About ten years ago, the only way to connect ourselves to internet was using a dial-up connection which had lots of limitations. To begin with, dial-up was not reliable, slow, and often tends to disconnect on the slightest interruption on the line. So, based on today’s standards, the dialup will be disregarded by many users for the above mentioned reasons.
Soon, the invention of splitters and filters paved the way for broadband, the always ‘on’ internet connection. In simple language, broadband refers to a wide range of technologies that offer reliable, high speed internet access.

Both DSL and cable speeds exceed those of competing Internet services. Are DSL or cable any faster than each other? More importantly, are you getting all of the performance you should from your Internet connection? Follow along as we explain the speed difference between DSL and cable and offer tips for maximizing your performance.

Cable modem Internet services on average promise higher levels of bandwidth than DSL Internet services, and this bandwidth roughly translates to raw speed. However, while cable Internet will theoretically run faster than DSL, several technical and business reasons can reduce or even eliminate this advantage.
In terms of theoretical peak performance, cable modem runs faster than DSL. Cable technology supports approximately 30 Mbps of bandwidth, whereas most forms of DSL cannot reach 10 Mbps.
One type of DSL technology, VDSL, can match cable’s performance, also supporting 30 Mbps. However, Internet service providers generally do not offer VDSL, but rather the cheaper and slower ADSL or SDSL services.

Comparison
In practice, cable’s speed advantage over DSL is much less than the theoretical numbers suggest. Why?

* Cable modem services can slow down significantly if many people in your neighborhood access the Internet simultaenously.
* Both cable modem and DSL performance vary from one minute to the next depending on the pattern of use and traffic congestion on the Internet.
* DSL and cable Internet providers often implement so-called “speed caps” that limit the bandwidth of their services.
* Some home networks cannot match the speed of the Internet connection, lowering your performance

Speed: Virgin Media claims its cable broadband is three times faster than its ADSL counter parts. It has upgraded its L size broadband to 4 Mbps and XL size package to 20 Mbps. With ADSL and its newer versions like ADSL 2 and ADSL+2, there is an increasing range of choice. Be, the ADSL +2 provider offers packages like Be Unlimited and Be Pro which can clock maximum speeds of 24 Mbps. There are other ISPs like UK Online, Bulldog and Sky who offer high speed packages. With ADSL +2 and its previous versions, the actual speeds you get depend upon the distance between your home and DSLAM and the service quality offered by your ISP. While the distance may not be the issue with cable, but the number of people sharing the cable network can impact the speed and the quality of service.

Monthly cost: If you want to go for a stand-alone broadband deal, definitely ADSL is the cheaper option. With monthly cost as low as 9.99 from Pipex or PlusNet and freebies like modem, free setup that come with your 12 month contract, these offers sound more attractive than any Virgin Media deal. You can also find some of the cheapest wireless broadband deals with ADSL providers like AOL or PlusNet or BT.

Cable broadband is the best option, if you consider bundling your broadband with other services like digital TV or mobile service. Virgin Media offers a wide range of broadband bundles that are cost-effective and can save a lot of money for a family.

Initial costs like modem, connection fee are common to both, however, cable connection may cost a bit more initially. With ADSL, the line rental can make your monthly cost a bit expensive.

Reliability
Both cable and DSL service providers commonly employ bandwidth / speed caps for residential customers. Bandwidth caps place an artificial limit on the maximum speed a customer can achieve by monitoring their individual traffic flow and throttling network packets if necessary. Bandwidth caps can reduce a 30 Mbps service down to 3 Mbps or even lower.

Service providers may have several motivations for imposing speed caps including the following:
1. Providers concerned about the capacity limits of their network may implement a cap so that they can accomodate more customers.
2. Providers may believe that the vast majority of customers do not actually need any more bandwidth than that allowed under the cap.
3. Providers may want to create a fair-and-equal distribution of bandwidth of customers. Without a cap, for example, some DSL subscribers would enjoy much higher bandwidth levels than others in the same neighborhood.
4. Providers may be want to charge higher or lower rates for greater or lesser bandwidth levels.

With ADSL, the connection quality depends upon the distance from the exchange or DSLAM. So, you may experience slower connection or even complete disconnection at times.

Cable broadband is capable of offering better speeds than normal ADSL connection. However, at times, the speeds of cable can be altered by the number of people sharing the cable network. If you live in an area where more cable users share the network, there are chances that you will get poor connection quality. However, you can contact your ISP to resolve this issue.

Both DSL and Cable can provide better speeds and service but tend to degrade after a certain distance, just like DSL.