The days of unreliable Internet connections, impatiently waiting
for web pages to load, and waiting hours to download something
from the Internet are quickly becoming obsolete. Dial-up
Internet, which used to be the standard for those seeking
Internet access, is rapidly being replaced by faster, more
reliable Internet access technologies. One of those
technologies, DSL Internet service, is one of the most popular
and affordable options for the home Internet customer. There are
things to be aware of though, if you are considering using DSL
for your Internet access.
DSL, or digital subscriber line, is a form of broadband Internet
technology, that has download speeds that span 128 Kbps
(Kilobits per second) to 24,000 Kbps, depending on the level of
service purchased by the customer and the particular DSL
technology in use by the ISP (Internet service provider). The
technology dates back to 1988, when engineers at Bellcore
(formerly Bell Communications Research, Inc., now Tellcordia
Technologies) developed a method of transmitting a digital
signal along the unused frequency spectrum on the twisted pair
cables that ran between the central office (in a phone company,
the location that houses the equipment that connects phone
calls) and customer locations. Using DSL allowed a regular
telephone line to provide digital (Internet) service without
getting in the way of existent telephone service on the line.
DSL did not take off immediately, because it was more profitable
for local telephone companies to simply install a second phone
line in a home in order to provide dial-up Internet service in
addition to regular telephone service. However, when cable
television companies began offering and implementing their new
high-speed Internet technology (via cable modems) nearly a
decade later, local telephone carriers jumped in with the
competition and began offering up the DSL technology to
customers. Today, DSL remains the primary competition for cable
companies and their high-speed Internet technology.
Despite the more reliable connections and faster rates of data
transmission, there are some potential drawbacks to be aware of
regarding DSL Internet service. For starters, the farther your
house is from the telephone company’s central office, the less
bandwidth you will have access to. This means slower data
transmission rates, and therefore might mean less enjoyment for
things like online gaming, video viewing, and picture uploading.
Some might not notice the slower capacity for things like email
and other basic uses, though.
Another drawback to DSL is the potential cost. There is
equipment to purchase, such as the modem and DSL router, plus
there are sometimes installation fees. The good news is that
competition drives service providers to often offer incentives
and freebies for choosing their services, such as free
self-installation, rebates for equipment purchases, and large
amounts of mailbox storage. However, if you are not satisfied
with your DSL service, you are often contractually obligated to
them for a certain period of time, and will probably be required
to pay a hefty fee for canceling early (up to $200 sometimes).
Monthly prices for DSL Internet service range from $14.95 per
month for basic DSL to upwards of $49.96 per month for more
advanced versions of the technology.
Yet another drawback to DSL Internet service is that customers
often see a slower connection than promised by the ISP. This is
due to some service providers oversubscribing their service.
Their often just isn’t enough bandwidth to go around. But ISP’s
make the argument that all of their customers are never online
at the same time. This can be particularly frustrating for
businesses using DSL that rely heavily on the Internet for their
daily dealings.
Don’t let the drawbacks keep you from exploring the possibility
of DSL Internet service. As with any new technology, there are
kinks, and ISP’s work on a regular basis to make service to
their customers faster and more reliable. There are also many
ISP’s that offer DSL for you to choose from, so the incentives
and promotions for picking one over another can mean saving
money and getting more extras. Though it can be frustrating and
seem costly, DSL Internet service is still a more cost effective
option than some of the other types of broadband Internet
service, such as satellite Internet.