Broadband connectivity can be delivered in many different types of high-speed transmission technologies, including DSL (digital subscriber line), cable modem, fiber optics, wireless, satellite, and broadband over power lines. The best broadband technology to choose depends on a wide variety of factors, which include your location in a rural or urban area, how the broadband access is bundled or packaged with other services like telephony and home entertainment, as well as other aspects like price and availability.
DSL (digital subscriber line) is one of the most popular transmission technologies with home as well as business users. DSL is a widespread wireline transmission technology that allows fast data transmission over traditional copper phone lines that are already installed in typical homes and business establishments. DSL broadband enables transmission speeds ranging from a couple hundred Kbps up to millions of bits per second or Mbps. Speed and availability often depends on the distance of your location to the nearest telephone company facility.
DSL transmission technologies can further be subdivided into 4 different categories, namely asymmetrical digital subscriber lines or ADSLs, symmetrical digital subscriber lines or SDSLs, high data rate digital subscriber lines or HDSLs, and very high data rate digital subscriber lines or VDSLs. The last two are the fastest forms of DSL that are typically offered to businesses and commercial facilities.
An asymmetrical digital subscriber line is primarily used in residential settings. They benefit users who receive tons of data but don't necessarily have to send much. ADSLs provide faster speeds in the downstream direction and slower in the upstream. Another unique advantage of ADSL offers is their ability to facilitate fast downstream data transmission using the same line that provides voice service without interrupting regular phone calls. Symmetrical digital subscriber lines, on the other hand, are typically offered to businesses, thus allowing services like video conferencing, which require significant bandwidth allocation both in the downstream and upstream directions.
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