What is ADSL?

ADSL stands for 'Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line'. It provides high speed, always-on access to the Internet from your home or business telephone line.

By sending digital signals over the telephone line, it provides broadband Internet access without interrupting your normal (and concurrent) use of the telephone line for placing and receiving phone calls.

It provides an effective way to provide Internet access in a variety of situations, without the complications of configuring and operating a modem. It has a number of technical advantages compared to accessing the Internet via a dialup modem or other means.

The 'Asymmetric' part of these services is related to their data transfer speed, which is slower on the 'upload' (to the Internet) direction than it is on the download (from the Internet) direction.

This is similar to a 56k modem, which is only 'fast' in the download direction, and slower uploading.

How fast is ADSL?

You have a choice of access speeds with ADSL:

256/64 kbps (no longer sold)

Which means that your peak download speed (from the Internet) is 256 kilobits per second, and your peak upload speed (back to the Internet) is 64 kilobits per second.

This speed was the entry level of ADSL broadband, and is suitable for basic web browsing, Internet banking and email. However Internode does not recommend - nor support - using NodePhone or other voice-over-IP applications at this speed and no longer sell services at this particular speed.

512/128 kbps (no longer sold)

Which means that your peak download speed is 512 kilobits per second, and your peak upload speed is 128 kilobits per second.

This was historically a popular choice for budget broadband, with twice the speed of the 256/64 kbps at only a small increase in price. NodePhone and other voice over IP applications can be used on this speed, however customers should take care not to generate too much traffic whilst using Voice over IP, or conversation quality may be impeded.

Recent pricing improvements mean that Internode no longer offer services at this speed.

1500/256 kbps (ADSL Standard - no longer sold)

Which means that your peak download speed is 1500 kilobits per second (or 1.5 Megabits per second), and your peak upload speed is 256 kilobits per second.

For a number of years this delivered good performance for many Internet applications, with an excellent price point and widespread availability across Australia. These days, we can deliver higher speed ADSL & ADSL2+ broadband at better pricepoints.

512/512 kbps (no longer sold)

Which means that your peak download speed and your peak upload speed are both 512 kilobits per second. Note that due to the way TCP/IP works, you will not be able to attain the peak speed in both directions simultaneously.

This speed is generally only of historical interest, as it has now been superseded by faster (in both directions) ADSL2+ services.

Easy Reach and ADSL Fast

This uses as a first preference the 'OPEN2' network access, with a peak download speed may be up to 20,000 kilobits per second (depending on the length and quality of your telephone line), and your peak upload speed is 1000 kilobits per second. If OPEN2 is not available, then 'OPEN1' network access is used: up to 8,000 kbps downstream and up to 384 kbps upstream.

This speed is suitable for businesses and Internet enthusiasts who do not currently have access to Internode Easy Broadband. It will support most Internet applications including VoIP, virtual private networks, large file transfers and streaming media, and is available nationwide.

Easy Broadband

Easy Broadband is Internode's premier ADSL product. Just like the Extreme ADSL2+ product that it replaces, it is delivered over our own infrastructure in selected telephone exchanges.

Because it is provided over our own infrastructure, it enables us to provide superior value, service and speed - up to 24/2.5 Mbps! For more information click here.

Easy Naked

Easy Naked is delivered either via an Agile DSLAM (a 'naked' version of Easy Broadband, with a maximum speed of 24/2.5 Mbps); or via an Optus DSLAM (a 'naked' version of Easy Bundle, with a maximum speed of 20 Mbps / 820 kbps).

One of the main advantages of naked services is that you no longer need to pay a separate phone line rental. For more information on Internode Naked ADSL2+, click here.

Easy Bundle

Easy Naked is delivered via an Optus DSLAM (with a maximum speed of 20 Mbps / 820 kbps).

Easy Bundle is an integrated service that includes both ADSL2+ broadband, and a traditional landline phone service. For more information on Internode Easy Bundle, click here.

What advantages does ADSL offer?

ADSL offers a number of advantages over 'dialup' Internet access:

• It is very quick to connect - the connection establishes very fast, without needing to wait for ages to 'dial up'. It is 'just there' - when you need it, instantly.
• It is dramatically faster than a dial modem or ISDN connection - up to 30-50 times faster, in fact! This makes an enormous difference to the effectiveness of your Internet experience
• ADSL seamlessly 'shares' a phone line along with normal 'voice' services. Your phone is not engaged when you are using the Internet - in fact you can freely use the phone at the same time as you access the Internet! No more busy signals for people trying to contact you while you surf. Check out the new 'naked' variants of ADSL too - you don't even need to rent a telephone service for these.
• No second phone line needed. You can easily offset the costs of ADSL by $30 per month or more - this is the amount you might have otherwise spent on a second phone line and on local calls to access the Internet with a modem, without interrupting the use of your primary telephone service.
• You can save time and frustration by never having to wait for a modem to connect, or suffering connection dropouts, in addition to the hugely increased download speeds available

What are the limitations of ADSL?

Nothing is perfect, and ADSL is no exception.

There are a number of technical limitations and issues to be aware of when contemplating an ADSL connection to the Internet:

ADSL is not available on all phone services

Some design aspects of the Telstra copper line network mean that some locations cannot support an ADSL service - even if your exchange is nominally 'ADSL enabled'. These Telstra network limitations are beyond our control.

Business customers can choose from a range of Internode data solutions - such as SHDSL and Ethernet - if they need more capacity (or are unable to obtain) Internode ADSL.

ADSL is not a guaranteed bandwidth service

Unlike conventional leased line services, the achieved performance of the ADSL network is not guaranteed.

Telstra's copper line network architecture, and the manner in which ADSL data is moved around the city, mean that network congestion is possible in your line at some times. The speeds quoted for ADSL services are theoretical maximum rates.

Performance of the network may vary by time of day or may decrease over time due to increased network interference in the Telstra copper line network.

ADSL is only fast in one direction

The asymmetric transfer rates provided by ADSL are designed to optimise the speed of Internet downloads.

As a consequence, the upload speed on ADSL is far slower.

This means that ADSL is often unsuitable for situations where you intend to upload (or serve) large quantities of data from your location back out into the Internet.

However, we now have our SHDSL service offering available for situations where you wish to have symmetric throughput, at a slightly higher cost.

ADSL is less reliable than dedicated broadband links

Because ADSL runs over the copper voice telephone network, ADSL achieves a lower reliability level than a business oriented leased line connection.

• If an ADSL connection fails, it may take some time to restore.
• Telstra reserve the option to 'modernise' their network at any time, which may result in an ADSL service becoming permanently unavailable on your line.
• Telstra will not guarantee the long term provision of ADSL and may withdraw the service permanently from being available over the copper line network in some or all locations.

Alternatives to ADSL

Internode can offer you a variety of other broadband options where the variability in speed, slower upload rates, lower reliability, and no long term guarantees of ADSL is not acceptable - this is especially important in business scenarios, where you may need to rely upon your Internet link to stay in business.

Internode data services offer symmetric, broadband data links up to 1,000 Megabits per second, with service level agreements and proactive 24 hour monitoring and restoration of service failures.

We provide these services with a variety of technologies, including broadband radio, SHDSL, Ethernet, fibre optic cables, and dedicated (non-voice) copper lines.

Please contact our Sales Team for further information on these products.