What is DSL internet and how does it work?

DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) is a technology that provides high speed broadband to your homes. DSL internet is not dial-up. It uses the same wires as your telephone line without causing any interruptions to your calls therefore making your voice calls and internet connection work seamlessly in tandem.

Strengths

  • Duality

    You can leave your Internet connection open and still use the phone line for voice calls; DSL doesn’t require new wiring

  • Easy on the wallet

    Ceaper compared to alternatives

  • Accessibility

    DSL internet is more widely available compared to other connections with about 90% coverage nationwide

  • Reliability

    DSL internet has a reliability of 99.9%

Shortcomings

  • Lack of home mobility

    A DSL connection works better when you are closer to the modem. The farther away you the weaker the signal.

  • Upload speed concerns

    The connection is faster for receiving data than it is for sending data over the Internet.

  • Slower service

    Tops out at about 50MBPS (Alternate options can hit up to 250MBPS)

  • Speed variance

    The performance of DSL internet depends on distance from the local provider, due to which speeds can vary

Bottom Line If you’re looking for a cost effective and convenient connection that is widely available in the country, DSL is the option for you.

DSL Internet for streaming

In this day and age of cable and fiber connections, many people seem to cast doubt on the efficacy of a DSL connection to effectively allow users to stream their favorite streaming services without buffering interruptions or lag; however, all of the streaming services like Netflix or Amazon Prime require a download speed of 5 Mbps for a smooth viewing experience so it is safe to say that a DSL connection is more than enough to allow interruption free streaming. Also, DSL internet has a reliability of 99.9% which makes it a very dependable connection to have and for people for whom budget constraints are a consideration and who reside in relatively rural areas, DSL is the perfect option to go for.

Installation

Simply install DSL on your existing phone line and purchasing a DSL modem to equip your home with a handy broadband connection. Find DSL providers in your zip code by using the tool below. Compare with alternatives and find your best fit.

How fast is fast enough?

Internet speeds are the most important feature to consider when it comes to choosing the right internet package. With DSL internet, the speed ranges from 5 to 50 Mbps and we have compiled the following table to help you decide which speed is right for you!

Speed Best for
10 Mbps• Basic browsing and SD streaming
• Best for 1-2 devices
25 Mbps• HD streaming up to 720p
• Best for 4-5 devices
50 Mbps• Streaming and Gaming
• Video chatting
• Three or four users
• Download HD videos

DSL Internet Providers

Frontier Communications is an American telecommunications company that has been operating in the country since the 1930s and is focused on providing customers as well as business with high quality, reliable internet, and TV and phone services.

Why choose Frontier?

  • No data caps

    Frontier has set no data caps on the high speed DSL internet plans it provides to its customers and what that does is that allows customers peace of mind as they don’t have to worry about exhausting their data limit or worry about paying overage charges if they do.

  • Price guarantee

    Frontier allows customers to lock in the rates they purchase their services at so that they don’t have to worry about price hikes in the years following their subscription and can just pay the same price they locked in when they first subscribed to the service.

  • High internet speeds

    Frontier offers DSL internet plans with speeds starting from 6 Mbps and up to 115 Mbps which means that Frontier has something for every customer, according to their usage requirements.

Considerations

  • Customer service

    According to the American Customer Satisfaction Index ASCI, Frontier has a score of 55 out of 100 when it comes to customer satisfaction which ranks it lower than many other providers which means that Frontier’s customer service can be somewhat spotty for customers looking to report an issue.

Should I get Frontier Internet?

Frontier charges no overage charges on its in internet plans so that you are free to surf and game freely without having to worry about extra charges of any kind. When it comes to connection stability, Frontier is a provider you can count on. With their budget friendly plans and wide availability in rural areas, frontier is an attractive option offering symmetrical speeds

CenturyLink is a telecommunications company owned by Lumen Technologies that offers internet, TV, phone and cloud based communication solutions to customers. The company is one of the largest telecommunications companies in the US and is also a member of the Forbes 500.

Why choose CenturyLink?

  • Price for life

    DSL internet plans offered by CenturyLink come with the Price for life deal which means that customers pay the same price that they purchase their service for the entirety of their service tenure, even it is lifelong.

  • No contracts

    CenturyLink requires customers to sign no contracts for their DSL internet service, leaving customers to be free of the worry of cancellation fees in case of service discontinuation.

  • Online security

    CenturyLink internet plans come embedded with a security system designed to protect you against all online threats such as malware, spyware or hackers to make sure that every online experience you have is a safe one.

Considerations

  • Data caps

    All CenturyLink DSL internet plans come with a data cap of 1 terabyte which may be more than enough for most customers, but can be a restricting factor for heavy internet users.

Should I get CenturyLink Internet?

CenturyLink is one of the very few providers who offer these residential services without binding customers to a yearly (or more) contract. Most Century Link Wi-Fi modem comes embedded with our security system, which means that you are secure as soon as your service is installed. You can’t go wrong with them!

Frequently Asked Questions

As of 1st October 2020, the AT&T DSL internet has come to an end. AT&T has announced that they no longer accept new DSL internet orders, whereas existing DSL customers no longer have the option of requesting speed changes, effective October 1st 2020.

Despite common misconceptions, DSL internet actually supports gaming consoles like PlayStation and Xbox just fine and also supports their live chat features, making for a smooth gaming experience.

DSL internet is generally offered in speeds ranging from 5-35 Mbps download speeds and 1-10 Mbps upload speeds.

DSL internet stands for Digital Subscriber Line and is a type of internet connection that uses the same copper wires for the internet connection as your telephone line.

Simply install DSL on your existing phone line and purchasing a DSL modem to equip your home with a handy broadband connection. Find DSL providers in your zip code by using the tool below. Compare with alternatives and find your best fit.

The availability of DSL internet in your area depends on the zip code you live in. Enter your zip code in our search tool and find out which internet connections and offers are available in your area!

 

Use our search tool below to compare between all the TV plans
being offered in your zip and make the best choice.