Difference Between DSL and Broadband
DSL or ADSL is a technology of fixed line broadband. Broadband is a general term which refers to the technology of accessing Broadband technology in the world of telecommunication. DSL family comprises of ADSL, ADSL2, ADSL2, VDSL2 and HDSL2 etc. The common word broadband refers to broadband access technology that provides us extra bandwidth for accessing corporate Intranet or Internet via wireless or fixed line. DSL is a general term to refer to the technology, but we used commonly for ADSL and ADSL2 for accessing broadband. DSL is also there in the use as a method of accessing corporate VPN, where there is need to use the bandwidth of the same frequency for uploads and downloads. But generally in the Internet world, the most used one is ADSL in which the upload and download speeds vary.
DSL
DSL is fixed broadband technology which stands for Digital Subscriber Line. This is commonly used way to access internet. DSL technology can offer speeds between 256 Kbps to 40 Mbps depending on different flavors of DSL as well as the condition of the line and the distance between the central office and the subscriber’s home. The line speed will decrease with distance from the central office or DSLAM (the approach of Digital Subscriber Line Multiplexer). Although we reference it to be from the family of DSL but especially ADSL is used mainly. As you know, when you browse the Internet, most of the time you download things rather upload. In a simple way to explain I can say when you browse the Internet every click of your mouse will get some data from the Internet and you expect that it to happen quickly. Considering the user needs, ADSL technology is defined as the Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line, where the download and upload speeds are different. The family of DSL has different definitions with different speeds as ADSL, VDSL, SDSL, ADSL2, SHDSL, ADSL2 and VDSL2 etc.
Broadband
Broadband can be categorized into fixed & Wireless broadband. Wireless Broadband can be fixed or wireless and mobile broadband. Broadband is basically an identification method consisting of a huge range of frequencies that are divided into many channels. In a simple language, you can think of it as a highway with multiple lanes. Most early people used technologies such as narrowband dialup connection, which had low speed of data transmission and the output was also limited. In the broadband technology many packages can easily travel together and this increases the speed eventually. Broadband can be available through wireless or wired network but it offers a high-frequency connection for you to access the Internet or corporate Intranet.
Broadband or could be wireless or fixed. The methods for fixed broadband are ADSL, ADSL2, ADSL2 and Naked DSL. The methods of wireless broadband and mobile broadband are HSUPA, WCDMA, LTE, WiMAX, HSPA, HSDPA, HSPA, HSPA and CDMA family. (3G and 4G Technologies)
The Difference between DSL and Broadband
(1) Broadband is a technology family and DSL is just one of the members.
(2) DSL is fixed broadband Technology.
(3) DSL is a subset of the Family of Broadband Technology. DSL has a lot of flavors such as ADSL, ADSL2, ADSL2, VDSL, SDSL, SHDSL etc.