Jan 19, 2026 | posted by Lily Chavez
Internet vs. WiFi: What’s the Difference?
It’s a common misconception that internet and WiFi are the same thing, when they are actually two completely separate services that serve the same purpose of giving you access to the online world. Let’s take an in-depth look at the difference between internet and WiFi.
Internet is the service that’s delivered to your home over our connection infrastructure, most of which is fiber optic cabling throughout our service areas in Canby and Mt. Angel. Fiber technology sends data as beams of light using ultra-thin glass strands that are encased in a protective tube and buried underground. This protects the wires from interference and damage from the elements. The fiber lines run from our central office right to a box on the side of your home – known as an Optical Network Terminal (ONT) – where the data signals are then converted so your devices can receive them.
You can connect devices to the internet two ways: through a wired port using an Ethernet cord and wirelessly using an over-the-air signal. An Ethernet connection provides the strongest and fastest experience since it is directly wired right to your device, however, some devices don’t have the option to connect via Ethernet, like smartphones, mobile gaming consoles like Nintendo Switch, and tablets. Other devices are great candidates for a wired connection, like living room Smart TVs, stationary gaming consoles like Xbox or PlayStation, and home office computers.
WiFi, on the other hand, is a form of accessing the internet without wires to play online games, stream shows and movies, make video calls from a laptop or mobile device, and so much more. WiFi simply means wireless connectivity, allowing you to use the internet without an Ethernet cord.
At DirectLink, our goal is to make staying connected as easy as possible. That’s why we include WiFi equipment with every internet subscription at no extra cost. Not only do you get a fast, reliable, and secure internet connection to your home over fiber optic technology, you also get a strong, dependable WiFi signal delivered by a best-in-class router installed by our local technicians.
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