from
The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (8 July 2008)
Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line
ADSL
Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Loop
<communications, protocol> (ADSL, or Asymmetric Digital
Subscriber Loop) A form of {Digital Subscriber Line} in which
the bandwidth available for {downstream} connection is
significantly larger then for {upstream}. Although designed
to minimise the effect of {crosstalk} between the upstream and
downstream channels this setup is well suited for {web
browsing} and {client}-{server} applications as well as for
some emerging applications such as {video on demand}.
The data-rate of ADSL strongly depends on the length and
quality of the line connecting the end-user to the telephone
company. Typically the upstream data flow is between 16 and
640 {kilobits} per second while the downstream data flow is
between 1.5 and 9 {megabits} per second. ADSL also provides a
voice channel.
ADSL can carry digital data, analog voice, and broadcast
{MPEG2} video in a variety of implementations to meet customer
needs.
["Data Cooks, But Will Vendors Get Burned?", "Supercomm
Spotlight On ADSL" & "Lucent Sells Paradine", Wilson & Carol,
Inter@ctive Week Vol. 3 #13, p1 & 6, June 24 1996].
See also {Carrierless Amplitude/Phase Modulation}, {Discrete
MultiTone}.
ADSL Forum (http://adsl.com/).
(1998-05-18)