DSL Vs Cable Modem

By

Olubukola Adeyemi

COSC 541

What is DSL?

What is Cable Modem?

Comparison• Cost• Speed• Security• Reliability• Installation

Conclusion

Outline

What is DSL?

DSL provides a dedicated service over a single telephone line.

Hence no sharing of bandwidth among users.

Leverages existing copper infrastructure to provide symmetric bandwidth at speeds up to 1.5mbps

DSL Connection

• Inside carrier’s POP, a device called a DSL access multiplexer (DSLAM) aggregates multiple DSL subscriber lines and connects them to a larger carrier or to the Internet backbone

What is Cable Modem?

Cable Modems offer a dedicated service over a shared media.

Use coaxial cable to connect residences in neighborhoods to the cable company’s central office for relay to a distribution hub.

Provide up to 30Mbps downstream for sharing between 500-2,000 users.

Utilizes Ethernet LAN technology.

Cable Infrastructure

Comparison

CostDSL Cable

• Slightly cheaper than DSL

• Reach thousands of subscribers with a single fiber cable

• DSL modem requires corresponding modem with service provider

• Involve extra accessories such as filters and dedicated modems

Speed • Faster than DSL

• Achieve networking speed of approximately 30mbps

• Most forms of DSL cannot reach 10mbps

Comparison

Security

DSL Cable• Shared medium subject

to eavesdropping

• More secure than Cable Modem

• Not subject eavesdropping

Reliability • Malfunctioning CATV line will bring down all users on the line

• More reliable than Cable Modem

• Only a single user is affected when the DSL modem malfunctions

Comparison

Installation

DSL Cable• Almost everyone

already has a phone service required for DSL

• Requires additional accessories such as filters and dedicated modems at both ends

• Requires cable television service as well

• Requires only cable modem

Conclusion

Choice of the faster, more reliable and safer internet access between DSL and Cable Modem has not been ascertained

Created a lot of consumer confusion

As many reasons to choose DSL as there are to choose Cable Modem

Consumers need to weigh the pros and cons of both technologies in their localities before making a purchase.

References

http://compnetworking.about.com/library/weekly/aa111200b.htm http://westcoastinternet.net/support/whatis/dedicatedconnection/dsl/dslvscable http://teledotcom.com/article/TEL20001009S0002 http://dslplanet.com/dsl_vs.cable.htm http://salon.com/tech/feature/1999/09/23/cable_dsl/print.html http://cnet.com/internet/0-3762-7-2643122.html