Two men standing at a computer with one engaged with a video game.

A family using internet connected devices in their kitchen.

A person with glasses looking at a computer.

A visualization of data traversing through cables symbolizing an internet network.

A person looking at their phone in front of a building.

A person working remotely with Wi-Fi from their Gateway

A close view of multi-colored fiber optic cables.

A smiling couple looking at their mobile devices.

A person deciding to use WIFI or 5G on his phone

A person working remotely with Wi-Fi from their Gateway.

Person thinking about the difference between a router and a modem

What is Wi-Fi 7? Are Wi-Fi 7 speeds really that fast? This guide breaks down the newest wireless standard and how it will help keep us seamlessly connected.

What Is Wi-Fi 7: Key Features, Real-World Applications, & More!

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Home

What is Wi-Fi 7: Unpacking the Newest Wireless Standard 

The Signal

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T-Mobile Home Internet

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Rebecca.Beers

Find the best internet speed for streaming, gaming, and working from home. Learn Mbps recommendations to keep your connection fast and reliable.

What Internet Speed Do You Need

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What Internet Speed Do I Need?

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See how a MoCA (Multimedia over Coax Alliance) network could give you a more reliable home internet connection, and learn how MoCA network adapters work.

What is a MoCA Network?

What Is a MoCA Network? A Guide to Faster, More Reliable Home Internet

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Do you know the difference between DSL internet, fiber internet, cable internet, and fixed wireless (5G Home Internet)? Here’s a quick breakdown of them all.

DSL Vs. Fiber Vs. Cable Vs. 5G Home Internet

DSL vs. Fiber vs. Cable vs. 5G Home Internet

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What are good download and upload speeds? Get the facts and learn how they play a role in keeping you connected.

Upload Vs. Download Speed: What You Need To Know

Upload vs. Download Speed: What You Need to Know

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What’s a public vs. private IP address? How about static vs. dynamic IP setups? Or IPv4 vs. IPv6 differences? See this helpful guide.

A Guide To Public vs Private & Static vs Dynamic IP Addresses

A Guide to Public vs. Private vs. Static vs. Dynamic IP Addresses

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Discover the different types of fiber optic cables and the benefits of fiber optic internet. Compare fiber connections with other types of home internet.

Fiber Optic Internet Cables: Benefits, Types, and the Right Plan for You

All Things Fiber Optic Internet Cables 

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Everyone wants the best deals for internet services. But with so many seemingly great internet offers out there, how can you decide? We'll help get you started.

How To Find The Best Deals On Internet Services

How To Find The Best Deals On Internet Service

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As mentioned earlier, depending on what devices you’re using on a regular basis, finding a plan with the right speeds is important. When reviewing different home internet plans, you’ll mostly be looking for download speeds, since you'll need more bandwidth to download (get information) than to upload (send information). Download speeds are measured in megabits per second (Mpbs) and gigabits per second (Gbps). If you only use Wi-Fi for a little web browsing and connecting a mobile device, a basic plan will work. But if you stream high-def video, love gaming, are constantly on video calls, and/or own a lot of smart devices, your needs will be different. 

Do you have a major need for speed?

Maybe, above all else, you love the freedom of putting your devices exactly where you want them. Or perhaps you just hate the look and feel of jumbled wires and complicated installs. Either way, you may want to step outside of <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/home-internet/the-signal/isp/ethernet-cables-lan-cables-home-internet" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">old-school wired connections</a>. Let's face it: most new devices are Wi-Fi or Bluetooth capable, and fewer and fewer devices even come with wired connections these days. Also, the cords are clumsy, and they severely limit your setup. Lucky, the latest advances in <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/home-internet/the-signal/internet-help/the-difference-between-5g-and-wifi" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">5G Home Internet and Wi-Fi 6</a> technology give you the option to wirelessly connect to your devices.

Do wired connections make you cringe?

If you live in a big city, or some type of densely populated area, chances are you have a lot of choices, whether it's cable, fiber, or wireless internet providers. But if you live in an extremely rural area, your choices may be limited to satellite, or just <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/home-internet/the-signal/internet-help/what-is-dsl-and-how-does-it-work" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">DSL</a> (Digital Subscriber Lines), since DSL utilizes phone lines, which are widely available where other options are not. A quick online check will let you know what's in your area. As for 5G, it continues to roll out to small towns, rural areas, and big cities alike. In fact, 50 million homes nationwide are now eligible for T-Mobile Home Internet— a third of them in rural America, which previously had limited or no access to broadband options.

What services are available in your area?

Traditional wired connections, like cable for example, can be pricey or require lengthy contracts, not to mention certain equipment and service fees. While DSL may be pretty cheap, you're likely getting what you pay for in the form of a slower connection compared to newer technologies. Once you do your homework and know the speeds you need, it's time to compare plans from different providers to find the best fit.

What price are you willing to pay?

Finding the best plan comes down to many things, including your lifestyle, location, budget and overall preferences. The good news is that 5G wireless Home Internet is quickly becoming to go-to option for just about anyone who wants to stay effortlessly connected. T-Mobile, America’s fastest growing 5G <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/home-internet" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Home Internet</a> provider, is budget friendly, and it requires no contract or complicated installation. <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/home-internet/eligibility" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Check here</a> to see if it's available near you, <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/home-internet/plans" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">find a plan</a> and then <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/support/home-internet/15-day-test-drive" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">try it out for 15 days</a>. Be sure to see our latest <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/home-internet/deals" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">home internet deals</a>, as well.

Are you ready to make your move?

What's the difference between 5G vs. Wi-Fi? Is 5G as good as Wi-Fi? The fact is: both are wireless technologies, but they serve different purposes. Read on.

The Difference Between 5G And Wi-Fi

The Difference Between 5G and Wi-Fi

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What are the pros and cons of using a gateway vs. router-modem combos that are separate? We'll dive into modems, routers, gateways and beyond.

Pros & Cons of Using a Gateway vs. Router & Modem

Pros &amp; Cons of Using a Gateway vs. Router &amp; Modem

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James Mathews

If you’ve ever been stuck looking at those two little black boxes and wondering which is which, here's how to tell the difference between a modem vs. router.

The Difference Between Modems and Routers | Router vs Modem

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How to Tell the Difference Between Your Modem vs. Router

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Anjula Hettige

Compare

Compare Archives - The Signal

Fiber

Fiber Archives - The Signal

Gateway

Gateway Archives - The Signal

Latency

Latency Archives - The Signal

Modem

Modem Archives - The Signal

Router

Router Archives - The Signal

Security

Security Archives - The Signal

Streaming

Streaming Archives - The Signal

Technology

Technology Archives - The Signal

Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi Archives - The Signal

Dive into the latest technologies and 5G-ready devices designed to help you cut the cord. No need to sacrifice seamless fast home internet.

Internet Devices

From modems, to routers, to 5G gateways, and more—learn about different types of internet devices and how they play a role in home internet access.

The Signal: Internet Devices for Home

We’ve got answers to common internet questions that can help you better navigate the connected world at home and on-the-go.

Internet Help

Have questions about the internet? You’ve come to the right place. Get answers to commonly asked internet questions and gain a better understanding of it all.

The Signal: Answers for Internet Questions

Here is a range of information about internet services, including fiber optics, cable, DSL, satellite, wireless 5G internet service and beyond.

When it comes to internet service providers, you have a lot of choices these days. Get the facts about cable, DSL, fiber, 5G internet service & more.

The Signal: Internet Services

Discover all things internet-speed related, including the latest technology, home Wi-Fi solutions, essential security protections, different types of service providers, how to troubleshoot lag, and more. Want to take your home-internet experience to new heights? <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/home-internet" target="_blank" rel="noopener">T-Mobile Home Internet</a> has a <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/home-internet/plans" target="_blank" rel="noopener">variety of plans</a> for every budget with extras like Advanced Cyber Security, 24/7 tech support, streaming perks, and more. You can also <a href="https://fiber.t-mobile.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">try T-Mobile Fiber</a>! It’s perfect for avid gamers, streamers, or gadget gurus who want a boost in performance, without the pricey annual contract.

Speed

Discover all things internet speed related, including the latest speed tests, network optimizations, latency debugging, and definition content.