Use this FREE availability check service to find
out what broadband solutions are available at your address!
▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼
The information you provide is secure & strictly
confidential. If you prefer, call toll-free: (886)
587-1480 24 hours a day
7 days a week
DSL vs. Cable
Current Market Deployment During the last decade, the cable industry has focused intensively on
upgrading its existing infrastructure in order to deploy high-speed
voice/data over cable for homes and businesses in North America. As a result
of this impetus, cable modem service has accomplished part of its objective:
It's become a user-friendly household source of affordable broadband
Internet access for millions of people. Nevertheless, the market most
impacted so far has been home consumers.
Due to the current inherent limitations of cable technology, it is not
usually a viable solution for businesses. These limitations include the
wiring (most businesses are not wired), congestion and delay ( the more
people using cable, the slower the service), "shared" connectivity, security
(your neighbors may be able to access your files), and cable's inability to
support any type of web or email server.
In marked contrast to cable, Digital Subscriber Line
(DSL), with its flexible technology, has attained its fair share of the SMB
market, as well as many home subscribers. This cost-effective digital
dedicated service has all the features that make it ideal as a business
solution. Look below to learn why it's become so popular with SMBs.
How Do Cable Modem Service and DSL Work?
A cable modem is required for cable service. It's is a device that allows
high-speed Internet access via a cable TV network. A cable modem will
typically have two connections, one to the cable wall outlet and the other
to a computer (PC). Most cable modems are external devices that connect to
the PC through a standard 10Base-T Ethernet card and twisted-pair wiring.
The cable modem enables you to hook up your PC to a
local cable TV line and receive data at 1.5 Mbps. A cable modem is usually
added to, or integrated with, a set-top box that provides your TV set with
channels for Internet access. A set-top box is a device that enables a
television set to become a user interface to the Internet and also enables a
television set to receive and decode digital television broadcasts.
All of the cable modems attached to the cable TV company coaxial cable line
communicate with a Cable Modem Termination System (CMTS) at your local cable
TV company office to receive an "always on" service. All the cable modems
can then receive and send signals to the CMTS. They cannot send signals to
other cable modems on the line. This connectivity access allows all the
subscribers to "share" the network service. But, subscribers cannot connect
a server so there are limitations for any business applications.
For DSL service, a DSL modem and an ethernet card for your PC are required.
The DSL modem enables you to hook up your PC to the phone line. DSL uses
high bandwidth to allow voice, data, video, teleconferencing, and Internet
access on your ordinary copper wire lines behind your walls. There is only
one path for carrying voice, video and data. It is an "always on" service
with speedy Internet access that is not "shared" with other subscribers.
There are many flavors of DSL. Two flavors are being used widely by SMBs:
Symmetric DSL (SDSL) and Asymmetric DSL (ADSL). The difference between them
is their ability to carry data in upstream (i.e., upload) and downstream
(i.e., download) directions. SDSL uses upstream and downstream capacity to
carry data in both directions. ADSL delivers higher speed downstream
service, and slower speed upstream service. If users at a business spend
more time downloading files than uploading files, then ADSL is a good choice
since pages can be downloaded faster.
Speed and Bandwidth
Speed and bandwidth are very important considerations when choosing a
service. Speed refers to data transmission rate. Bandwidth is the capacity
to carry data. Both speed and bandwidth are measured in bits per second.
Cable has an upstream asymmetric speed of about 1.5 Mbps at best. This data
rate far exceeds that of the ordinary 28.8 Kbps and 56 Kbps modems. It also
exceeds the speed of ISDN which is 128 Kbps. Cable's bandwidth is
approximately the same as that available to subscribers of Asymmetric
Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) service.
DSL's data rates range from 128 Kbps to an ultra-fast 8 Mbps or even higher
(i.e., Very High-bit -rate DSL), depending on the DSL flavor you choose.
This ability to flexibly grow to higher levels of bandwidth makes it an
excellent solution for many SMBs.
Installation
Cable service is installed on standard cable. Your cable service provider
will do the installation.
DSL is easily installed on the ordinary twisted-pair copper wire currently
behind the walls at your business. In some cases, DSL may require a
different jack and, occasionally, new wiring. The telephone company can
complete the wiring for you, you can do it yourself, or you can hire an
independent contractor.
Required Equipment
When you order cable service, a technician or other representative connects
a cable modem to your PC through an Ethernet card. You will need a Network
Interface Card (NIC). If you don't have one, the cable service technician
will install one for you.
For DSL, a splitter may be required, depending on the flavor of DSL you
want, or the type of DSL available in your area. A splitter is not required
for G-Lite DSL. Also, a DSL modem and an Ethernet card are required for
installation.
Unlike your analog telephone line, your DSL line does not draw its current
from your local service provider central office. You'll need an
Uninterruptible Power Supply to ensure continuous service in the event of a
power failure.
DSL use requires that your computer have a Peripheral Component Interconnect
(PCI) slot for installing the PCI. PCI adaptor cards may also be necessary
to combine an Ethernet interface to your PC with DSL modem functions.
Applications
Cable is used for high-speed Internet access, generally for home usage
rather than for business purposes. Internet services are delivered at speeds
faster than those offered by dial-up modems.
DSL is used for high-speed Internet access. It is also used for carrying
voice, data and video at fast rates. Users can download and upload large
files very quickly, with privacy and security. Video conferencing can also
be accomplished. You can use DSL to set up an email or web server at your
business.
Cost and Value Considerations
Cable modems provide higher access speed at lower prices than many other
methods of connecting to the Internet. However, at this current time, using
cable for business applications is not as advantageous as using DSL.
DSl is a very affordable and cost-effective service based upon a flat rate.
You can have some flavors for about the same price as cable service. Since
cost is not based upon usage, you can use this service any time for as long
as you want without incurring any usage charges. It is also easily and
inexpensively installed. In fact, you may be able to install it yourself.
However, you will need to purchase a DSL modem and an Uninterruptible Power
Supply when installing service. When selecting DSL, you should determine
which flavor of DSL is best for your business. This decision will affect the
price of the DSL installation and service. For those businesses that need
the high-end flavors of DSL with very large bandwidth and ultra fast speeds,
techniques are currently being developed that mean lower costs for
installation and service.
