TEL 355: Communication and

Information Systems in
Organizations
Asymmetric Digital
Subscriber Line (ADSL)
Professor John F. Clark

Modem Basics
Short for Modulate/Demodulate
Converts digital signals to analog for
transmission over the phone network
Converts analog signals back to digital for
reception by another computer
All modems use compression to achieve
higher line speeds and error checking to
examine packets and request retransmission

Definition of ADSL
Modem technology that converts existing
2X phone lines into access paths for highspeed communications
Its asymmetric downstream speeds are
faster than upstream speeds
Increases dial-up line speeds by 1000-fold
Can transmit up to 24 Mbps one way

Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line

An evolving high-speed transmission technology
developed by Telcordia
Developed with video-on-demand as goal
Is now ANSI standard T1.413, ITU standard

G.992.1 (8 Mbits/s) and G.992.2 (ADSL Lite)

ILECs seek to extend the life of network
Several billion miles of 2X in the local loop
With ADSL, is valuable in convergence scenario
CLECs are interested in competing with ILECs

Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line

Does not really refer to a line, but to a pair of
modems one on each end creates a digital
subscriber line
ADSL can provide up to
1.5 Mbps downstream on 2X lines to 18,000 ft.
6.1 Mbps downstream on 2X lines to 12,000 ft.
8 Mbps downstream on 2X lines to 6600 ft.

Simultaneous analog telephone service is not an

option POTS is supplied in the C channel of the
DSL line

T1 and E1
Early 60s Bell Labs digitized voice into a 64
kbps stream and multiplexed 24 elements in a
channel resulting in 1.544 Mbps, or DS1/T1
European systems modified the approach and
multiplexed 30 elements for a line rate of 2.048
Mbps, or E1
Not suitable for residences because they require
new wire installations and frequent repeaters and
corrupt adjacent 2X pairs

High Data-Rate (HDSL)

The most mature of the xDSL technologies
An improved method of transmitting T1/E1
over 2X lines
Four-wire method uses less bandwidth and does
not require repeaters
Advance modulation techniques transmits
1.544 Mbps up to 12,000 feet
Supplies approx. 70% of T1 service in U.S.

Symmetrical DSL (SDSL)

Single line version of HDSL often all that are
available, also known as HDSL2
Transmits up to 2.3 Mbps over single 2X both
ways up to about 10,000 feet
Supports POTS and T1/E1 simultaneously
At the same distance, ADSL is capable of
transmitting over 6 Mbps
Aimed at the corporate user with high bandwidth
needs upstream and downstream

Asymmetric (ADSL)
Specifically designed for the home user or small
business customer
Asymmetric channels allow greater data rates
and longer line lengths
Transmits two separate data streams
much more bandwidth devoted to the downstream
channel
best option for most online multimedia: video-ondemand, audio streaming, LAN access

The Market for xDSL Modems

The first 14.4 kbps modem cost $14,400!
Fortunately those days are over, but xDSL
market maturity will follow the same plan:
Consumers will be less interested in
standards and become more interested in ease
of installation and use, plug and play
features, small size and power requirements,
and best speeds over 2X

ATM vs. IP 10/100baseT

The great debate: whats the best network
interface for the PC?
Is it Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) protocol
or the IP-based 10/100baseT Ethernet protocol?
The two are actually similar and are often used in
conjunction with one another the differences lie
in the software and hardware
This is done deal nowadays who won?

IP Advantages

10/100baseT is essentially self-learning

Inexpensive Ethernet cards are common
10/100baseT is a bigtime industry standard
LAN networks are everywhere connection
is ubiquitous and expertise abounds (sort of)
PC software and OS drivers are all equipped
to deal with it

ATM Advantages
Streaming video support is a proven factor
Mixing of services such as video, telephony
data is much easier
Traffic speeds conform to standard
telephony transport rates (marginal reason)
New PC software and drivers will work
with ATM (or not it depends)
An idea whose time never came

ATM vs. IP 10/100baseT

Both usually connect to ATM backbones
At the moment, IP is winning Internet use
rules, equipment is available and inexpensive
But ATM may still be a factor standards for
most services are complete
Another but: it will be very hard to overcome
installed base of cheap IP, especially as IP
telephony standards evolve

The Future?
Standards werent an issue with early
modem development, but they are in xDSL
ATM vs. IP 10/100baseT (IP is the clear
winner)
Cellular Array Processor (CAP) vs. Discrete
Multitone (DMT seems to be winning)

Remember, Betamax had better quality

picture, but VHS won the market

Local Prices: Verizon 9/2000

DSL Bronze Plus: 768k down and 128k up
your average service at $32.50
DSL Silver Service: 384k up and down for
added oomph in transmission at $53.00
DSL Gold Service: 768k up and down for
webhosting at $68.00
DSL Platinum Service: 1.5 Mbps down and
768k up at $95.00; Multiuser at $215.00

Local Prices: Verizon 9/2001

DSL Bronze Plus: 768k down and 128k up
your average service at $49.95 per month

DSL Enhanced Bronze Plus: 1.5 Mb down and

128k up
For telecommuters at $59.95 per month

DSL Silver Service: 384k up and down

for gamers and conferencers at $69.95 per

DSL Silver Plus: 1.5 Mb down and 384k up

Professional model for offices at $79.95

Local Prices: AT&T 5/2007

FastAccess DSL Lite 256 Kbps down and 128
Kbps up
Free modem and $24.95 a month

FastAccess DSL Ultra 1.5 Mbps down and 256

Kbps up
Free modem, $75 cash back and $32.95 a month

FastAccess DSL Xtreme 3 Mbps down and 384

Kbps up
Free modem, $75 cash back and $37.95 a month

FastAccess DSL Xtreme 6.0 6 Mbps down and

512 Kbps up
Free modem, $75 cash back and $42.95 a month