What is DSL?

When you’re getting a new internet connection, lots of terms get bandied about that you don’t necessarily understand. One such term is DSL – if you’re upgrading your internet connection or trying to find the right speed for you, you’re likely to hear a lot of talk about DSL and DSL versus cable broadband and different kinds of DSL modems. But is DSL? What is broadband and DSL, and what do they mean to you when you’re trying to choose an internet connection type and an internet service provider?

To define DSL simply, it means digital subscriber line. The definition of DSL is actually a little more complicated than that though. The better answer to the question “what is DSL?” is better explained by saying that DSL is an internet connection that works via the phone network. The internet signal is transmitted over the same lines as a dial up connection, but DSL connections operate at higher frequencies, allowing a person to use the same phone line to surf the net and make phone calls simultaneously, without any interference. What is the difference between DSL and broadband, and what is the difference between DSL and ISDN? DSL can be a broadband internet connection, but not all broadband connections are DSL connections. Broadband is, simply put, a faster internet connection using a different kind of technology that can operate with a DSL modem or a cable modem. ISDN connections operate on a different kind of wire than DSL connections and are more expensive (and increasingly obsolete).

What is DSL Speed?

If you’re considering a DSL connection, chances are that you have many more questions about DSL to consider. What is the average download speed for DSL? What is a DSL modem? The best place to get these answers is through the internet service providers that operate in your area. Each provider will have its own kind of DSL modem and its own download speeds on offer, so there is no one blanket answer. These internet service providers can also help you with more complete DSL, cable and broadband definitions.

Before you settle on a DSL connection, you should also consider how you use the internet, and make sure that a DSL connection is right for you. If you use your internet simply for emails and for some occasional web browsing, then a DSL connection may be fine for you. If you use the internet to download music, videos, and games, you may want a faster connection, like a broadband cable connection.