DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) is a technology that uses your existing phone line to deliver a high speed broadband Internet connection.

You can enjoy a telephone conversation at the same time as receiving high speed data without noticing any difference to either services.

Whenever your computer is on, you will be connected to the Internet – to surf, email and download.

With DSL, there's:

• no need for an additional line or phone rental*
• no waiting time for connection
• no engaged tone and
• no line drop out

There are currently two flavours of DSL available in the market:

ADSL - (Asymmetrical Digital Subscriber Line) which is becoming generally available across the UK as BT continue to upgrade their local exchanges. ADSL provides downloads speeds from 512kb to 2Mb, with a fixed upload speed of 256k.

DSL is a contended service, meaning the available bandwidth is shared by a number of customers. Services designed for a single user have a contention ratio of 50:1, with business customer receiving a service with a lower contention ratio of 20:1.

SDSL - (Symmetrical Digital Subscriber Line) is designed for demanding business users and tends to be restricted to central city locations. SDSL provides symmetrical data transfer rates of 1Mb or 2Mb.

SDSL has a standard contention ratio of 5:1, but for an additional charge this can be provided as a 1:1 service making it an excellent alternative to costly leased line circuits.