The Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) is a technical standard for data transmission via copper lines, which makes it possible to provide both telephone and Internet services in every household.
DSL is available in different variants, which are characterised by different transmission technologies and speeds.
ADSL is the most widespread DSL variant and can be found in most households. Data transmission here is asymmetric, which means that upload and download speeds are different. For private individuals who mainly use streaming services and therefore download more data, ADSL offers excellent value for money. It is particularly suitable for households in which Internet use is limited to general surfing and occasional video streaming on a few devices at the same time.
VDSL is a further development of ADSL and offers transmission rates of up to 100 Mbit/s. This variant is particularly interesting for households in which several devices use the Internet at the same time. VDSL enables a reliable and fast Internet connection with high transmission rates, which is ideal for downloading large amounts of data, online gaming and HD streaming.
SDSL offers symmetrical transmission speeds, where upload and download are equally fast. This variant is particularly common in companies as it offers a stable and fast connection for tasks such as Voice over IP (VoIP), video conferencing and the operation of servers.
HDSL enables symmetrical transmission rates, similar to SDSL, but with significantly higher speeds that can reach several megabits per second. This variant is often used in professional and industrial environments where high data rates and reliable connections are required.
In addition to DSL, other technologies such as fibre optics and cable connections are also used. Detailed information on these alternatives can be found in our previously published know-how.
