ADSL versus Wireless Broadband

2006-10-25 10:51

Rudolph Muller

Many people believe that wireless broadband can substitute ADSL, similar to mobile phones taking the place of fixed line telephones. Is this true?

Broadband is the big buzzword in tech and business circles. In the one corner of the ring stands Telkom's fixed-line ADSL offerings and in the other corner wireless services like iBurst, HSDPA, 3G, MyWireless and even WiFi and WiMax.

But can any of the wireless technologies really compete favourably with ADSL?

The reality is that overseas, ADSL is the heavyweight in this fight. Wireless broadband is widely seen as a new contender, but it will take a while for this technology to mature to a stage where it will be ready for the title fight.

Internationally the broadband arena is dominated by fixed line ADSL and Cable connections, with less than 5% of households using a wireless service as a primary Internet connection method.

On local shores the situation is vastly different, with nearly half of all broadband users subscribing to a wireless offering.

The reason why South Africans are opting for wireless comes down to price and installation times.

Internationally the all-inclusive cost for an uncapped ADSL connection is generally below R200 per month, making it far cheaper than wireless connections which are generally accompanied by very strict caps or usage limits.

Locally ADSL's high price and slow installation times make wireless broadband services a feasable alternative to Telkom's service.

Speed matters

Whilst wireless broadband may provide some benefits like mobility and instant connectivity, it simply does not have the same capabilities as fixed-line ADSL.

Wireless connections are slow compared to international ADSL standards and don't have the same reliability and quality-of-service.

Telkom recently introduced a 4 Mbps ADSL service to give local consumers a taste of true broadband, but internationally ADSL offerings are even faster, promising speeds in excess of 20 Mbps.

Some broadband services like high quality video-on-demand or IP-TV require these really fast speeds, and it is here that wireless broadband offerings are left in the dust.

The fastest wireless broadband services do exceed the 1 Mbps barrier, but do not come anything close to the 20 Mbps+ speeds we see overseas for ADSL.

In South Africa we have the 1 Mpbs iBurst service and 1.8 Mbps HSDPA offerings. These offerings give subscribers a fair broadband experience, but it is still not well-suited for bandwidth intensive or low latency services like high-quality Internet television or online gaming.

Many people believe that WiFi, which can produce speeds that are similar or faster than ADSL, may hold the key to this dilemma. Companies are however hesitant to invest in WiFi broadband rollouts since it utilizes "open spectrum" which can theoretically become congested and deteriorate the service quality.

The slow wireless speed conundrum may be solved with speed improvements to the HSDPA service and the introduction of WiMax, but until then fixed line technologies like ADSL and Cable will continue to reign supreme.

Don't write off wireless

ADSL remains the preferred way to connect to the internet for broadband related services, but wireless broadband is carving a niche for itself in the new business world.

The ability to use a mobile broadband service when travelling is the trump card of a wireless service. Vodacom and MTN's mobile broadband offerings make it possible for travelers to take their Internet connection with them, wherever they go.

The need to be "connected" wherever you are is fast becoming a necessity in the global business arena, and just like not leaving the office without your cellular phone, it will soon be essential to also pack your broadband internet connection for the ride.

Luckily the mobile phone makers realised the importance of omnipresent or ubiquitous connectivity, and they are building broadband capabilities into their new phones.

So while wireless technologies like 3G, HSDPA or iBurst may not be able to hold their own against ADSL in the speed and reliability departments, the freedom of mobility makes it a valuable addition to the broadband bouquet.

In future we will most likely see ADSL and wireless broadband services co-existing peacefully alongside each other, similar to fixed line phones and mobile handsets today.

Rudolph Muller is the founder of MyADSL.co.za.

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