
Good article for rural area connectivity. I didnt know there were that many options for getting broadband in the rural area.
I live half a mile out of town and can’t get DSl or cable internet. The long range Wifi is their a certain atenna you need to buy or how does it work?
God I cannot wait for 100 mps home connections
! Bring on the fiber
Me and my family live at a camp surrounded by broadband internet users, and yet, we can’t get it. That long-range wifi thing:I have friends thtat live at homes within a 1-3 mile zone that have wifi at their house, and I was wanting to know how much that antenna cost and specifically what it is. And if we couldn’t get that(that wouldn’t be the first time we’ve heard that), what could we get? Someone plz respond ASAP
and also, we don’t have major amounts of income, so if u could find something dirt cheap or surpirsingly affordable, that would help. God bless.
Don’t forget broadband over power lines:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_line_communication
A few additional points that may be of interest:
It’s fairly well understood that if you can get DSL or cable, do it. Either will be a better bang-for-the-buck than these other alternatives we are discussing.
For broadband wireless (Verizon, Sprint, etc.), now that EVDO and other high-speed wireless connections are becoming more available, this should probably be your next choice after DSL or cable. Note that some locations on the edge of wireless coverage may be able to increase signal strength (and thus connection reliability and speed) through the use of appropriate antennas. The site http://www.evdoforums.com has a lot of helpful information on this technique. I don’t think that is what the author means by “long range wifi” but I could be wrong.
The WiMax version of broadband wireless (Clearwire, etc.) is attractive if you have it available in your area, but despite early promise, the growth of coverage has been disappointingly slow.
For fixed wireless (mostly from local ISPs), if it is available in your area, prices will vary widely. In addition, in many areas only line-of-sight is supported, which means in areas with forests and hills, etc., your chances of getting a signal depend entirely on your local geography. (There are places where you can get non-line-of-sight fixed wireless but this is less common.) Otherwise, as my local fixed wireless guy suggested, you may have to build a 90′ tower to get it. I believe this is what the author is referring to by “long range wifi” — in any event, it is completely different from the WiFi routers, etc., that you see at Best Buy.
For satellite (WildBlue, Hughes, etc.): there is an inherent high latency to satellite communications that cannot be fixed. This will cause the advertised theoretical speed to disappoint users when it comes to real-life experiences. The effect is most evident on gaming, but can also negatively affect the apparent speed of loading complex web pages such as many web-shopping sites.
Despite Tucker’s suggestion, BPL doesn’t seem to be getting any traction in the market, and you are not likely to have it in your area. (Sorry! The idea does have its attractions!)
Two other alternatives not even touched upon in the article:
ISDN is available in many places that don’t have DSL or cable. It’s an older technology, and limited to 128k/128k, but the signal quality tends to be rock-solid, latency is not a problem, and it can be provided at distances far exceeding DSL. It uses 2 regular copper phone lines just like your old-fashioned landlines.
And finally, for the rich and desperate, don’t forget you can always swing for the fences and get a T1 line. A whole T1 is expensive ($400-500-and up/monthly) and has so much bandwidth that it probably exceeds your needs by a ridiculous amount. HOWEVER, you may be able to sign up for a fractional T1 for less money and still get a lot of bandwidth and excellent speed and latency. Plus, T1 lines come with a quality/service commitment and so downtimes are taken seriously and fixed soonest.
I have actually used nearly all of the access methods mentioned above (not fixed wireless or BPL). In terms of overall desirability (ignoring cost) I would rate them, from best to worse, in this order:
1. T3/FrameRelay/etc
So expensive and so much bandwidth even the rich don’t order it for their houses, just for businesses.
2. T1 (whole/fractional)
Expensive. Fast. Reliable. As much bandwidth as you want — and you can pay for.
3. DSL (tied)
3. Cable (tied)
More-or-less equal but in any given area, one may have a better price/performance than another. This should be the default choice for most residential users if either are available to you.
5. Fixed wireless (tied)
5. Broadband wireless (tied)
Regular broadband wireless is much more broadly available.
7. ISDN (tied, sort of)
7. Satellite
ISDN much better for gamers and possibly for general web browsing. Satellite better at big massive downloads.
9. Dialup
Need I say more?
Hope that helps somebody!
Could anyone tell me if there is a high speed internet service in Blackstock Ontario? I know that Bell Canada I offering now available but it seems expensive.
I ws at a meeting at tumbling shoals and live at drasco are w going to get better internet besides the att air card if so let me know when.
The wireless anteannes are probably the way to go and I don’t know why the wireless companies include them in their service. Also, cell towers can be modified to enhance certain areas, at least I was told this by sales staff. I live .5 mile away from a DSL/Fibre Optic, but will never be able to connect due to not enough homes in the area. It seems like the the DSL substations could erect mini-towers that would bring wireless DSL to homes a mile away.
Correction: “The wireless anteannes are probably the way to go and I don’t know why the wireless companies include them in their service.” This was meant to read, The wireless anteannes are probably the way to go and I don’t know why the wireless companies don’t include them as a service option. A wireless company could partner with an anteanne company and possiblly offer installation at a reduced amount.