Broadband Options Discussed

So you have a client who is ready for broadband, but they are clueless as to which option is best for them. In the best case scenario, they access to the “big three” when it comes to the access types. The big three consist of cable, DSL, and last but not least, satellite. With the current technology available, cable and DSL are generally the best high speed options when it comes to consumer grade Internet access. Below, we will look at the benefits and limitations of all of your broadband Internet options including satellite to see what will be the best option for your client.

Cable Internet: While I will not make a solid claim to this, it is arguably the most common in households running with a broadband connection. The definite advantages include availability for the home user. Unlike access to DSL, cable is made available based on where the cable line has been run. I have found that cable frequently is available almost anywhere. Cable Internet is connected to a large, shared network that does present some basic security concerns, however.

Since you are basically connected to one large network, the traffic going back and forth is readily accessible to others that share your general location. While cable companies have made some strides in making it much more difficult to access data going back and forth over the network, it is still there for someone with the patience and the skills.

Download data speed is dependent on the number of users using the Internet in your area at any specific time. During off peak times, the data rates can be excellent for the price you are asked to pay. It is reported that on average, data download speeds average from 3 to 4 megabits per second depending on a number of factors. Time of day, quality of service, plus a few other things that play a part in the previously mentioned download speeds.

DSL: While with cable Internet the speed you get is the speed you get, this is not the case with DSL service. Generally, you can subscribe with your DSL provider for a guaranteed upload and download speed. This does not mean that it will remain at the same speed at all times, but it is not supposed to fall below the agreed upon speeds you are paying for with your DSL package. DSL availability is a little less than its cousin cable since it has a dependency on being near a phone company switching station. In addition to that, your DSL connection is also more dependable the closer you are to the switching station. Now there is a common misconception that DSL is actually faster than cable. This is not really true. It really depends on the data speeds you’re subscribed to receive. With most entry-level consumer packages, it is actually a little slower in reality. (This does not mean that your client is going to really see a difference in surfing the Web, however.)

One of the big selling points with DSL is the fact that it is much more secure than a cable Internet connection. Even though your data remains unencrypted once it arrives within the “wilds of the Internet,” at least you are not sending your personal data all over your neighborhood for everybody in your general area to “sniff” through.

Satellite: For those folks who do not have access to the luxury of cable or DSL, satellite quickly becomes an attractive alternative to dealing with a dialup connection. While satellite latency is horrible, it is still nice to have (roughly) 10 times the speed of a dialup Internet connection. While satellite Internet is not a really sought after solution by most with the currently available consumer level technology, the times are a changin’. Almost every day there is talk about multinational companies that are working to create an internationally available broadband quality satellite Internet option that will show vast improvement in the current latency issues we see today. I, for one, would be excited to see this happen. While I do feel that there will always be some latency with satellite Internet, I am confident that there will be some new technology just around the corner that will work to help solve the worst of it and provide users with a more pleasant Internet experience.

So what is best for your customers? Well, to be honest, either DSL or cable. If security is a real concern, then they should most certainly try for DSL. If cheap(er) speed is, then perhaps cable would fit the bill. Satellite Internet is something that would come into the equation if the other two options are not feasible. Just remember that with satellite you are working with a dish that needs to have a clear view of the area of sky it is supposed to be aimed at. Your client would find their new dish to be little more than an expensive wind chime if it were blocked by a large building with no way to catch a signal! ;o) [Matt Hartley]