The method used to access the Internet has probably the greatest influence on the Internet speeds you can expect to receive. Examples of access methods include 3G, 4G, or 5G, mobile hotspots, modem or dial-up broadband, cable, satellite, DSL (digital subscriber line) and fiber. A fiber-based connection is going to offer considerably faster download and upload speeds in comparison to a 4G connection on your smartphone. Instead of connecting directly to the Internet, you first connect to your ISP using one of the access methods described above, who then connect you to the Internet. When you see Internet speeds advertised by an ISP, they are describing the maximum speeds you can expect to receive when connecting to the ISP, not the speed between your device and the Internet.
