What Is Internet Access Speed?
Internet access speed is a measurement of how fast data can be transferred from the Internet to a connected computer. Broadband plans are commonly advertised as guaranteeing speeds that fall within a certain range with faster plans priced higher. An exact Internet access speed cannot be guaranteed, as many factors can affect speed, depending on the technology. Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) service is provided over standard copper telephone lines. It shares the lines with phone service, allowing both technologies to use the lines simultaneously without interference. DSL is brought into a neighborhood by a DSL Access Multiplexor (DSLAM) that acts like a router for the immediate area. Physical lines feed out from the DSLAM into the community with the length of these lines limited by signal degradation. The further the signal has to travel from the DSLAM, the more likely to encounter latency issues affecting Internet access speed. A customer who lives close to the DSLAM and subscribes to a
