- DSL lines run through a standard phone line, but they separate voice and data. Satellite Internet services use radio waves to transmit data over the Internet.
- In general, satellite Internet speeds are the slowest of all the types of broadband, achieving about 500 kilobits per second (kbps) downstream and 80 kbps upstream. DSL, on the other hand, can get up to 8 megabits per second (mbps) upstream and 1,024 kbps downstream.
- Just about any geographical location can receive satellite Internet, because it does not require wires to be laid. DSL and satellite speeds often are comparable, but consumers may still want to use DSL if possible, according to the High Speed Internet website, because DSL has faster transmit time.