About DSL internet service: DSL internet service is a type of broadband internet access that is carried over existing phone lines. It requires no new connections, and delivers speeds well above that of dial-up internet. It is currently the most viable competitor to cable broadband internet access available in America. Though the technology was invented some years ago, it has only come to public attention within the past five years.

Internet before DSL Internet Service

    One of the reasons many companies were unwilling to embrace DSL service at first was because it was far more profitable to lease customers a second phone line to allow them to access the internet. As other broadband technologies became available to consumers, however, interest in DSL grew. Gradually, companies realized that users would be willing to pay premium prices for the advantages that DSL provided over older technologies.
    Though DSL internet services provide fast and cost-effective broadband access, there are other ways to reach the internet. A dial-up or analog line is much slower than DSL, and requires a second phone line for telephone use while using the internet. But dialup is inexpensive and works even with very old personal computers. ISDN access, a sort of digital modem technology, is faster than broadband, but still much slower than DSL at a similar price point. Cable can occasionally be faster than DSL, but can be more expensive and requires a cable connection.

History of DSL Internet Service

    DSL was invented by a scientist at Bell Labs in 1988. Because most Bell Labs projects are collaborative efforts, the name of scientist who invented it is not preserved. Although DSL had immediate potential, it did not become relevant in the public eye for some time. This was due to many factors, including the limited ability of computers at the time to process information at high speeds, and the relatively undeveloped state of the internet at that time.

The Rise of DSL Internet Service

DSL internet became more important with the advent of affordable broadband technologies in the late 1990's. Though originally just a laboratory quirk, the advantages of DSL in speed over a second phone line were immediately clear. Consumers and internet service providers rapidly warmed to the idea, and it is now one of the most popular forms of broadband internet access in America.

The Future of DSL Internet Service

     More about DSL internet service: DSL service, though invented nearly two decades ago, has a bright future. Highly-populated urban and suburban areas, where DSL works best, are growing rapidly. Unlike dial-up, DSL transmits enough information to keep up with the growth of internet technologies. Though cable rates fluctuate, and cable itself is threatened by satellite and even DSL TV technologies, DSL will be a viable means of broadband internet access so long as users have land lines at their homes.