DSL: Digital Subscriber Line

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

Basic DSL supports maximum download data rates ranging between 1.544 Mbps and 8.448 Mbps. Actual speeds vary in practice depending on the quality of the copper phone line installation involved. The length of the phone line needed to reach the service provider's premise equipment (sometimes called the "central office") also can limit the maximum speed a DSL installation supports.

For more, see: How Fast is DSL?

Symmetric vs. Asymmetric DSL

Most types of DSL service are asymmetric—also known as ADSL. ADSL offers higher download speeds than upload speeds, a tradeoff that most residential providers make to better match up with the needs of typical households who generally do much more downloading. Symmetric DSL maintains equal data rates for both uploads and downloads.

Residential DSL Service

Well-known DSL providers in the United States include AT&T (Uverse), Verizon, and Frontier Communications.

 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

For more, see: Introduction to DSL for Business Internet Service

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 more costly 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.