The evolution of transmission media has come a long way since it was first introduced many years ago. Media selection is often affected by the network standards that you want to implement. The type of media required for specific devices is dependent on the network hardware. The two main types of transmission media include: cable and free space. Cable had long been the commonly implemented media for data transmission (telephone, television, Computers). Even Though the current trend is towards wireless implementations, cable is generally still needed for backbones and certain types of networks. The three basic types of cables are:
Twisted pair.
Coaxial.
Fiber optic.
One of the basic ways to get started was a dial-up connection internet, which has been around since the 1980’s. Dial-up internet access may be used where other forms are not available or the cost is too high, as in rural or very remote areas.
This brings us to Twisted-pair cables, which would fall under one of the four categories
Category 1- Traditional telephone cable, not designed for data. Supports low speed communication, such as dial-up lines
Category 2- Contains two-twisted pair of cables and supports data transmission and supports up to 4Mbps
Category 3- contains four twisted pair of cable and supports up to 16Mbps
Category 4- contains four twisted pair of cable and supports up to 20Mbps

As Technology grew, the networking system had to also grow along with it. Network Cables would have to be updated and DSL and Broadband would come into the picture. Updating how we use the internet today, now most everything is wireless mostly free-space which would include these types
Infrared
Short-range wireless
Microwave
Satellite
Televisions, cell phones, computers and laptops any place you look are going wireless. There are some who wish to stick with DSL considering the fact that it runs over phone lines using coaxial line. Although it uses a phone line in a manner similar to dial-up it is much, much faster, plus it is a dedicated line to the ISP with access to broadband speeds. DLS Broadband is also much cheaper than wireless, and somewhat more reliable.
Wireless depending on what you are using a wireless connection for can be much faster a bit more expensive, but in personal experience using satellite television and internet in bad weather can interfere with the signal and disrupt your services, which can be frustrating especially if you are trying to work, or do homework. Eventually everything will wireless or even more advanced than that, but Networking will always need some kind of backbone to function and be reliable.

http://www.stephouse.net/2015/07/differences-between-dsl-and-wireless-isps/ http://ccm.net/contents/698-data-transmission-cabling https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dial-up_Internet_access