Are DSL & Broadband Internet the Same Thing?

Put simply, broadband Internet is high-speed Internet. Broadband Internet allows users to access the Internet at much faster rates of download and upload than with dial-up modems. Within that parameter, however, broadband speeds can vary greatly with the type of technology and the provider. Speeds range anywhere from 200 Kbps, which is equivalent to 200,000 bits per second, to 6 Mbps, which is equivalent to 6,000,000 bits per second.

Users can access broadband Internet through several technologies. The most common types of broadband Internet available in the United States are a digital subscriber line, known as DSL, cable modems, fiber-optic cables, wireless Internet, satellite Internet, and broadband Internet accessed over a powerline, called BPL.

DSL is a broadband Internet technology that uses copper telephone wires. DSL has the benefit of convenience: these traditional telephone lines are already in place and connected to most houses and businesses. DSL speeds can vary greatly, however, occupying almost the full range of broadband Internet speeds, depending upon the provider, the quality of the wires, and the distance of your site from the telephone facilities. Before selecting DSL, you should ask your telephone company about the DSL speed in your area.

Even within DSL, there are two types of technology used. The first, asymmetrical digital subscriber lines, is best suited for receiving data, rather than sending it in large quantities. This technology is thus used mostly by individual, residential Internet users. The second, symmetrical digital subscriber lines, are generally used by business customers, and provide the same speed for both downloading and uploading data.