| Satellite internet technology is often times seen | | | | reliable, and did not tie up a phone line. The only |
| as a new technology. Though many consumers | | | | problem was that to get the best price, you'd |
| don't know the details behind such a connection, | | | | have to sign up for cable TV service. This wasn't |
| the fact remains that this technology has been | | | | such a big deal breaker at first, but it became a |
| around for quite some time. Only recently is it | | | | problem when cable TV service failed to live up |
| starting to gain widespread traction as people are | | | | to all its promises. Another problem with cable |
| beginning to catch on to the benefits such a | | | | was that bandwidth was shared among your |
| connection can provide. But it isn't for everyone. | | | | neighbors. If the kid down the street was |
| Gaining a bit of background on satellite internet will | | | | downloading large files at high speed all day, your |
| help consumers make a more informed buying | | | | connection performance would suffer. That's |
| decision. Knowing the available options is also | | | | when DSL arose as a valid competitor. It offered |
| helpful. | | | | fast, affordable and reliable service. Like cable |
| Traditional internet connections make use of the | | | | internet, you had to be close to the wired |
| wired infrastructure that has been put in place by | | | | infrastructure in place for such connections. That |
| phone and cable companies. Dial-up internet was | | | | is, rural areas would most likely not have the |
| the first accessible and affordable internet | | | | option to use this service. On the plus side, though |
| connection that was popular during the advent of | | | | DSL uses existing phone lines to transfer data, it |
| the internet. It was much slower than today's | | | | did not tie them up. Consumers could still use their |
| speedy connections, but if you had a phone line, | | | | phones to make calls. Also, DSL was not shared |
| you could connect to the internet. Not only was it | | | | with other users like cable was and you didn't |
| somewhat slow, it was vulnerable to outside | | | | have to worry about signing up for additional |
| interference and would tie up phone lines when in | | | | services, aside from making sure you had a |
| use. Cable internet was considered the answer to | | | | phone line connected to your home with DSL |
| dial-up's shortcomings. It was much faster, more | | | | capabilities. |