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ADSL/Broadband...
What is DSL?
DSL, or Digital Subscriber Line, uses the available bandwidth in your phone line to deliver additional signals. A typical pair of copper wires in your phone is capable of carrying information on many different frequencies.
Your phone line has a wide range of frequencies available, and in order to use DSL, you must ensure that the DSL signals and your telephone conversations do not interfere with one another. Several low channels are used for voice signals, and the remaining channels are used for DSL signals. In some cases, a ‘buffer’ of frequencies is intentionally left unused between the voice and DSL frequencies.
DSL signals can be "asymmetric” (ADSL), meaning the upstream and downstream capabilities are not equal. The companies providing the signal assume that you will have more download traffic than upload traffic, and they partition your bandwidth accordingly. Symmetric (SDSL) offers the same speed capabilities for both upload and download traffic. Unlike cable Internet access, a DSL line is a dedicated resource, not a shared one. That means that if everyone on your street has DSL and everyone uses it at the same time, no one will lose bandwidth.
In Europe, DSL speeds vary from 256 Kbps to 2 Mbps, but you should check with our customer services to see what is available. The next generation, VDSL (very high bit rate DSL), will be capable of delivering up to 52 Mbps, enough to support a new generation of video and audio content delivered on demand. At these speeds, you could easily download a DVD-quality movie and watch it in real time.
Are there limitations to DSL service?
A significant drawback of DSL is that you must live within approximately three miles of the "local exchange" that serves your address. The strength of the signal degrades over distance, and unlike regular telephone signals, you can't boost the signal strength along the way. Your distance from the local exchange also affects your connection speed: the closer you live to it, the faster your connection. Mainstream Digital's service usually posts the best possible speeds (for example. 1.5 Mbps download/1 Mbps upload).
How do I get DSL?
Simply call Mainstream on 0800 169 6000 or e-mail us at sales@msdigital.com
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*Available Monday to Friday, 9am - 5.30pm |
