Test Your Connection
Speed Now
Home > Internet Access > DSL > What is DSL?

What is DSL?

DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) brings broadband information to homes and small businesses over ordinary copper telephone lines. DSL provides a high speed conduit for instant transmission of data, information, entertainment and much more. Since DSL technology uses the frequencies that are above the telephone bandwidth, one line can connect to the Internet and carry phone calls at the same time. The phone is always available for voice calls even while you surf the Internet and there’s no additional telephone connection or charge to use Internet.

DSL offers a faster broadband Internet connection than a standard dial-up connection. DSL technology uses existing 2-wire copper telephone wiring to deliver high-speed data services to homes and businesses.

DSL uses the existing phone line and in most cases does not require an additional phone line. This gives uninterrupted broadband Internet access without tying up the phone line. No more busy signals, no more dropped connections, no more waiting for someone in the household to get off the phone. DSL offers users a choice of speeds that are two-and-a half to twenty-five times faster than a standard 56 kilobytes per second dial-up modem.

This digital service can be used to deliver bandwidth-intensive applications like streaming audio/video, online games, application programs, telephone calling, video conferencing and other high-bandwidth services.  DSL puts high-speed broadband Internet access within the reach of the home, small and medium-size businesses. DSL takes existing voice cables that connect customer premises to the phone company's central office and turns them into a high-speed broadband digital link.

Over any given line, the maximum DSL speed is determined by the distance between the customer site and the Central Office. Most ISP's offer Symmetric DSL (SDSL) data services at speeds that vary from 144 kilobytes per second to 1.5 megabits per second so customers can choose both the rates and prices that meet their specific needs. At the customer premises, a DSL router or modem connects the DSL line to a local-area network (LAN) or an individual computer. Once installed, the DSL router provides the customer site with continuous connection to the Internet and use of the telephone at the same time.

Benefits of DSL

  • Always-On Broadband Service
  • Simultaneous Telephone And Broadband Internet Service
  • Up To Twenty-Five Times Faster Than Dial-Up
  • Cost Effective
  • No More Busy Signals
  • No More Dropped Connections
  • Faster Downloads
  • Faster Games
  • Multiple Computers on Single DSL Line
  • Dedicated Connection and Speed