DSL vs. Satellite Internet: Which One Gives Your Business the Advantage?

To help you sort through the differences, and determine which Internet connection is most compatible with the unique needs of your business, we’ve paired the two popular options head to head in four informative rounds.

Read on to see which option best fits your internet business needs.

How DSL and Satellite Internet Work

DSL Internet service is provided by your phone company and uses the same line that carries conversations, but doesn’t interfere with communication like dial-up. There are a few different types of DSL service. The most common is asymmetric DSL. With asymmetric DSL, download speeds are fast and upload speeds are much slower. A modem is required for DSL, and is often offered as part of a professional installation package. The provider’s technician may be able to use your business’ existing phone line for DSL, but if your office phone line is older, the technician will need to install a new line for the service.

As the name implies, satellite Internet service is provided via signal rather than a hard-line like DSL. A land based Internet connection sends a signal to a satellite orbiting Earth, which then sends the signal to a satellite dish installed outside your home. Access is offered through a satellite Internet provider. Like DSL, satellite Internet requires professional installation and a modem.

Round One: Reliability

DSL offers a convenient “always-on” connection and is considered a reliable Internet option. However, because access is delivered by your business’ phone line, you’ll lose your Internet connection should the line be damaged or interrupted. Keep in mind that if your phone line is inadvertently cut by a service worker or taken out of service due to a storm, you’ll lose Internet access. If your business must have Internet to operate, it’s a good idea to have a back-up Internet access option.

Although satellite Internet is delivered via signal rather than wire, it can be just as reliable. However, its reliability depends greatly on where your office is located. Signals from satellites can be weakened or blocked by trees, mountains or other structures and inclement weather and sun spots can also deteriorate or block the signal.

Round Two: Availability

DSL might seem like the best option for your business, but you need to know that just because your business has phone service doesn’t mean you can get DSL. In fact, if your office is located more than 22,000 feet from the phone company central office (CO), you probably won’t be able to receive DSL service. That’s because the signal deteriorates and Internet speeds slow the farther you are located from a CO. Fortunately, over half of telephone customers in the U.S. live in areas that could support DSL.

Unlike DSL, satellite Internet is available almost everywhere around the world, even in some of the most remote areas. For businesses located in rural areas that are not serviced by phone service or for businesses located too far from a CO, satellite Internet may be the only option for a high-speed connection. All you need is a clear view of the Southern sky and you should be able to receive a connection.

Round Three: Speed

DSL download speeds are typically much faster than speeds offered by satellite Internet and generally range from .5 to 15 Mbps, but some providers are now offering speeds of 40Mbps. You can expect upload speed from 384 kilobits per second (Kbps) to 768 Kbps, however some providers offer upload speeds as fast as 1.0 Mbps. Latency (delays incurred during the processing of data) can range from 75 to 100 milliseconds (ms). Latency is almost always less than what you’ll experience with satellite Internet.

Satellite Internet is usually slower than DSL and has much greater latency time. Typically, satellite Internet offers download speeds of 1 to 15 Mbps and upload speeds of 1 to 2 Mbps. Like DSL Internet, latency varies, but is often in the range of 1000 to 2000 ms. For those just surfing the web, the slower speed of satellite Internet isn’t too much of a problem, but for those who want to stream movies, upload large files or conduct “real-time” business transactions, it can be difficult or impossible to do so.

Round Four: Price

DSL is generally priced from $19.99 up to $50.00 per month. Phone service is not always required, and installation fees may apply. Keep in mind that you’ll pay more for faster speeds and you’ll usually get the best rate when you sign up for a long term contract. You’ll also have to purchase or lease the modem from the provider. In some cases, it will be given to you at no charge.

Satellite Internet is almost always more expensive than DSL. Plans range from about $50.00 per month to well over $100 per month, plus you’ll have to purchase or lease a satellite dish. Like DSL Internet, you pay more for faster speeds, may have to pay an installation fee or activation fee, and usually get the best price on service when you sign up for a long term contract (typically two years or more and a cancellation fee may apply).

In addition to budget, when it comes to selecting the ideal Internet option for your business you have to consider how extensively your business uses the Internet, how fast and reliable the connection needs to be, and where your business is located.