DSL is an acronym that stands for direct subscriber line. Many different telecommunications companies around the world provide DSL service. AT&T, the largest provider of landline telephony in the U.S., provides DSL as well as U-verse, a fiber-optic network that connects digital television and telephone service with high-speed Internet access through a central “brain” called the Wireless Gateway. DSL is significantly more expensive than dial-up or cable Internet access. The further you are from your Internet service provider’s central office, the slower your download and upload speeds. If you are located more than two miles from the office, you cannot get DSL access at all. The lack of standardization in the DSL industry means that you cannot buy just any DSL modem and expect it to work with your telephone company. U-verse is not available in areas that are unequipped with fiber-optic cable networks. Homes that are located close enough to a DSL service provider will find that DSL speeds are faster than those of U-verse. Writer Bio
