ADSL vs Fibre broadband: what’s the difference?

We’ve unpacked the ins and outs of what is an ADSL connection, so you can decide if it’s any match for the futuristic fibre technology we see today.

Before we delve deeper into the broadband Q&A, let’s cover a bit of background on what is ADSL. Then, we’ll compare ADSL vs fibre to see which internet connection gives the best broadband speed.

What is ADSL?

Asymmetric digital subscriber line (ADSL) is a standard broadband connection, delivered using traditional copper cables from the exchange into your property (unlike fibre, which uses faster fibre optic cables to transmit data).

ADSL was a huge upgrade to the dial-up services we saw before, allowing for faster data transmission, improved bandwidth, and the bonus of not having to endure any painfully loud screeching sounds when connecting to the internet too (unlike dial-up broadband!).

ADSL doesn’t carry internet signals as well as fibre

However, copper wires were intended for telephone calls, so they didn’t prove to be very efficient for carrying signals – bad news as the further you are from the exchange, the weaker your signal will be.

Although ADSL was a massive improvement at the time, the technology is seen as vastly outdated now, especially when coming head to head against the new tech on the block, full fibre broadband – also known as fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP),

Get the full lowdown on what is fibre broadband here.

What does ADSL mean?

ADSL stands for Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line.

ADSL is asymmetric, meaning that it uses most channels for downloading, and only a small amount for uploading – and that’s simply because most people download a lot more than they upload.

o if you’re being promised speeds by a major internet service provider but it’s not fast enough for what you need, or fails you during peak times, we get it.

That’s why we’re delivering faster fibre connections to more rural homes in the UK.

ADSL maximum speeds

There are two types of ADSL connections: ADSL and ADSL2+.

ADSL broadband delivers speeds up to 8Mbps, while ADSL2+ delivers speeds up to 24Mbps.

However, you’re unlikely to achieve these speeds in reality, unless you live directly next to the exchange, all thanks to that pesky issue of the signal getting lost the further you are away.

To put it into perspective, ADSL2+ speeds slow down to 8.5Mbps after 3Km, and at 5km they go down to a measly 1.4Mbps, which makes ADSL broadband a really poor option if you live in a rural area.

Full fibre connections are a far better option especially for rural properties, as this service can achieve speeds as high as 1Gbps (1000Mbps) regardless of how far away you are from the exchange.

Airband provide FTTP packages up to 900Mbps – find out if you can benefit from a rapid & reliable connection using our broadband coverage checker.

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How does ADSL work?

ADSL works by using a DSL filter, or splitter, to isolate the bands with higher frequencies so that the copper phone line can be used to make calls on the landline AND connect to the internet at the same time. Light years away from the days of dial up!

Advantages and disadvantages of ADSL

Advantages

• Widely available – it’s available in most areas and might be the only type of connection that people can get.
• Cost-effective (potentially) – if there are other types of connection available, it may be a cheaper option (however it may not be worth the slight cost-saving if it means having a really slow connection!).
• Can be used at the same time as landline – something that couldn’t be done before its existence.
• Faster than dial-up – it is better than what was on offer previously, but it’s unlikely to meet most people’s needs nowadays.

Disadvantages

• Incredibly slow – speeds get slower the further away you are.
• Small bandwidth – if lots of people are online at once, you will experience a lot of buffering and lag.
• Contended connection – many ADSL connections are contended, which means you are sharing the same line as your neighbours. This will lead to congestion during busy periods.
• Fluctuations in speed – it’s not as reliable as fibre, and your speeds will vary depending on how many people are online.
• You have to pay for line rental – as ADSL connections use the phone lines, you’ll need to pay for the line rental, whether you want to use your landline or not. (Don’t forget, there’s no need for a landline with Airband, so no line rental, no charge).

ADSL vs Fibre optic internet connections

The average speed of standard ADSL for UK households is much slower than fibre broadband. To understand the key differences between an ADSL and fibre broadband connection, see the table below.

Why is fibre broadband only available in some areas?

Fibre-to-the-premises broadband doesn’t use existing copper telephone lines like ADSL. Instead, the entire internet connection is delivered through brand-new fibre optic cables  This technology works by bouncing light signals through the cables to transmit your data at the speed of light.

The only downside of fibre broadband is that the new cables have to be laid before we can have access to the amazing technology.

However, a lot of areas do already have fibre-to-the-cabinet (FTTC), which is a connection that uses part fibre, and the rest of the connection is made through your copper phone line.

While FTTC is better, it’s still incomparable to the speeds or reliability you get with full fibre-to-the-premises broadband.

You can learn more about the differences between FTTC and FTTP here.

Are there plans to deliver fibre broadband in my area?

Openreach has started building full fibre networks across the country. However, they can often prioritise bustling cities and densely populated areas, over smaller communities, and left-behind country lanes. This is bad news if you live in a more rural area that is still stuck on ADSL.

Luckily, other broadband service providers like Airband are on a mission to help rural areas first, delivering faster, more reliable internet to those who need it most. You can find out more about our mission here.

You could be able to get an ultrafast fibre connection with us in just a few clicks – use our broadband coverage checker to find out.

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What fibre broadband packages does Airband provide?

We offer fibre packages suiting all different needs, ranging from 100Mbps to 900Mbps:

• Fibre 150 – 150Mbps download. 50Mbps upload.
• Fibre 300 – 300Mbps download, 75Mbps upload.
• Fibre 600 – 600Mbps download, 100Mbps upload.
• Fibre 900 – 900Mbps download, 200Mbps upload.

If you want to know more about what broadband speeds would work best for you, check out these blog posts:

What download speed do I need?

What is a good download and upload speed?

How can I increase my broadband speed?

If you have an ADSL connection and it’s letting you down, there are a few things you can do to improve your speeds:

How to improve broadband speeds for streaming

Your fibre future

Want a connection that’ll transform the future of your connectivity? Find out if you can get the fast and fearless fibre speeds you need with Airband – simply pop your postcode into our broadband coverage checker to find out.

Check availability:

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