The DSL or Digital Subscriber Loop Technology is the most efficient and cost-effective access solution of today. It uses the existing ubiquitous copper wire connecting most homes and businesses today to deliver high-speed data. It does so by dividing an existing telephone line's frequency into two portions: one for voice, and the other for data. With a single telephone line there is no interference between data transmission and voice, (i.e. a user can use the telephone and work on the Internet simultaneously). Since this connection is not dependent on a dial-up connection, it is "always on". Thus the subscriber never encounters disconnects or busy signals. An ASDL line consists of three information channels: a high-speed downstream channel, a medium-speed duplex channel, and a basic telephone service channel.

Assymetrical Digital Subscriber Line.

A line that delivers a much higher bandwidth than HDSL to a site than from it. Typically it will provide 6-10 Mbps to a site and 224-640 Kbps from it, depending on the distance from the central office. See high-bit-rate digital subscriber line.

this form of DSL delivers better download than upload capacity. ADSL is distance sensitive and performs better when 12,000 feet or closer to the central office. ADSL allows you to use the same telephone line for standard telephone service as high-speed data connectivity. See DSL, ISDL, and SDSL.

See Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ASDL): Low cost, high-speed Internet access technology, a service due to be launched during 2000.

Stands for Asynchronous Digital Subscriber Line. ADSL is another name for high speed or broadband internet connections. JetStream is a brand of an ADSL connection.