Connect with High-Speed Internet

Dear Web Editor,

I'm confused about the various choices for high-speed Internet access. Which is better, cable or DSL service?

Industry experts estimate that 2 million to 4 million households access the Internet via broadband or high-speed connections. That number could reach 14 million by the end of 2005.

But deciding how to connect can be difficult.

DSL (digital subscriber lines) and cable Internet service are the most popular broadband choices available to home consumers. DSL operates over existing copper phone wires, while cable Internet operates over coaxial wires (the same lines that transmit cable television). Both support high-speed connections to the Net and provide "always on" connections, which allow you to stay logged on to the Internet indefinitely. And both require specialized modems that work with their respective technologies.

The benefits and pitfalls of each technology are not so clear. And their differences center on three issues: cost, speed, and support.

Cost--If you are going to buy a modem, cable modems are less expensive than those for DSL. It is possible to catch an installation offer from your DSL service provider that can make owning your own DSL modem cheaper than going cable. But the price of cable modems continues to fall. Most cable and DSL service providers offer lease options for modems as well.

The cost of basic cable and DSL services, on the other hand, run almost the same: between $50 and $90 per month for cable Internet service and between $40 and $70 per month for DSL. Many cable companies provide discounted Internet service to customers who subscribe to the company's television services as well. These costs can vary significantly, though, if you live in a rural or remote region of the country.

Speed--With DSL service, you receive an individual line between your home and your service provider, which means no one else can transmit data over your connection. In theory, this should speed up your connection.

With cable service, you share your connection to the service provider with all of your neighbors, which can decrease performance.

For the time being, though, cable modems maintain a slight performance advantage over DSL, since most cable networks have not achieved a significant number of subscribers to make the shared connection a critical issue.

When it comes to equipment, cable modems generally have higher bandwidth than their DSL counterparts, which means they theoretically can transmit more data faster.

The quality of DSL service also depends on the quality of your local telephone company's lines. Many DSL subscribers in older neighborhoods experience chronic service problems, which won't change until the equipment improves or phone companies upgrade their wires.

Support--As more businesses enter the DSL market, competition for customers increases and providers have more incentive to offer quality service. Cable companies generally "own" entire networks and are the only choice for cable service. If you experience performance problems with your cable company, you probably won't be able to switch to another provider.

At the same time, while many companies "sell" DSL service in an area, most companies rely on the existing phone lines already in place. They probably are reselling service available through your local phone company. So don't expect your service will improve simply by jumping to a new provider.

Instead, ask your neighbors how they connect to the Net. Find out how often they experience service interruptions and how long it takes for the provider to respond. Their experiences will provide a much better idea of what you can expect from DSL and cable service in your area.

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