Apply for cable and/or DSL connection

What is fiber optic cable, can you receive DSL or cable with it, or both?

"Fiber optic" and "cable" are physical connection types, DSL a technology for a connection type with copper twisted pair to bring internet and other services e.g. TV into your house. "Fiber optic" allows the highest transmission rate and is technically very advanced. The transmission takes place via light pulses. "Cable" allows the second highest transmission rate. The "old" cable TV network is used. The cables are coaxial (inner conductor and shield) and are quite suitable for digital transmission. "DSL" also works quite well nowadays, although the unshielded telephone wires (copper twisted pair) are actually not suitable for digital transmission. The data transmission itself is amusingly still analog.

If you have fiber optic, you can also switch to other providers.

Unfortunately, this is not correct in this generality. The fiber optic networks in Germany still form quite a patchwork, and there is by no means a corresponding contract with every operator. At both our current and our future address, fiber optic internet is only available through the operator, but not through Telekom or similar providers. This is supposed to change sometime, but we are talking more about years than months.

Telekom now also offers TV without a receiver in the "Smart" tariffs. The requirement is that you have a playback device on which the corresponding app can be installed. With the app, you forgo recording, time-shifted TV, etc. However, this may reduce the number of receivers needed.

I would be satisfied with the Vodafone cable and at least not lay Telekom alongside in copper. I use Vodafone cable and am much more satisfied than with Telekom (myself before and acquaintances currently), insofar as my average actual speed is significantly closer to the "up to" speed. Even with the cable connection, you can choose a different telephony provider - not via DSL, but concerning the SIP accounts, i.e., the phone numbers and tariffs.

I would be content with Vodafone cable and at least not lay Telekom alongside copper. I use Vodafone cable and am much more satisfied than with Telekom (I in the past and acquaintances currently), insofar as my average actual speed is significantly closer to the "up to" speed. Even with cable connections, you can use a different telephony provider – not via DSL, but regarding SIP accounts, i.e. the phone numbers and rates.

Although cable as a "shared medium" more frequently struggles with overloads than copper. If you are unlucky and move into a poorly routed area, you will have endless trouble (latency/misrouting/download speed, etc.). As a regular Netflix and mail user, you may not always notice this directly, but if you need a secured and fully functional connection for reasons, I would always rely on copper/fiber optic, or at least have it [B]prepared.

If that even exists. Telekom only provides 6 Mbit DSL for me or offers a hybrid connection. Fiber optic... hahahahahahaha Only Vodafone remains. I'm now rather considering whether you can at least get priority with a business tariff or something...