Differences Between DSL and High-Speed Internet Service

Consumers have many choices in terms of Internet service options. It is easy to confuse the various services offered. For example, DSL was once considered high speed Internet service, while dial-up Internet access was something else. Today's consumers, however, understand there are now differences in DSL and so-called high speed Internet service.

Evolution

In the early days of the Internet, dial-up connections were the only option for residential consumers. As technology developed, access options grew to include DSL and cable modems, which offered faster connections for both streaming and uploading. Initially, DSL and other connection options were deemed high speed. As time went on, the term "high speed Internet access" evolved to fit changing technology.

What Is DSL?

DSL, short for digital subscriber line, is a form of Internet connection that uses telephone lines. Like dial-up, DSL service uses copper or fiber optic cables to transmit signals. The same wiring is used to run both DSL and phone service to a structure. Unlike telephone service and dial-up connections, DSL uses a higher frequency to transmit signals. The higher frequency results in noise or feedback on the lower ones used for telephone service, making filters necessary. A small filter is plugged into each telephone outlet on the same line as the DSL service for the feedback.

High Speed Internet 

High speed Internet is a generic term, typically describing service faster than 56k. Old dial-up connections ran at speeds below 56k, so high speed became the term of choice for any faster service. Today, high speed Internet is interchangeable with the term "broadband." For example, a public WiFi network, and even cell phone networks providing data service, use broadband or high speed Internet to mean the same service. In short, high speed is used to reference anything that is not DSL, cable Internet, or a T1 connection.