ADSL2 is a faster version of ADSL, offering speeds of up to 24 Mb/s for downloads and 3.5 Mb/s for uploads. It requires new equipment and is affected by distance from the local telephone exchange. Providers may offer faster loading speeds and the ability to use two telephone lines for a single connection.
ADSL2 is a standard for providing Internet connectivity over telephone connections. It is designed to run about twice the speed of ADSL. This means that speeds of up to 24 Mb/s for downloads and 3.5 Mb/s for uploads are theoretically possible.
To break down some of the jargon, DSL stands for Digital Subscriber Line and refers to the technology that allows a regular phone line to carry Internet data at the same time as voice calls. ADSL is the most common version of this technology. The A stands for “Asymmetrical” and refers to a configuration that allows a faster speed for downloading data than for uploading. Since most home users download much more data than they upload, ADSL is more efficient and therefore more profitable.
ADSL2 works on the same principles but uses an advanced form of the technology to cope with higher speeds. It requires new equipment at both ends of the connection. This means that ADSL2 will only be available in an area after the local telephone exchange is upgraded. Customers wishing to use ADSL2 services will therefore need a new modem router. There is no need to make any changes to the phone line itself. Whether companies charge more for an ADSL2 service is up to them, although some analysts believe competition between providers will mean there is little room for price hikes.
In addition to offering higher speeds on one line, ADSL2 also allows you to use two telephone lines for a single connection. This is known as using “pasted lines”. This will increase the available speed, although it won’t necessarily double the speed.
As with standard ADSL, ADSL 2 is also affected by the distance between the customer and the local telephone exchange. This is because the signal degrades the more it has to travel on the copper lines. Customers who live further away from the exchange usually get slower speeds. This is unlike fiber-optic connections like those offered by some cable providers, where speed isn’t affected by distance.
The speeds offered by providers with ADSL2 vary. In most cases, its use will double your data download capacity, meaning providers will offer up to double the speed of their ADSL service in the same area. Providers may also offer faster loading speeds, although some may not think it’s worth doing. Since ADSL2 is an agreed standard, providers should not use the term for any service with download speeds below 8Mb/s or upload speeds below 800Kb/s.
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