Most people are aware that though broadband internet is a general term there are in fact a variety of different ways to receive a broadband signal, and the way that most people receive their broadband service today is down their existing land line.

This type of broadband has been around every since dial up internet could no longer cope with the amount of data that was available to transfer around the internet, and the most common form of land line broadband is called ADSL, which stands for Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line.

This acronym essentially means that most of the data transferred along your telephone line will be going in one direction, which is why ADSL lines usually have a much higher download speed than the upload speed. This is fine for most home broadband users as you'll more than likely be using your broadband internet connection to browse the web, download files and stream video and TV from the internet, all of which will require a good downstream bit rate and so it doesn't matter that your upload speeds will be relatively low.

Only if you plan on running a server in your home should you consider alternatives to ADSL broadband. When ADSL broadband was first rolled out download speeds were low, with 1Mbps being expensive and not all that fast. However, with the introduction of ADSL MAX and ADSL 2 technology the true potential of your copper telephone line's data transfer speed have been unleashed.

ADSL 2 Technology and Capabilities

ADSL 2 is an optional standard of ADSL technology that gives ISPs the opportunity to offer increased download speeds of up to 12Mbps and a massive improvement of up to 3.5Mbps upload speed. This means that you can download large files in just a few minutes and stream high quality video from the internet, whilst still leaving enough bandwidth for multiple users to enjoy an ADSL broadband internet connection.


ADSL 2 also gives ISPs the option of providing flexible packages to suit the needs of different customers. And of course as with all other ADSL services you can still use your telephone whilst your ADSL 2 connection is 'always on', allowing internet access any time of the day and night without interruption.

ADSL 2 Benefits in the Home

Like all broadband internet, ADSL 2 can be used in conjunction with a wireless router, allowing you to spread the connection wirelessly throughout your home, so that if you've got a laptop with built in wireless connectivity or a wireless card then you will be able to enjoy super-fast broadband wherever is most convenient.

ADSL 2 Restrictions

The problems that plagued older and slower ADSL connections are still abound with ADSL 2 technology. Although the maximum theoretical downstream speed is 12Mbps, the actual speed that you will receive in your home is dependant on the length and quality of your land line. The further you are away from the telephone exchange to which your line is connected the weaker the ADSL 2 broadband signal and the slower the speeds you will experience.

If you live in a particularly rural area which is isolated from your telephone exchange then the chances of receiving ADSL 2 broadband at any significant speed are slim.