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The A to Z of broadband
Let's get connected with an alphabetic guide to all things broadband

By Gemma Simpson

Published: Wednesday 01 November 2006

ADSL

Asymmetric digital subscriber line (ADSL) technology has all but swept away the old dial-up internet access. Back in the day you'd be lucky to get 56Kbps out of a dial-up modem whereas now broadband services are being advertised at up to 24Mbps.

It still uses the existing copper phone lines but unlike older technologies such as ISDN you can still use the landline when the broadband is on (although the chances are that you'll be using VoIP anyway). Because it's an asymmetric service - meaning it uses two separate frequency bands which can run at the same time - more data can be downloaded than uploaded, which makes it well-suited for web surfing.

The list from A to Z

Click on the links below to find out more...

A is for ADSL
B is for BT
C is for Cable & Wireless
D is for Dial-up
E is for Education
F is for Fibre
G is for Goonhilly
H is for HSDPA
I is for In-flight
J is for Janet
K is for Kingston
L is for Landlines
M is for Murdoch
N is for Next generation
O is for Ofcom
P is for Power lines
Q is for Quad-play
R is for Remote working
S is for Satellite phones
T is for Trains
U is for Unbundling
V is for VoIP
W is for WiMax
X is for Xbox
Y is for YouTube
Z is for Zombies

ADSL is offered by roughly 200 different ISPs in the UK, with all manner of extra options for consumers to choose from.

For businesses it not only facilitates access to corporate applications when staff work from home but also provides the opportunity for more innovative business models - such as virtual call centres, where the agents work from home rather than in one office.

ADSL isn't the only type of DSL around, though it's by far the most common.

Other types include SDSL (symmetrical DSL), HDSL (high data rate DSL), VDSL (very-high-bit-rate DSL), and even PDSL (powerline DSL).