What Is DSL?

DSL stands for Digital Subscriber Line. It is a serviceAdvantages of DSL
that makes the use of existing copper telephone wiresNo installation of new wires is required. DSL uses the
for delivering data services at extremely fast speedpresent telephone line to connect to the Internet. It
rates. It does not hamper the existing telephone line.provides extremely fast connection. Depending on the
You can surf the Internet and talk on the phone,offer, you would not even have to pay for the DSL
simultaneously.modem installation charges, since it is provided free by
DSL offers speeds that are around 5 to 25 timessome of the companies on selection of the
higher than a typical 56Kb dial-up connection. It is anappropriate plan. The download rate is much higher in
always-on type of connection. This implies thatDSL connections. Many business organizations have
websites would load quickly, downloads would begained the benefits of DSL. A DSL connection is very
faster, buffering of videos would be fast and smoothsecure.
and the domain of Online games would be illimitable.Disadvantages of DSL
Based on the types of service, DSL can be can beThe quality of your DSL connection depends on the
categorized in three divisions which are ASDL, IDSLdistance between the DSL providers office and your
and SDSL.location. Nearer you are, the better quality connection
ADSL stands for Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line. Itwould you get. So, consumers located far from the
offers download speed of 1.5 Mbps and upload speedlocal DSL office may face some trouble. DSL provide
of 384 K. In order to acquire a ADSL connection, yourhigh speeds for downloading stuff but upload speeds
location has to be within 3 miles of your local telephoneare not that good.
office. Also, a DSL router is needed for this type ofDSL vs Cable Modems
connection.The services provided through a cable modem can
IDSL is a ISDN Digital Subscriber Line service whichsometimes slow down or get hanged. It depends on
requires an ISDN router. It provides a connection speedthe number of users accessing that particular service.
of 144 K. in this type of connection distance is not aBut, in a DSL connection there is no such problem. The
component to be considered.speed of DSL is consistent and high. This does not
SDSL means Symmetric Digital Subscriber Line. Theallow any kind of conjunction on the network. It
speeds available under this type of DSL connectionprovides more security than the cable modem
depends on the distance between your location andconnections. The popularity of DSL has risen to new
your local telephone office. The speed of downloadsheights which has resulted in disconnections and up
and uploads can go up to 1.1 Mbps.gradations of the cable modem connections.