Difference Between Broadband & Dial Up Internet

DSL is a broadband technology that uses telephone lines.

From the creation of the Internet in the 1970s to the late 1990s, dialing in through a modem was the main way most people accessed the Internet. As the popularity of the Internet grew in early 21st century, the higher speeds of broadband Internet technologies began to trump dial up's popularity.

What is Broadband?

Broadband Internet access--commonly referred to as "broadband"--is high speed Internet access. Common types of broadband Internet access include Digital Subscriber Line (DSL), which runs via copper telephone lines; cable Internet, which runs on coaxial or fiber cables that are used primarily for television signal; and satellite Internet, which utilizes orbiting satellites to broadcast data into remote regions.

What is Dial up?

Dial-up Internet access, commonly referred to as "dial up," involves a user calling in to their ISP using a computer modem to establish a connection. Dial-up access uses copper telephone lines to transmit data.

Speed

Broadband Internet access speeds vary greatly between technologies, providers and line conditions. In the United States, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) defines broadband speeds as over 768 kilobits per second (kbps).

Dial up is much slower than broadband with a top speed of 56 kilobytes per second (kbps). As of 2010, many dial-up service providers add an accelerator to their dial-up service which artificially accelerates the line speed by compressing the data.

Availability

Due to technology constraints, broadband is not available in all areas. Remote areas such as mountains or rural areas often do not have the telecommunications framework to offer terrestrial broadband such as cable or DSL, though satellite service may be available.

In contrast, dial-up Internet access is available wherever there is an analog phone. Toll charges may apply when calling a long distance access number.

Cost

As of 2010, dial-up Internet access is generally much cheaper than broadband access, starting at $9.99 per month. Some ISPs offer ad supported dial up for free.

Broadband prices can vary depending on type and provider but entry level cable or DSL service start at $19.99 a month for either service.

References

• Internet World Stats
• DSL vs Dialup Comparison

Resources

• High Speed Internet Access Guide