What Are the Differences Between DSL and Cable?

DSL and cable are the most well-known and widely-used types of Internet service available today. Choosing between the two of them can be tricky, and depends largely on services in your area as well as your budget and needs. Having said that, there are some basic differences between the two that can be summed up, in very general language, this way: DSL is typically a bit slower, but less expensive than cable. Mind you, these are broad generalizations. You need to evaluate the details.

While speed and cost are two of the main answers to the question of the differences are between DSL and cable, there are also some other fundamental differences as well. Additional examples of the differences between DSL and cable can be found by looking more specifically at how the services work.

How DSL and Cable Work

• Cable Internet service is transferred through a modem and a cable line like that used for cable TV.
• DSL Internet service is transferred through a modem and a telephone line.

Both offer “always on” service, and both require that the type of transmission line in question – cable or phone – be routed into your house. Other than that, set-up is a simple matter of connecting modem to cable and modem to computer.

Speed of Cable Internet

One of the main answers to why cable and DSL are different is speed:

• A cable Internet connection is capable of some impressive speeds, with download speeds of 1 to 6 Mbps offered by many providers (that's fast).
• Cable is considered the fastest Internet service available – or at least it has the potential to be the fastest.
• It's important to note that your cable Internet speed will be affected by the usage of those around you. The more of your neighbors that are using their Internet while you are, the more broadband is being used in the cables transmitting the service to you, so the slower the system will run – the same cable line serves many customers.

Speed of DSL

• A DSL connection is known to be typically slower than a cable connection, although the technology is catching up quickly.
• Most DSL providers advertise speeds of 128 Kbps to 3 Mbps; you should note that for the average user who just wants to browse the Internet and send email, this is plenty of speed. It is only with quickly-moving programs or large downloads that the typical person would possibly even notice a difference.
• DSL is not affected by the usage of others, but it can be affected by the quality of the phone lines in your area.

Pricing of DSL and Cable

While DSL is, on average, a cheaper service, the price difference between the two will vary greatly from area to area and provider to provider.

Many cable and telephone companies offer bundling, which means if you purchase more than one service from them you'll receive a discount that's sometimes pretty substantial. Therefore, a customer with cable TV and cable Internet could very well get his Internet for less than a customer with only DSL service.

As with all of the factors above, the details can (and will) vary.