When searching for broadband, the two most common options are fibre optic and ADSL. You may be familiar with fibre and its super fast speeds, but do you know about ADSL?

ADSL broadband is the most basic broadband that many homes in the UK have access to because it uses the home phone line. It is a popular choice of broadband due to its affordability and easy installation.

What is ADSL broadband?

ADSL stands for; ‘Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line.’ - basically the connection works via the copper wires in your landline. Due to being wired connectivity, This means ADSL can sometimes be unreliable because. This is due to the fact that the speed of your broadband connection depends on the distance you live from your telephone exchange.

Why should I choose ADSL?

ADSL is more widely available compared to fibre optic broadband. Despite not having the fastest speeds, if you’re a smaller household using the internet for basic online tasks only, then ADSL might be perfectly suitable.

However, larger households who connect to the internet at the same time will probably find their connection struggling.

How to get ADSL

Setting up ADSL is a pretty simple process - all you need is a home phone. No matter what provider you’re with, you’ll be renting your phone line from Openreach - which is part of BT - as they own the landline infrastructure in the UK.

You might have two separate sockets for your broadband and telephone lines. But if you only have one, you’ll need a micro filter to separate the connections. Your new broadband provider should help set this up for you, and once you’re all connected, you’re good to go.

Once you have this set up, you can find a broadband package that suits your internet habits by; comparing providers and prices with us.

Keep an eye out for an offer that doesn’t just match your budget, but also gives you everything you need. Think about what you’ll be using it for and how fast your broadband will need to be. If you’re not sure, find out more about how to choose the best broadband deal for you and your household.

Alternatives to ADSL;

Fibre optic broadband is an option if you’re struggling to get a great ADSL connection. Fibre can be delivered to a street cabinet (FTTC) or directly to your home (FTTP), but it can be costly.

Satellite broadband may be an option if you’re in a very rural area where ADSL or fibre optic broadband can’t reach you. Your internet connection might not be as quick as super fast fibre though.

What to look out for when comparing ADSL broadband

• Check the speed of the internet in your area as you might be choosing a deal that won’t even reach your location. Ofcom has a free broadband checker you can use for this.
• Consider taking our broadband speed test to check your current internet speeds; to get an idea of the speeds you can expect.
• Look out for any download caps that come with your broadband package so that you aren’t restricted to your internet activity. Most providers offer ADSL packages with unlimited downloads, which might be better if you live in a larger household.
• Don’t just look at one type of broadband (unless you know there are some kinds you won’t have access to). Compare the latest broadband deals to find the right package for you.