Next, we'll need to find out if your phone line is DSL eligible. DSL is about 10 times faster than a standard 28.8k modem. That means that it can take just a few seconds to download or upload a large file with DSL service while it could take hours with a traditional modem. One of the best features of DSL is that because DSL runs over existing phone lines, you can use the telephone or fax and surf the Internet at the same time. No more dialing, busy signals or watching the clock.
Cable is a shared wire which means all subscribers share the same bandwidth.
It also means that there are security issues. Another factor is the nature of the cable industry itself. First of all, the cable industry is broadcast-oriented and has no experience in Internet and data service. Since data service is a new product for cable companies, much of the support structure is not yet in place. DSL is like a dedicated connection.