Digital Subscriber Line

DSL (also termed as xDSL) is a technique that allows data to be packed and transmitted across existing copper telephone lines, and that too at incredible speeds. This technology is also referred to as 'last mile' technology - it is used for connecting your home or office to your telephone exchange/ISP. This technology offers your download speeds up to 32 Mbps and upload speeds of 32Kbps to 1 Mbps (after all its the download speed that matters the most). This is nearly 50 times faster when compared to conventional access speed that you can get using your 56 Kbps  modem.

DSL technology offers a major advantage even though this technology transfers data over exiting copper wire it also allows you to simultaneously access more than one device you can browse the Net while using the same line for voice communication or faxes. Additionally, DSL offers you instant Net access no more dial up hassles or busy signals.

DSL comes in many flavours or variants ADSL, SDSL, HDSL, IDSL and so on hence the term xDSL. Of these ADSL and SDSL are more commonly in use. Each variant offers own set of transfer speeds and other advantages or drawbacks.

Cable Net

The same people who brought channel surfing to your homes are now ready to help you surf the Net. Offering better connectivity and extremely fast data transfer rates of 3-4 Mbps, Net through cable promises to make net surfing a breeze.

Cable modems uses a coaxial cable for connecting to the Net, the same cable that brings all those television channels to your living room, Cable modems transmit data down a coaxial cable in a manner similar to the way a television signal is transmitted. The digital signal (data) is sent along side the television signal. To do this cable modes use two different technologies. QPSK and QAM64. QPSK transmits data up to 10 Mbps while QAM64 transmit data upto 36 Mbps.