Both a digital subscriber line (DSL) and cable internet services offer higher speeds than technologies such as dial-up modems. Both are popular and secure services, although each approach offers a competing mix of trade-offs. We reviewed both types of broadband internet to help you choose the one that best suits your needs.

Overall Findings

Cable high-speed internet and DSL services are available across the country, although in a few areas, only one is available. Most forms of DSL reach speeds of less than 100 Mbps. Cable technology currently supports approximately 1000 Mbps of bandwidth (and some as high as 2000 Mbps) in many areas.

  • Slower speeds than cable.

  • No peak usage issues.

  • Generally lower priced than cable.

  • Supports higher bandwidth.

  • High bandwidth positively impacts speed.

  • Competitively priced, although rates might increase after 6 to 12 months.

DSL Pros and Cons

In practice, the speed advantage of cable over DSL is less than the theoretical numbers suggest. Cable modem services can slow down significantly if many people in a service area access the internet simultaneously.

  • Internet is not shared with neighbors.

  • Moderate speed with increased security.

  • Affordable rates with contracts that lock in rates for 1 to 2 years.

  • Speeds depend on distance from the ISP hub.

  • Not available in all areas.

  • Slower upload speeds.

Cable Pros and Cons

Cable provides higher levels of bandwidth than DSL internet services on average; this bandwidth roughly translates to raw speed. However, several technical and business issues could reduce or eliminate the speed advantage of cable.

  • Multiple speed levels available.

  • Can handle heavy streaming.

  • Widely available.

  • Service could be slower depending on area usage.

  • More expensive than DSL with increases after 6 to 12 months common.

  • Installation required.

Both cable modem and DSL performance vary from one minute to the next, depending on the pattern of use and traffic congestion on the internet.

DSL and cable internet providers sometimes implement speed caps that limit the bandwidth of their services.

Final Verdict

When shopping for a new service, ask about speed and bandwidth limits. You’ll likely find that the company you deal with offers several packages with increasingly faster connection speeds for increasingly higher prices.

Some home networks cannot match the speed of the internet connection, which lowers performance.

Your choice is guided by three primary factors:

  • How you use the internet in your home.Your budget.Services available in your area.

If you have a large family, and everyone streams movies on their personal devices, the smallest package won’t be sufficient. If you use the internet for email and occasional web surfing, go for the smaller package.

About Speed Caps

Both cable and DSL service providers commonly employ bandwidth and speed caps for residential customers. Bandwidth caps place an artificial limit on the amount of data a customer can use in a month. Companies control the maximum speed a customer can achieve by monitoring traffic flow and throttling network packets. 

Service providers offer several reasons for imposing bandwidth and speed caps:

  • Providers concerned about the capacity limits of their network might implement a cap to accommodate more customers.Providers might believe that the majority of customers do not need more bandwidth than that allowed under the cap.Providers might want to create a fair and equal distribution of bandwidth to customers. Without a cap, for example, some DSL subscribers would enjoy higher bandwidth levels than others in the same neighborhood.Some providers allow a certain amount of data transfer each month to combat high bandwidth usage. When a customer goes over that amount, the company slows down the data connection or charges an additional fee.Providers that want to charge higher or lower rates for greater or lesser speeds do so through a modem setting. That way, the company can increase the speed when a contract is upgraded.

Tips to Improve Internet Speed

Whether you have high-speed cable or DSL service, you can improve connection speeds in several ways:

  • Reduce the number of devices that use the connection to download, stream, and play games. For instance, security cameras and other smart home devices affect speed.Wireless connections are slower than wired connections. Connect the computer to the router with an Ethernet cable for the fastest speed. Update the router and modem to the current specifications. A five-year-old modem probably can’t handle the speeds your service provides.The distance between a wireless device and the router makes a difference. The closer the device is to the router, the faster the wireless speed.

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