FREE Customized Price QuotesDSL connections
Digital subscriber lines — DSL — are an affordable way to get broadband Internet access for your business. They take advantage of existing copper telephone wires, but offer speeds far above old dial-up connections: typical DSL speeds range from 384 Kbps to 1,500 Kbps, and newer technology is pushing those speeds ever higher.
There are two main types of DSL service to consider:
- Asymmetrical DSL (ADSL) offers fast download speeds, but much slower upload speeds. For basic Internet usage, that's not a problem, but ADSL can limit your ability to send large files or run video conferences.
- Symmetrical DSL (SDSL) provides upload speeds just as fast as downloads, greatly expanding your ability to push your own files. It does require additional wiring during installation.
The newest variety is very high speed DSL, or VDSL. VDSL can reach speeds of up to 50 Mbps — but it's not available in all areas and is more susceptible to one of DSL's main drawbacks: it's distance-sensitive.
The speed and quality of a DSL connection varies according to how far you are from your Internet service provider's central office. In some cases, if you're too far from an access point, you may not be able to get DSL service at all. Most providers will offer coverage maps that can give you an idea of availability, but be sure you find out exactly what kind of performance you can expect before you sign any contracts.
Another drawback is that DSL performance can suffer when too many customers share one connection: you may not always get 100% of the speed you're expecting if the provider has oversold their capacity.
Finally, do not be tempted to purchase consumer-grade DSL as way to cut costs. Yes, it's cheaper; often it's much cheaper than business-grade DSL. But it's often slower, and more importantly the provider won't offer the type of support that a business should demand. If your Internet access goes down on Monday, you don't want to hear that a technician will be out to investigate sometime on Wednesday. Business-grade DSL service should provide quick responses to any problems you have.