Symmetric Digital Subscriber Line provides equal bandwidth in both upstream and downstream directions over a single pair of copper wires. Unlike ADSL, which favors download speeds, SDSL was designed for business applications like video conferencing and web hosting that require heavy uploading. It generally operates at speeds up to 3 Mbps and requires a dedicated line without simultaneous voice service.
The client needs reliable upload for their nightly backups, so provision an SDSL circuit instead of the standard ADSL package.
Do not mix it up with
- ADSL: ADSL provides higher download speeds but much lower upload speeds, whereas SDSL provides equal speeds in both directions.
Related terms
DSL
A digital subscriber line is a technology that transmits high-bandwidth data over traditional copper telephone wires.
ADSL
Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line provides broadband internet access over traditional copper telephone lines.
HDSL
High-bit-rate Digital Subscriber Line is an early broadband protocol for copper wires.