High-speed Internet: DSL vs. cable

By Jeff Dusing
Daily Forty-Niner

In a time when businesses are moving to the Internet and millions are logging on to do everything from grocery shopping to paying taxes, communications companies are competing to provide their form of high-speed Internet access.

High-speed Internet access is currently available in two affordable forms, cable and Digital Subscriber Line, or DSL. While other methods are available, they often cost thousands of dollars each month.

Donna Wilgus, a residential sales representative for Verizon phone company, said DSL is added to an existing telephone line by splicing the phone wire and using some pre-existing copper wire that has not yet been used.

"With one phone line you can use your telephone along with all its functions, as well as be on the Internet with high-speed access," Wilgus said. "DSL eliminates the need for extra phone lines that may be used for Internet access and frees up more phone numbers to be used in a community."

While many areas are now DSL ready, the service is not available everywhere. Only customers within three miles of a central office that possesses the necessary hardware are candidates for DSL, Wilgus added.

"The further you are away from the central office, it does affect the quality," she said.

While the performance of both DSL and cable are affected by the number of users in an area working at the same time, the number of people able to use DSL is much less. Thus, there will be fewer peak times when many users are logged on with DSL, Wilgus said.

Verizon's basic DSL package is $32.50 and it offers downloads at 768k and 128k uploads. The highest package is $215 per month and it guarantees 1.5 megabit downloads and 768k uploads. The service also requires digital Internet access. Users can select from a wide range of providers or select Verizon Online Internet for $7.45 per month for unlimited usage.

"Everyone I've talked to has been very satisfied with their DSL connection," said Liam Ferris, a computer technician for Cal State Long Beach technical services. Ferris added that while many people seem to prefer DSL for its performance, he has also heard horror stories about people having difficulty getting it installed.

CSULB freshman Minah Chae said she applied for Verizon's DSL service almost a month ago and was advised it would take approximately two weeks. Chae said she still has not received the service and she is not sure when it will be installed.

Cable Internet access is also a very popular and affordable service currently available to most homes in Southern California.

Time Warner, a cable company that covers much of the South Bay and northern Orange County, offers cable Internet access known as Road Runner High Speed Online.

Unlike DSL, cable Internet access is delivered through the same coaxial cable as a cable television. Because of the increased thickness and increased performance of the hybrid-fiber cable, cable Internet is able to offer a high level of performance to all homes that currently enjoy cable TV, according to Tan Nguyen, the commercial sales manager for Road Runner Online.

"You can't always believe commercials," Nguyen said regarding allegations that cable service slows due to an increase in users. "DSL is the same way. It will never be slower than 56k or even slower than 384k."

Road Runner High Speed Online is currently available for $39.95 per month for which users will receive two megabit downloads and 384k uploads. Commercial packages are also available for $49.99. The commercial service includes increased technical support and other off-site services.