Why so Slow – Internet connection
There is varying opinion on why internet speeds vary from area to area and from provider to provider. The fact of the matter is, with Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL), one of the most common forms of internet connection, the speeds actually vary in terms of upload and download speeds. Upload speeds are really faster than download speeds which is more dependent on the hardware’s design when it comes to ADSL access. Traditional telephone services have long jumped onto fiber-optic trunks which is lighter and faster, allowing more telephone lines per cable. They are also thinner and lighter making installation cheaper and repair also faster for you maintain only one cable instead of the several hundred that used to be the norm of telephone lines.
ADSL is copper-based, and uses twisted wire pairs like the UTP patch cable you use to connect your router to the DSL modem. Your telephone line is actually shifted back to the copper-based system but they do use a totally different set of hardware which is evident only at the switching office where the main hub is connected to the central office. So speed is determined by many factors, line integrity and the distance of the connection from the office is also a key factor, with ADSL having a maximum connection range of around 8,000 meters from the nearest hub or connection point.
