Broadband and Wi-Fi- are two terms that are used interchangeably with each other by most of us. But, the question is whether they are the same thing?
The answer to this question is – no, they are not the same. Wi-Fi, on one hand, is a wireless connection with which your devices such as mobile and laptops connect with the modem or the router. On the other hand, broadband is the actual internet connection that your modem/router uses to send and receive data from your place to the wider world.
So, why exactly are these two terms used in place of each other? Or are they essentially the same in some cases? Let’s find out below!
Why is there Confusion around Wi-Fi and Broadband?
As explained above, A Wi-Fi network connects your devices with your modem or the router and broadband connects your modem with the internet. Now, it is important to note that your broadband can have a wireless connection to the internet. Considering this, it can be said that there are several types of broadband connections, such as DSL, cable, fibre-optic cable, or satellite.
The close relation between Wi-Fi and broadband may be one of the reasons behind the confusion between Wi-Fi and broadband. However, it is not always technical reasoning that creates confusion between the two terms. It can be said that Wi-Fi is simply a more common term that is used for both Wi-Fi and broadband.
Wi-Fi vs Ethernet: A Comparison
Now that we have established the basic difference between Wi-Fi and broadband, let’s talk about another way of connecting your device with the router. Generally, Wi-Fi is more preferred than ethernet but there are cases where the situation may be otherwise.
First, let’s understand what ethernet is. Ethernet is a wired connection using which you connect your devices such as a laptop or the computer with the router through the ethernet cable. In comparison to a Wi-FI connection, ethernet is the faster mode of connection and is relatively more stable. Therefore, in places where they need for the internet is huge, such as offices, colleges, etc. or even for purposes such as gaming, people choose ethernet over wi-fi.
Conclusion
Both, Wi-Fi and broadband are often mistaken to be the same thing and are used interchangeably with each other. However, they are completely different things and have different purposes. Where Wi-Fi connects your devices to the modem or router through a wireless connection, broadband is how your modem/router connects to the internet.
