Broadband with landlines — What you should know

There was a time when landline meant landline - the ever-trusted copper lines that stood with you during power cuts and also irrespective of the vagaries of weather - rain, floods or cyclones.

It's no more that simple. There are multiple types of landlines available and how they work and behave during inclement weather conditions, may not be the same.

Copper lines : The first was the good old copper lines - running from the exchange to your home. The basic purpose of having this was the landline. They were reliable and worked even when the mobile networks went down. The cables ran safely underground. The only disruptions were because of cable cuts and localised exchange related faults.

These copper lines also offered internet (DSL/ADSL), but most often the speeds rarely crossed 16 Mbps. But this was really not a deal breaker, as this was the highest available speed as mobile networks offered only 2G speeds and fibre networks didn't exist.

But things quickly changed.

Vector DSL : Pure broadband operators like ACT Fibernet came up with speeds starting at 30 or 40 Mbps. The 8 or 16 Mbps speeds offered by DSL / ADSL companies like Airtel through the cable network were beginning to look pathetic.

Airtel was one of the first telecom companies to tackle this with something called V-Fibre. This is basically a Vector DSL line where except for the last mile connectivity which comprises copper lines, the technology was based on fibre.

This offered the best of both worlds — a stable landline and high-speed broadband. But compared to a full fibre network (Fibre to the home - FTTH), the speeds were limited. While operators with FTTH connections offered speeds even over to 100 Mbps, companies like Airtel were able to offer only speeds up to 40-60 Mbps.

FTTH : This is the latest technology being offered by Airtel and BSNL, where the entire network - up to your home - is fibre. This brings in the capability equivalent to full fibre companies - along with the added facility of a landline.

But there is a major drawback - the landline is connected to the modem. Which means if the power goes off in your house, the landline is also dead — along with the broadband.

Telecom companies such as Airtel and BSNL, in the race to offer high-speed broadband have lost out on one key aspect — a reliable landline. And, if there is a power cut, your landline will be useless.

Both Airtel and BSNL now offer all the three services - depending on the availability in the area. Only one type of service, or all may be feasible —depending on the area. So, weigh your options before you apply for a landline-broadband combination.

Here is a checklist if you are applying for a broadband or landline:

1. Copper:

Pros : Stable landline connection (if cables run underground); landline or net connectivity is not affected if there is a power cut

Cons : Internet speeds restricted (up to 16 Mbps)

2. Fibre and copper (last mile to your home) :

Pros : Moderately fast internet (40-60 Mbps); power cuts don’t impact landline or internet;

Cons : High-speed internet not possible; upload speeds may be low.

3. FTTH (full fiber):

Pros : High speed internet (above 80 Mbps); upload speeds can also be high (equal to the download speed)

Cons : Both landline and internet dependent on power supply at your house.