Q01: What is xDSL ?
A01: xDSL is a generic abbreviation for the many flavors of DSL or Digital Subscriber Line technology. DSL refers to the technology used
between a customer’s premises and the telephone company, enabling more bandwidth over the already installed copper cabling than
users have traditionally had. The xDSL modem is a technology that transforms ordinary phone lines into high-speed digital lines for ultra
fast Internet access. DSL modem also enables access to corporate networks for telecommuters, as well as exciting new interactive
multimedia applications such as multiplayer gamming, video on demand, video-conferencing and video catalogs.
Q02: What is Asymmetric?
A02: Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) is the most popular form of xDSL technology. The key to ADSL is that the upstream and
downstream bandwidth is asymmetric, or uneven. In practice, the bandwidth from the provider to the user (downstream) will be the higher
speed path. This is in part due to the limitation of the telephone cabling system and the desire to accommodate the typical Internet usage
pattern where the majority of data is being sent to the user (programs, graphics, sounds and video) with minimal upload capacity required
(keystrokes and mouse clicks). Downstream speeds typically range from 768 Kb/s to 9 Mb/s Upstream speeds typically range from 64Kb/
s to 1.5Mb/s. ADSL usually has a downstream rate that is approximately 10 times faster that the upstream speed, but some ADSL
offerings today deliver the same speed bi-directional, e.g. 384kbps bi-directional.
Q03: How does ADSL work?
A03: ADSL modems use digital coding techniques to squeeze up to 99% more capacity out of a phone line without interfering with your
regular phone services. That means you can simultaneously talking over the phone or sending a fax-while surfing the World Wide Web.
Q04: How fast is ADSL?
A04: Up to 8 Mbps downstream and up to 1.5 Mbps upstream, depending upon line length and loop and line condition.
6. Frequently Asked Questions
-10-