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In the world of broadband Internet, there are two main options: DSL and cable. Each of the technologies provides fast surfing experience. This Choozza helps you select the broadband option that is best for your needs.
What's the perfect choice for you?
Last updated by Nimo, on 21/7/09
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DSL DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) or xDSL, is a set of technologies that is used to transmit digital data over regular telephone network. With DSL a user can surf the Internet and make a phone call or send a fax at the same time, using the same phone line. |
Cable Cable relayed Internet uses the cables that cable TV uses, but this does not mean that the user has to subscribe to a cable TV service. The use of the cable modem does not affect the TV reception. |
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Speed: Cable Internet has higher speeds than DSL. The speeds are often in the neighborhood of 30Mbps. Even though, most cable ISPs offer service for much lower speeds and, like DSL providers, they enforce speed caps to limit bandwidth used by the subscribers. The speed a cable modem provides is affected by the number of concurrent users in your neighborhood, as the network structure is different. Cable Internet services share the bandwidth between all subscribers in the same area. When many of your neighbors use the Internet at the same time as you - your speed will be affected. Cable Internet services, like DSL services, are usually offered with an upload speed that's much lower than the download speed. |
The speed of residential DSL services varies between 128kbps (kilobits per second) to 26Mbps (Megabit per second). The actual maximum speed available for a specific phone line depends on the DSL technology implemented, the line quality and other factors. Most home users are connected with ADSL, which is a flavor of DSL where upload speed is usually much lower than download speed. In SDSL (another flavor of the DSL technology) - upload and download speeds are equal. The DSL speed a user signs up for can not always be reached, and the actual speed a specific phone line gets is affected by the quality of the phone lines in the neighborhood and the distance between the home and the phone company's hub. DSL is very sensitive to distance, and the closer you are to the hub - the better the connection is going to be. On the other hand, DSL connection is unique. This means that, unlike cable, it is not affected by the number of users online in your neighborhood. The speed you get may not be good, but at least it will be consistent and will not get worse. To top it all, ISPs (Internet Service Providers) usually place speed caps on your Internet lines, so the users don't get the full speed. In all fairness, cable ISPs do it as well. |
Cable Internet has higher speeds than DSL. The speeds are often in the neighborhood of 30Mbps. |
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Security: What level of security does the infrasturcture have? What are the implications on you as a user? |
DSL uses dedicated cabling, unlike cable Internet which uses shared cabling. |
Cable Internet services share cable lines between users in a neighborhood. This makes all uses in that neighborhood members of the same LAN (local area network). |
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Reliability: How dependable and reliable is the Internet based on this infrastructure? |
The DSL service is only as reliable as your phone line. |
Service is sensitive to interruptions by bad weather and reliability can be an issue. |
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Network Structure: How is the physical network structured? How does it affect you as the customer? |
The DSL network is using the phone network. Phone networks are non-sharing (at least not on purpose) and the speeds are not affected by this structure. |
With Cable networks, all the subscribers in your part of the network receive every packet that you do. |
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Low Cost: How expensive is the broadband option? |
DSL is traditionally cheaper than cable. Sometimes at up to 30%. |
Cable is traditionally more expensive than DSL. |