ADSL

Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line

Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Loop or Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line. Designed for an uneven data flow, where client-to-server data flow is a fraction of the server-to-client data. Upstream data flow can typically be measured in kbps while the downstream data flow is measured in mbps.

 

Sleepy Telcos Wake Up to Fast Access

Jesse Berst, Editorial Director
ZDNet AnchorDesk

We have a rule at AnchorDesk: Don't bother Annette before 10 a.m. Until her third cuppa Joe kicks in, our beloved Web maven is -- how should I say this? -- ummm... groggy. Once the caffeine kicks in, however, Annette is an idea-spewing, Web-surfing, column-writing speed demon.

The once-sluggish telephone companies are undergoing a similar transformation. I've often berated them for slow implementation of fast Internet access. Click for more. Suddenly, they're waking up to speedy ADSL hook-ups. Click for more.

ADSL, or Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line, zaps Internet data over ordinary copper telephone wires. With cable modems making inroads, the telcos are worrying that consumers will soon bypass their services. And get Internet, TV and phone connections from the cable guy.

Recent weeks have witnessed a flurry of ADSL activity:

ADSL comes in several flavors. The high-end version, sometimes called just DSL, is also blazing trails. At this week's ComNet trade show, MCI WorldCom said it will deliver high-speed, local access DSL services for business customers. Click for more.

And now the bad news. ADSL still represents many unfulfilled promises:

Spotty coverage: Unavailable in many areas, ADSL lags behind cable-modem penetration. Forrester Research predicts 13.6 million homes will use cable modems by 2002, but there'll be only 2.2 million ADSL customers. Click for more.

Not so fast: ADSL claims connections of 1.5 MBPS -- about 25 to 35 times quicker than the fastest modem. Realistically, depending on equipment and location, 350 KBPS may be more realistic. Not bad. But cable modems are speedier (in theory at least). Click for more.

Learning curve: Although the telcos are striving for techno-hipness, they remain mired in regulation, bureaucracy and stodginess. So it'll be a while before ADSL installation and service is a no-nonsense proposition. You should hear Sm@rt Reseller's DSL-installation nightmare. Click for more.

Overall, the news about ADSL is positive. The current push increases competition between ADSL and competing connectivity options. Which should inspire lower prices, better service and broader geographic availability.

Cable modems remain your best option. But if your neighborhood can't get them, ADSL is a solid second choice. If you can find ADSL service for less than $45 a month, I say go for it. Need help with additional ADSL info? Here's where to look for answers:

Take it from me, we must keep nagging the telcos for fast-connectivity options. Or they'll get sluggish again. Just like Annette when she misses her mid-afternoon mug of coffee.

What's your take on ADSL? I'd like to know. Use the TalkBack button below or jump to my Berst Alerts forum.