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Learning Center » What is the difference between broadband internet and dial-up?

About Dial-Up

Dial-up internet was what most users of the internet used to get online and surf the web. Many know the dreadful process of having to actually dial a phone number with your computer's modem, and then sit and wait while the modem communicates with your internet service provider; making loud and annoying screeching noises and so-on. Eventually you would finally be online and able to go to different websites, check your email, and play online games.

Back then, there was nothing wrong with the dial-up internet; it was the best you could get without paying an arm and a leg. We all enjoyed going online and we saw nothing wrong with the process of getting online.

Dial-up access certainly had its faults. For one thing you couldn't get a faster download rate than 56 kilobits per second (56 kbit/sec). Many users couldn't even get this speed, due to mitigating factors such as line noise, capacity and the quality of the modem being used. In fact, sometimes even with a 56.6 modem you would top out at about 20-24 kbit/sec!

About Broadband and the Differences From Dial-Up

Around the turn of the new millennium, something new was emerging from the surface; broadband internet. This new type of internet now available to the general public was much fast than what we were used to. Broadband internet can include Cable, DLS, T1, Satellite, and Fiber Optic internet. Websites load instantly, songs download in one minute, and large applications can download in an hour - rather than a few days with dial up.

There is no bizarre "dialing-in" to connect to the internet, with broadband you're always connected. As soon as you open your browser (Internet Explorer, FireFox, Safari) you can surf the internet and do your normal online activities. Another advantage to broadband internet is that it doesn't make your phone lines busy, so even though your computer is always online, your friends and family can call you at anytime.

The most surprising aspect about broadband internet is that it can be found for the same price as dial-up despite all of its benefits. The only disadvantage to broadband, however, is since you are always online you have to install a decent antivirus program to protect you from viruses, since the threat is much greater than it is with dial-up. Still, the benefits heavily outweigh the disadvantages.

Today, only about 10% of the population uses dial-up access, mainly due to unavailability in some rural areas or due to the higher prices associated with broadband internet access. Most dial-up connections cannot even view today's internet content, such as streaming audio or video due to the higher bandwidth requirements of these new media types.