Many home and small business users are connected to an Asymmetric DSL or ADSL line. ADSL divides up the available frequencies in a line on the assumption that most Internet users look at, or download, much more information than they send, or upload. Under this assumption, if the connection speed from the Internet to the user is three to four times faster than the connection from the user back to the Internet, then the user most often will see the most benefit.
Other types of DSL include:
- Very high bit-rate DSL - This is a fast connection, but works only over a short distance.
- Symmetric DSL - This connection doesn’t allow you to use the phone at the same time as the Internet but the speed of receiving and sending data is fast.
- Rate-adaptive DSL - This is a variation of ADSL, but the modem can adjust the speed of the connection depending on the length and quality of the line.