If you're considering purchasing a broadband connection but you don't live in an area that has fiber options, then you might be one of the many people who are faced with a choice between DSL or cable broadband, offered by your local phone company. Deciding which one you should choose will depend largely on what you want to do with your internet connection. Most of the time, cable broadband is considered to be much faster, while DSL connections are less expensive, particularly if you don't mind using a slower speed.
Understanding the Difference between DSL & Cable Internet Service:
Perhaps the most significant different between DSL & cable internet service is that one offers you higher and faster speeds than the other. Though it is possible to achieve faster speeds than usual with DSL lines today if you are willing to pay extra, the truth is that the cost of these services make it more appropriate to consider cable broadband solutions. In order to offer a significant boost in speed, DSL providers will have to extend fiber cables into the home, and that can cost a lot of money.
If speed is your primary goal in terms of your internet connection, then most people recommend cable as the better option. Thanks to things like DOCSIS technology and the coaxial cable, most cable networks are easier to upgrade, and have been getting increasingly more reliable over the last fifteen years. The top two cable providers for the nation provide a 300 Mbps plan, and a 505 Mbps plan.
However, it's worth noting that many cable plans available in the nation today will come with a relatively high price tag, which can mean that they're not ideal for those on a budget. Cable connections require you to pay a monthly price for high speeds, and this can mean that you end up paying a lot out of pocket to get the kind of connectivity you are looking for. What's more, most of the cable providers available throughout the U.S. today have some form of monthly limit when it comes to data, though Comcast calls its data usage cap a trial, which has been in the process of being "changed" for a number of years.
Choosing Between DSL and Cable:
Understanding the difference between DSL & cable internet service solutions could help you to get a better grasp of the various factors that you should be looking at when looking for a valuable connection. However, when it comes to making a choice between DSL and cable, the choice will typically boil down to the reasons why that person needs the service, and whether they can manage on a slower than normal service. If you want to allow most members of your family to stream high definition movies and enjoy lives online, then you're probably going to need cable, and you might need to pay extra for the speed you need.
On the other hand, if you're happy to stick to something slower, then DSL could be a budget friendly solution.