What Is the Difference Between Digital & Broadband?

Broadband transfers digital information through high-speed connections.

The Federal Communications Commission defines broadband as Internet connections that are continuously on and faster than dial-up connections. The difference between broadband and digital is that broadband refers to Internet access while digital refers to data.

Features

Digital refers to the transmission of data, such as from files and images, as smaller bits of information. Digital broadband access transfers these data bits at faster speeds than dial-up connections. The broadband connection speed can range from 200 kilobits per second to six megabits per second.

Types

The two most used forms of broadband Internet access are cable and Digital Subscriber Line. Cable Internet services deliver digital information through cable operators. DSL, on the other hand, transmits data through telephone lines.

Considerations

Digital data also can be transferred through other broadband technology such as fiber-optic cable, wireless and satellite connections. Depending on the type of Internet connection chosen, broadband speeds can differ significantly depending on many variables. This includes factors like weather, traffic load and distance from the service provider.

References

• Federal Communications Commission: Getting Broadband
• Broadband.gov: What is Broadband?