DSL vs Wireless Broadband

“Mirror mirror on the wall, whose the fairest of them all.” In case you are wondering If I have been watching too much Disney cartoons lately the answer is no. I just borrowed a line from the wicked witch to illustrate a common dilemma encountered by many internet users, the ever-lasting question which Broadband internet access provider offers the best deal in town.


Well, like you, I have thought about this for a long time and I have to say the question is not as simple as it seems because each broadband internet access provider has its own up and down points. And of course the question is straight-forwardly stated, as every astute user know that examining your internet connection needs is key to finding the best one. So, I guess the question should have been “mirror mirror on the wall, which broadband internet access provider is the right one for me.”

Before I go further, let me first give a brief background on broadband internet. Broadband internet access, also known as “high speed” internet access, with typical speed of 256Kbps offers higher rate of data transfer than the regular dial-up connection. Here in the Philippines broadband internet is available through wired and wireless connection.

Wireless internet connection or wireless broadband uses radio waves instead of wires to deliver internet service. Wireless connection is broadcast from a base station to the subscriber’s home via antenna, installed near his/her location, which receives the radio frequency transmitted. The biggest advantage of using wireless connection is that it offers easy access and widespread availability especially in areas where conventional services are not available. The downside, however, is that user must be within the general vicinity of where wireless coverage is available (receiving range) in order to connect.

Wired internet connection or commonly known as the Digital subscriber Line (DSL) connection provides internet services with regular phone lines. The “unused” frequencies during telephone conversations or fax transmissions are used to broadcast the internet services. With this setup, subscriber can use the telephone and the internet at the same time, a feature not available when using the regular dial-up.

DSL offers certain advantages over wireless connection. DSL connection is securely wired directly to the internet while wireless connection operates on public “hot spots” making data interception very prone and common. DSL connection is also more consistent with the internet speed.

Now, going back to my question earlier, DSL is my answer. I’m web enthusiast and I’m always online which makes me heavily dependent on the internet. I need a very reliable internet connection, the one that doesn’t fail on me when I need to meet deadlines. I had the unfortunate experience of using an unreliable internet connection before where I got disconnected every few minutes. I had to click on the “diagnose” button every now and then just to see what exactly the problem was. After a few rounds of the diagnose routine, the screen suddenly displayed “PAGE CANNOT BE DISPLAYED”. Imagine how frustrated I was considering I was working on something that is near its deadline. With DSL that would have been less of a problem because DSL’s technology is more reliable and uses solid technology that is hard to tamper with as compared to wireless connection where big rain or turbulent winds can cause the internet service to go “KAPOOF”.

I also think DSL connection lords over wireless connection in terms of Internet speed. In my line of work, bandwidth speed is crucial as it helps me build networks faster. Higher bandwidth speed also mean less time spent on downloading and uploading stuffs and browsing sites. As a blogger and web developer, I have to do a lot of background research on certain topics, gadgets and anything that is related to my field of work. I spend most of my time online, so you could just imagine how important internet speed is to me. I open a lot of windows in the same time. I browse through different sites simultaneously. With low bandwidth speed, it will take a week to finish a one day’s work done with a DSL connection.

And of course I like to play online games and watch funny videos on YouTube. With a wireless connection, playing online games is almost like waiting for a turtle to cross the finish line and watching funny videos on YouTube is like looking at a silly photo of someone performing catatonic stunts.

So far, I think DSL connection is the right one for me that is why I am satisfied whenever I use PLDT myDSL. PLDT myDSL has 2 types of bundled plans which include DSL, landline, and a Watchpad feature. Plan 990 has all that and works up to 384Kbps while Plan 1299 offers a max speed of 768Kbps. For those wanting for more speed, PLDT introduces High-Speed Plans: XPERIENCE 999 plan with a max 1Mbps speed, 2Mbps XCITE 1995 plan, and XCEL 3000 that can run up to 3Mbps.

Oh, have I mentioned how useful the Watchpad feature is, especially for those who do not have a TV at home. PLDT Watchpad allows live streaming of 20 premium channels such as National Geographic, History Channel, CNN, CNBC, Channel V, Animax, etc…


Now that I have thrown in my two cents, you might think I am all for DSL connection. The truth is I use both wireless and wired connection. I’m still using Smart Bro as my Wireless Broadband ISP, PLDT MyDSL XCEL 3000 as my main wired ISP, and BayanDSL as my backup wired ISP. I also use Globe Tattoo whenever I go out or when all of my other ISPs are acting weird or sometimes not available.

I prefer to use wireless when I am outdoors or in areas where DSL services are not available. Wireless connection comes in handy whenever I attend blog events. Wireless connection is advisable for those people always on the go but then of course they’ll have to pay in terms of the broadband service performance.

Just to provide a little back up for my argument, I read on different forums about broadband provider. Indeed, many people agree with me that DSL connection is still better than Wireless connection. Common complaints are intermittent disconnection, congested internet, and slow connectivity. Of course, there are also few drawbacks for DSL connection but in my observation, people still opt for the DSL connection. A common complain people have is usually related to their customer service and the installation waiting time but in terms of internet reliability and performance, PLDT myDSL still ranks number one in users lists.

I hope what I have written above was helpful for you dear readers but more important than that I surely hope you guys enjoyed reading it. Just remember the rule number one in choosing the type of Broadband internet access provider will depend on your internet usage need. Different type of user will have to look into different factors to consider. Some will find wireless connection more convenient and practical while others may favor DSL connection for its reliability, speed, connectivity, and overall performance. Perhaps, asking around and doing a little research on your own will save you from being “trapped” in a ugly deal between you and your broadband internet provider.

As for me, I am cool with PLDT myDSL and I think I have to discontinue my other ISPs and stick to PLDT MyDSL because it’s faster, more stable and more reliable. I am really thankful that, so far, I haven’t encountered any major problem with PLDT myDSL. While there are a few drawback with PLDT myDSL, the long term benefits generally outweighs it all.

DISCLAIMER: This is a sponsored post from PLDT.