Types of Home Broadband in Ireland

No matter why you’re looking for a new home broadband connection, whether it’s to keep the gamers and streamers in your household happy or to get connected in a new home, there is a lot to consider. 

With so many broadband providers offering different types of connections, it can be difficult to know which option is best for you. 

What are the different types of home broadband? 

What you do online will directly influence which type of home broadband you choose. For example, video games require a faster broadband connection for a good gaming experience than scrolling your socials. Your location will also affect the broadband options available to you. 

When thinking about which provider to go with and which connection type is best for you, there’s a few things we’d recommend. Start with a speed test on your current connection. This will show you the speed you're current getting and help you better understand what is being offered. 

Don’t forget to check the provider’s coverage available in your area. For example, Three’s coverage checker can recommend plans based on your location

We’ve already talked about the difference between 5G and fibre home broadband, but what other options are out there? 

Mobile broadband – self install

Mobile broadband has grown a lot in recent years. Instead of requiring a phone line or any other kind of cable to be installed in your home, wireless home broadband uses 4G and 5G networks. 

One of the biggest benefits of this type of connection is how quickly the networks are expanding. It’s expensive to install fibre networks across the country. However, wireless networks are easier and cheaper to grow at scale, reaching many areas typically stuck on older home internet lines. For this reason, mobile broadband is growing increasingly popular across Ireland.  

Self-install broadband is affordable, quick, and hassle free. To install, all you’ll need to do is plug in the power cable and position the router where there’s a strong signal (usually near a window). It’s a fantastically quick option, perfect if you’re renting and aren’t allowed drill holes for installation. 

Once set up, you’ll be able to connect to superfast internet throughout your home. You can order this online through our broadband deals page or pick up at your local Three store. 

Fixed wireless 5G home broadband

Offering 5G in every county, we knew we could offer Irish customers something amazing with 97% population coverage for 5G.

5G home broadband uses network masts to connect your home to the internet. This means there's no need for additional cables which can take a lot of time and money to install and often result in rural areas struggling to get higher speeds. 5G home broadband offers an excellent solution. 

Fixed wireless access (FWA) is reliable and removes any doubt about setup as an engineer will call out to install and set you up for the best connection possible. 

An FWA connection requires a receiver to be installed on the outside of your home. This then connects directly to a mast in your area. It requires line of sight, but once set up, it’s fast and reliable with low latency.  

You can check out our latest  home broadband deals to see if we offer the connection you’ve been dreaming of.

Fibre broadband 

Fibre broadband is a high-speed internet connection that uses fibre optic cables to connect you to the internet. Fibre’s one of the most popular ways to connect as it is fast and reliable.

It offers its users a fast connection with low latency, making it great for gamers, streamers and those working from home who don’t have time for buffering. 

Because of the fibre optic cables, it’s a more reliable service than traditional broadband, which uses copper cables to connect. 

Fibre broadband is also capable of maintaining its speed while being connected to many devices. This means you’ll be able to connect your smartphones, smart tv, tablets, laptops and even security cameras without impacting performance. 

Cable broadband

Cable broadband is sometimes called part-fibre, because it’s brought into your home using a mix of traditional cable and fibre optic infrastructure. 

It offers users a reliable service with speeds up to 5Gb, which is perfect for a household with multiple devices and moderate to heavy usage.

This type of connection is a fast and reliable home broadband option, and it's available from several providers throughout the country.

While cable broadband is a fast and reliable connection, like fibre, it is reliant on the infrastructure being in place, which can be time consuming to install even when it is available in your area.

Fibre broadband is also capable of maintaining its speed while being connected to many devices. This means you’ll be able to connect your smartphones, smart tv, tablets, laptops and even security cameras without impacting performance. 

Satellite broadband

Another wireless home broadband option is satellite broadband. Just like your satellite TV, this type of home broadband works by installing a dish on your home. Internet access is received from satellites orbiting the Earth communicating directly to your dish. 

In the past, satellite broadband was a last resort as it was expensive and could experience significant latency. But with technology advancing, it’s becoming more appealing, particularly with the public awareness that came with Starlink, owned by SpaceX’s founder Elon Musk.

Satellite broadband is really only suited to or practical for those in rural or remote areas, because it doesn’t require the infrastructure needed for connections like fibre, mobile or fixed wireless broadband.

DSL broadband

DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) broadband delivers internet through traditional copper telephone lines. Unlike traditional dial-up internet, DSL allows you to use the internet and make calls at the same time. 

As technology advances, DSL broadband is gradually being replaced by fibre broadband. This is because fibre optic cables deliver a faster and more reliable service, which is better suited to gaming, streaming and working from home.

Now, we know there’s a lot of choice in Ireland when it comes to picking a broadband provider. Even this big old page of information might not make that easier or any less confusing. 

But the first thing you’ll need to know is your options. What type of broadband available in your area, by visiting broadband providers websites, you’ll be able to check what is available in your area.