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AT&T offers high speed or broadband internet connections via its digital subscriber line (DSL) service. DSL connections are delivered using the existing telephone network infrastructure, including telephone lines and telephone wall jacks, but they are not dial-up internet connections. With a dial-up connection, the consumer can either be online or on the phone, but cannot do both at the same time.
However, with a DSL internet connection, a special device splits a single phone line into high and low frequency bands. The lower-frequencies are used for normal telephone processes, like making and receiving phone calls. The higher-frequencies, in turn, are used to carry voice, data, and video to and from the internet. With DSL technology, the consumer can be both online and on the phone, at the same time.
At present, AT&T offers high speed DSL internet connections in most of the areas where the company is the local carrier. Like all DSL connections, though, the signal slows or degrades the further the receiving computer and modem are from the central office. As a result, it is rare that DSL connections are available or feasible for consumers in rural or remote areas.
Like most internet connections, AT&T’s DSL connections offer different speeds for data transmitted from the internet to the user’s computer – downloading or downstreaming – and data that moves from the user’s computer to the internet – uploading or upstreaming.
Service Tiers
AT&T DSL service is currently available on four different tiers; with all of the plans, AT&T Wi-Fi Basic is included as part of the service. Additionally, all plans offer 11 email accounts, web-based email, and dial-up accounts for when the user is traveling.
- DSL Basic – This tier offers downstream speeds at up to 768 kilobits per second (Kbps) and upstream speeds at a maximum of 384 Kbps. The Basic plan works well for users who just want to email and perform basic website browsing.
- DSL Express – The Express plan offers download speeds at a maximum of 1.5 megabits per second (Mbps) and uploads as fast as 384 Kbps.
- DSL Pro – Downstream speeds at up to 3.0 Mbps and upstream speeds at a maximum of 512 Kbps; includes AT&T Internet Security Suite.
- DSL Elite – This plan offers a maximum download speed of 6.0 Mbps and a maximum upstream speed at up to 768 Kbps. Included is the AT&T Internet Security Suite.