Cable vs. DSL and Satellite

Types of Internet service

Broadband is an umbrella term that includes several types of Internet access that provide higher speeds than dial-up Internet service. Fixed-broadband services include -- in rough order of maximum speed -- fiber optic, cable, DSL and satellite. With fixed broadband, you're connected to the Internet whenever your computer is turned on -- or if you use a router, whenever your router is turned on. You don't need to log on or off and there's no waiting for access. "Mobile broadband" uses a subscription to a cellular provider to connect to the Internet via a router, PC card or other adapter installed on your computer or laptop, so long as you are in an area with good cellular coverage. We cover mobile broadband in a separate report.

Mobile broadband: This is usually a secondary Internet service, used on a laptop while you're away from your main computer or when your primary ISP is out of service. Mobile broadband is also an option if you live in a remote area beyond cable or even beyond phone lines. However, be sure to check coverage for your area, and get a trial 30-day subscription to be sure the connection is reliable and fast enough for your needs. The price is competitive with cable and DSL, and bundled offers including mobile phone service can sweeten the price still further. The main drawback is that usage is effectively limited to about 5 GB per month -- plenty for most uses, but not for someone who plays a lot of games or watches a lot of Internet TV and movies. (Even "unlimited" accounts are really maxed out at 5 GB.)

Fiber-optic Internet service: This is the newest fixed-broadband choice, with availability gradually increasing to new geographic areas as fiber-optic lines are laid. Its main advantage is its very fast speed. The dominant provider, Verizon, advertises plans with maximum download speeds ranging from 10 Mbps (*est. $50 per month) all the way up to 50 Mbps (*est. $145 per month). (Actual speeds vary, and advertised upload speeds range from 2 to 20 Mbps.) You can save money by bundling the Internet connection with phone, TV and/or cell phone service -- but availability depends on the fiber-optic network reaching your house. Fiber-optic Internet service can get even faster, up to 100 Mbps, and may eventually become available at that speed nation-wide.

Cable broadband: Availability of cable broadband depends on the local cable network lines reaching your house, since both TV and Internet travel through the same cable wires. This makes bundling the two services a natural option -- and in some areas digital phone service can also be added. However, reviews warn that bundling can complicate contracts and make it harder to switch providers if you become dissatisfied. According to recent surveys and speed tests, the fastest cable ISPs do provide faster connection speeds than the fastest DSL providers.

However, not all cable providers get good ratings, so it's important to choose the best in your area. One drawback is that cable providers can limit your usage -- slowing your service if you use "too much" -- and/or charge for premium Internet content. For example, Comcast is already implementing a usage cap. These are issues currently in dispute, so it's not possible to predict how far usage caps might go.

DSL: Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) technology uses existing copper telephone wires without interfering with voice service. In other words, you can talk on your landline phone while being connected to the Internet, all on the same phone line. If you don't have telephone service turned on (for example, because you use a cell phone or VoIP instead), you can still get "standalone DSL" service, as long as your home is wired for a phone line.

DSL speed is controlled partly by the service package you buy, which specifies the maximum speed. But actual speed decreases the further your computer is from the closest telephone company switching station. Experts suggest asking about this before having DSL installed; it's also a good idea to ask neighbors about their DSL connection reliability and speeds. You can also test speed yourself, during a trial period.

Satellite: Satellite broadband service is improving, since you can now use it without having to use a landline phone with dial-up Internet connection to get it going. There are even portable satellite dishes for use with RVs. Connection speeds are faster than dial-up, but quite a bit slower than cable and DSL. Bundling satellite Internet connection with satellite TV is, of course, an option, and often the hardware and installation are free with a contract for Internet service.

Satellite broadband is usually considered a last resort -- for use where no other broadband Internet service is available. This is because satellite broadband still earns the lowest ratings from customers for overall satisfaction. Some complaints are about installation and reliability problems, others about weather conditions affecting connections. The most irritating drawback, however, seems to be the way satellite ISPs limit usage. Terms vary with the provider, but it's not always clear just how usage is capped -- by the day or month -- and whether or not connection is then slowed or stopped altogether.

Dial-up Internet: While a dial-up Internet connection is much slower than broadband, it's certainly fast enough for basic Internet tasks such as e-mail and checking the news and weather. Dial-up Internet service can also be a good secondary account -- and is often provided free with a broadband account for just that reason. (You may have to ask your provider how to access it.)

Many ISPs such as EarthLink, Juno and AOL offer higher-speed dial-up access with "accelerated" or optimized services. These technologies use special caching schemes, file compression and filtering to increase the apparent connection speed using regular dial-up access. However, while Web pages will appear to load faster, the actual throughput speed of 56 kilobytes per second (Kbps) is unchanged. That means that streaming media, audio/video files, attachments, secure pages and many other types of information will not load any faster.

Which type of ISP is best?

Here's the bottom line: if fiber-optic Internet service is available in your area, it could be a great choice -- in speed tests, it smokes both cable and DSL, and costs are now competitive with cable service. Also, according to reports, fiber-optic subscribers in general -- especially FiOS subscribers -- are much more satisfied with the service's speed, reliability and technical support than cable or DSL users. The main complaints have been about installation delays and fine print in contracts.

If fiber optic isn't available, most reviewers give cable the edge over DSL. However, your decision will start with what's available in your area. Speed and customer-satisfaction scores vary more by specific provider than by cable vs. DSL. A survey at PC Magazine finds Speakeasy (*est. $50 to $100 per month) as fast as the fastest cable company tested, Cablevision Optimum Online (*est. $30 to $40 per month), which is not far behind Verizon FiOS (*est. $50 to $145 per month). You'll also want to consider how your ISP fits in with other services such as phone and television.