Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) is a high-speed Internet service for homes and businesses that competes with cable and other forms of broadband Internet. DSL provides high-speed networking over ordinary phone lines using broadband modem technology. The technology behind DSL enables Internet and telephone service to work over the same phone line without requiring customers to disconnect either their voice or Internet connections.
DSL Speed
Residential DSL Service
Well-known DSL providers in the Australia include optus and telstra. Many smaller regional providers also offer DSL. Customers subscribe to a DSL service plan and pay a monthly or yearly subscription and must also agree to the provider’s terms of service. Most providers supply compatible DSL modem hardware to their customers if needed, although the hardware is generally available through retailers.
Business DSL Service
Besides its popularity in homes, many businesses also rely on DSL for their Internet service. Business DSL differs from residential DSL in several key respects:
- Symmetric DSL is typically used as businesses tend to generate much higher volumes of outgoing traffic than a typical home
- Providers often sell higher tiers of service to their customers including higher data rate plans, premier customer support options or bundling of other products
Problems with DSL
DSL Internet service only works over a limited physical distance and remains unavailable in many areas where the local telephone infrastructure does not support DSL technology.
Although DSL has been a mainstream type of Internet service for many years, the experience of individual customers can vary greatly depending on their location, their provider, the quality of telephone wiring in their residence and some other factors.
As with other forms of Internet service, the cost of DSL can vary dramatically from region to region. An area with few Internet connectivity options and few providers may be morecostly simply due to the lack of business competition.
DSL does not perform nearly as fast as fiber Internet connections. Even some high-speed wireless Internet options can offer competitive speeds.
Because DSL lines use the same copper wire as wired telephone service, all wired phones in the home or business must use special filters that plug in between the phone and the wall jack. If these filters aren’t used, the DSL connection may be adversely affected.
