What is the difference between ADSL and cable modems?
ADSL provides always-on high-speed Internet access over a single dedicated telephone line; cable modems offer always-on high-speed Internet access over a shared cable television line. While cable modems have the potential for greater downstream (from the Internet into the home) bandwidth capabilities, that bandwidth is shared among all users in a neighborhood, and will therefore vary, perhaps dramatically, as more users in a neighborhood get online at the same time. Cable modem upstream (from the home to the Internet) traffic will in many cases be slower than ADSL, either because the particular cable modem is inherently slower, or because too many people in a neighborhood are trying to send or receive data at the same time.
ADSL provides always-on high speed Internet access over a single dedicated telephone line; cable modems offer always-on high speed Internet access over a shared cable television line. While cable modems have greater download capabilities, that bandwidth is shared among all users in a neighborhood and varies, perhaps dramatically, when more users in a neighborhood are online at the same time. Another big difference between ADSL and cable modems is the number of houses enabled for each service; only around 20 percent of homes are ready for cable modems now, compared to 50 to 60 percent of homes that are ready for ADSL service.
ADSL provides always-on high-speed Internet access over a single dedicated telephone line; cable modems offer always-on high-speed Internet access over a shared cable television line. While cable modems have greater downstream (from the Internet into the home) bandwidth capabilities, that bandwidth is shared among all users in a neighborhood, and will therefore vary, perhaps dramatically, as more users in a neighborhood get online at the same time. Cable modem upstream (from the home to the Internet) traffic will in many cases be slower than ADSL, either because the particular cable modem is inherently slower, or because too many people in a neighborhood are trying to send or receive data at the same time. The big difference between ADSL and cable modems, however, is the number of lines available to each. Additionally, many of the older cable networks are not capable of offering a return channel; consequently, such networks will need significant upgrading before they can offer high ban
