Broadband Guide

ADSL2 packages and providers

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Compare ADSL2 broadband packages and ADSL2 broadband providers in your area with our expert guide. Or find alternatives to ADSL2 broadband if you live in a cable area.

ADSL2+ boosting broadband speeds

The newest development in the ADSL line is ADSL2+ and customers with ADSL2+ broadband can take advantage of connection speeds of up to 24Mb. Currently, there are a number of companies that offer ADSL2+ and ADSL2 wireless broadband packages including Be Broadband (www.BeThere.co.uk), TalkTalk (www.TalkTalk.co.uk), and O2 Broadband (www.O2.co.uk).

The speeds offered by these providers differ but range between around 20Mb to 24Mb. Unfortunately, there are still a large majority of exchanges that are not ADSL2 enabled. You can find the fastest package for you by using our broadband comparison tool.

How ADSL2 works

ADSL stands for Asymetric Digital Subscriber Line and is simply the technical term for a standard broadband internet connection. It is called 'asymetric' because download speeds tend to differ from upload speeds.

ADSL is provided over a standard phone line, such as the one you use to call your gran at the weekends. ADSL broadband is much fast than dial-up. ADSL also allows to use the internet and make a voice call on the same line at the same time. ADSL was approved in 1998 with the ability to handle speeds of up to 8Mb. Over the following eight years exchanges up and down the country were ADSL-enabled and the broadband revolution began.

ADSL2: twice as fast?

Four years later ADSL2 was developed, this built on the same technology but offered improved speeds of up to 12Mbps. Again, ADSL2 uses standard phone lines to provide an ‘always-on’ internet connection whilst allowing you to make voice calls at the same time.

With an ADSL2 router, now included as standard in most broadband packages, you can read the news, download music and watch that insanely funny clip on youtube again and again faster than ever before.

Alternatives to ADSL2+

Customers living in a cable-enabled area may consider switching to Virgin Media (www.VirginMedia.com). Virgin Media now offers a range of superfast broadband packages and bundles delivering the fastest broadband speeds in the country.

Speeding into the future

Without having a crystal ball it is impossible to tell what the next ADSL revelation will be, however with more people taking up ADSL2 broadband options it is likely that an even faster development is waiting just around the corner. ADSL3? We shall see. If you are in an ADSL2 broadband enabled area you can find the fastest package available to you by using our broadband comparison wizard.

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