Digital connections
ADSL
ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) provides connection speeds of up to 24 Megabits per second (Mbps): a measurement of data transfer speed. and uses a telephone line to receive and transmit Values, typically letters or numbers..
The speed that data can be transferred is dependent on a number of factors:
- Phone lines were designed to carry voice signals - not data. Signal quality can vary between lines and whilst it doesn鈥檛 affect voice signals, it does affect data transmissions.
- The distance between your house and the A system of electronic components that connects telephone calls and has been adapted and expanded to facilitate connections to the internet too. has an effect on the speed at which data is transferred. A distance of 4 km is considered the limit for ADSL technology, beyond which it may not work.
An ADSL modem/A device for connecting computers and other network capable devices together to form a network. is needed for A high-speed internet connection. internet access over ADSL. This is usually provided by your Internet Service Provider - needed in order to access the internet. They also provide services such as web space and email..
Phone calls can still be made whilst connected.
Cable
Cable companies do not use traditional telephone lines to provide broadband internet access. They have their own A group of interconnected computers/devices., a combination of co-axial copper cable and Cable that carries data transmitted as light..
With their purposefully built infrastructure cable companies are able to provide speeds of up to 50 Mbps - considerably faster than the highest available ADSL speed (24 Mbps).
A cable modem/router is needed for broadband internet access over cable. This is usually provided by your ISP.
The making and receiving of phone calls is not affected because the telephone line is not used.