Broadband Access Compared to Dial-Up

Dial-up may no longer be the most popular choice for Internet access, but it still has its advantages, the biggest of which is its low price tag. A minute of dial-up access usually costs the same amount as a minute on the telephone, and for people who do not use the Internet regularly or for long periods of time, paying by the minute can be a cost-effective option. Dial-up's other major advantage is its availability -- anyone with a phone line and a computer can use it.

The most significant reason dial-up has fallen by the wayside in most American homes is its slow speed. A dial-up connection can only download as fast as a standard modem, which is 56 Kbps, and it can load the average web page in about seven seconds. A dial-up modem cannot handle videos or streaming content, so users who want to access these things should not choose this kind of connection. Dial-up's other disadvantage is that it occupies users' phone lines, so they cannot place or receive phone calls while they are connected to the Internet.

The biggest advantage of broadband Internet access is its speed. Satellite, the slowest type of broadband connection, is about 10 times as fast as dial-up. People who want to use the Internet for more than just email and research can watch videos, send large files and participate in streaming video conferences using broadband connections. Another advantage is that broadband Internet is a continuous connection, so a user does not have to dial in to her service provider and wait for a connection each time she wants to access the Internet. Broadband service also does not interfere with the user's phone lines.

Each variety of broadband Internet is considerably more expensive than dial-up, so broadband may not be the best choice for consumers who do not use the Internet often or are on a tight budget. It also is not available in all areas, particularly rural regions and new housing developments that have not yet been wired for broadband service. Satellite Internet, like dial-up, is available more or less everywhere, but satellite is much more expensive and may not make sense for users who do not spend much time online.