Evaluating Bandwidth Choices....ADSL vs SDSL

Looking for bandwidth? That can be a daunting and frustrating
task even in the best of situations. There's lots to consider in
order to make the right decision for your needs. Below you'll
find some help when evaluating ADSL vs SDSL. Factors covered
include Technology, Speed, Description, Application, Pros, Cons,
and Costs.

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Technology: ADSL 

Speed: 768Kbps to 6.1 Mbps downstream. Upstream speeds range
from 64Kbps-1Mbps.

Description: The most common type of DSL. Deployed over a copper
wire pair in conjunction with an analog phone line.

Application: Commercial and consumer Internet service. Popular
with consumers because of low-cost, short provisioning times and
high download speeds.

Pros: High-speed access at a relatively low-cost. Availability
is approaching 70% in most major metropolitan areas.
Installation times are often less than 30days.

Cons: Not available in all areas. Slow upload speed. Bandwidth
is aggregated at the Central Office and is subject to
oversubscription. Not ideal for businesses or heavy users.

Costs: Consumer services starts at around $30-50. But....the
pricing for these connections varies widely depending on the
carrier and location of service. For example...it's likely to be
more costly in rural areas and some local/regional providers may
offer better rates than Tier 1 carriers.

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Technology: SDSL

Speed: Up to 2.3Mbps both ways.

Description: A form of HDSL, provisioned over a single
twisted-pair of copper wire at distances up to 12,000 feet.

Application: Ideal for businesses due to symmetrical data
transmission speeds and advanced features such as multiple IP
addresses.

Pros: High-speed access at a low-cost when compared to T-1.
Often provides more features than ADSL.

Cons: Not available in all areas. Bandwidth is aggregated at the
Central Office and is subject to oversubscription. More costly
and longer install times than ADSL.

Costs: Business service starts at around $50-80 and can be as
high as a few $100 monthly. But....the pricing for these
connections varies widely depending on the carrier, location of
service, and the application for which the connection is being
used. For example...it's likely to be much more costly in rural
areas. While some local/regional providers may offer better
rates than Tier 1 carriers...you'll have to consider possible
tradeoffs in stability and reliabilty.