The Advantages of DSL, Cable & Wireless Internet Service Providers

DSL, cable and wireless Internet service are all forms of broadband Internet. This means that they each transmit information digitally (as bits of data) at speeds considerably higher than traditional dial-up service. DSL, or digital subscriber line, transmits this information across copper telephone lines and wires. Cable Internet, as it sounds, transmits this information through coaxial cable networks. Wireless Internet, like cellular phones, transmits information using certain frequencies of radio waves.

DSL Internet service has the advantage of being widely available, although it is not yet available everywhere, particularly in rural areas. Some DSL users also have the advantage of choosing between symmetrical and asymmetrical service, meaning service that offers the same speed for uploading and downloading data (symmetrical service) or service that offers faster speeds for downloads than for uploads (asymmetrical service).

Compared to DSL, cable Internet generally -- although not always -- has the advantage of speed. DSL speeds can range from several hundred Kbps (several hundred thousand bits per second) to several Mbps (millions of bits per second). However, cable Internet provides speeds starting at 1.5 Mbps and moving up from there. Cable Internet also has the advantage of being available in many areas, particularly metropolitan areas.

Mobile wireless broadband service has the advantage of portability: with wireless Internet, you can work or play online even away from home (if you are within your provider's coverage area). Fixed wireless service (which requires a fixed, external antenna), by contrast, is not portable. This type of service, however, has the advantage of reaching many geographic areas where DSL and cable Internet service do not, such as rural and under-served communities.

For customers looking for alternatives to DSL, cable Internet and wireless service, other high-speed options are available. Many customers, particularly in densely populated areas, have access to fiber-optic Internet service, which is generally faster than DSL, cable or wireless Internet service. Customers in regions unreached by any of these services may still be able to access high-speed Internet service using satellite Internet, which can be expensive but is often available in rural areas.