Technology Comparison
Cable vs DSL Internet
Cable is faster and more consistent, but DSL may be available in more locations.
📡
Cable Internet
Max Speed: 2 Gbps
📞
Digital Subscriber Line
Max Speed: 100 Mbps
Performance Comparison
Max Speed2 Gbps vs 100 Mbps
Cable
DSL
Latency (Lower is Better)10-30 ms vs 25-50 ms
Cable
DSL
ReliabilityGood vs Fair to Good
Cable
DSL
Specification
Cable
DSL
Max Speed
2 Gbps
100 Mbps
Typical Speed
100 Mbps - 1 Gbps
10-50 Mbps
Latency
10-30 ms
25-50 ms
Reliability
Good
Fair to Good
Availability
Widespread (90% of US)
Very Wide (85% of US)
Installation
Self or professional
Self-install possible
Price Range
$25-$120/mo
$20-$60/mo
📡 Cable
Cable internet uses the same coaxial cables that deliver cable TV. It offers fast speeds and wide availability, making it the most common type of home internet.
Best For:
- ✓ Most households
- ✓ Streaming HD/4K
- ✓ Online gaming
- ✓ Video calls
- ✓ Downloading
Limitations:
- • Slower uploads
- • Shared bandwidth
- • Data caps common
- • Peak hour slowdowns
Top Providers:
XfinitySpectrumCoxOptimumMediacom
📞 DSL
DSL uses existing telephone lines to deliver internet. While slower than cable or fiber, it's widely available and often the only option in rural areas.
Best For:
- ✓ Basic browsing
- ✓ Email
- ✓ Social media
- ✓ SD streaming
- ✓ Light use households
Limitations:
- • Slower speeds
- • Speed depends on distance from provider
- • Being phased out
Top Providers:
AT&TCenturyLinkWindstreamFrontierEarthLink
Which Should You Choose?
Choose Cable if:
- • You need the fastest possible speeds
- • Low latency is important (gaming, video calls)
- • You need the most reliable connection
- • You want wide availability at reasonable prices
Choose DSL if:
- • You need basic internet at a low cost
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