What Is the Difference Between Satellite, DSL and Broadband Internet?

The word "broadband" is used to describe a high bandwidth or high capacity Internet signal. Broadband does not refer to any one single type of Internet connection and nearly all types of high speed Internet connections can be referred to as broadband connections. Types of broadband Internet include satellite, cable, digital subscriber line, or DSL for short, fiber-optic and wireless connections. Broadband Internet services are typically more reliable and provide upload and download speeds that far surpass those of a dial-up connection.

Satellite Internet access requires a satellite dish and an unobstructed view of the sky. A satellite connection is preferable for those who live in rural or remote areas and are unable to access conventional cable or DSL services. While satellite may be convenient for those with limited options, it has drawbacks. Many consumer satellite services only offer a one-way dish connection for downloading data, while any uploaded data must be done through a land-based dial-up connection. However, some ISPs do offer two-way dishes that allow for increased upload speeds. Additionally, due to the extreme distance it must travel, satellite data has a high latency rate, meaning it takes longer for your connection to react to your page requests. Satellite service can also be disrupted by heavy cloud cover or storms. Despite these drawbacks, satellite Internet service is a viable way to access the Internet when there are no alternatives.

DSL, or Digital Subscriber Line, is a type of broadband Internet connection that delivers a high speed Internet signal over the wires of a telephone network. Download speeds from DSL can range from 256 Kb/s to 24 Mbit/s, though the speed can depend on the quality of the telephone lines, your distance from the service provider or the type of DSL subscription you have. DSL is easy to install and can usually be done without drilling any extra holes or installing extra outlets, as long as your home is already wired for telephone. Most customers can plug in the DSL modem to a phone outlet and add signal filters to any landline phones to ensure that the DSL signal traffic doesn't interfere with phone calls.

While broadband coverage in the United States is constantly expanding, there are still locations where some types of broadband Internet service are not available. Nearly all Internet Service Providers offer a coverage map on their websites that allows customers to enter their home addresses and determine the availability of service in their areas. Some major satellite providers in the United States are DIRECTV, Dish Network, HughesNet, EarthLink and WildBlue. Major providers of DSL service include Verizon, AT&T;, EarthLink and Speakeasy, as well as many other local ISPs that you can find through an Internet search engine or listed in the phone book.