ADSL Internet

What is ADSL? 

ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) was for many Australians their first introduction to broadband, letting them ditch the dial-up for copper wires.  

Over the years, ADSL saw a few upgrades with ADSL2 and ADSL2+ (clearly the upgrades weren’t to the name). These helped improve Internet speeds from a potential top of 8Mbps to 25 Mbps, depending on your setup and how much copper line you were working with. 

What’s the difference between ADSL and NBN? 

Playing spot the difference with ADSL and NBN all starts with the connection type. The copper wires of ADSL were the top tech in its day, while NBN’s optical fibre cables are next-gen. Just like how ADSL’s upgrades saw it become faster and more reliable, the NBN’s fancier cables make things quicker again. Compare that top ADSL speed of 25Mbs to NBN’s blazing 1,000Mbps: you may as well be watching paint dry on ADSL. 

Data limits on plans are another place you’re going to really feel the difference between ADSL and NBN. While it might be more a sign of the times — remember back in the ADSL hey-day Myspace was the place to be — you’ll generally find that ADSL Plans come with data caps. Use more data than you’ve got on your plan and you could see your Internet speed drop to a pace a lethargic snail could outstrip. However, NBN Plans tend to come with unlimited data. 

Should I switch from ADSL to NBN? 

Staying loyal is a great trait in a dog but it may not be the way to get value out of your Internet Plan. Switching to the NBN will supercharge your Internet surfing sessions thanks to those faster speeds and lack of limits, all without drastically changing your monthly bill. If you’ve ever gotten frustrated with buffering video just as the killer is revealed in your favourite show or had to put up with pixellated video calls, NBN could be the solution. 

Helpful Tip:

Just because you live in a rural area doesn’t necessarily mean you need to endure the slow speeds of ADSL. NBN’s Sky Muster Satellite Service offers a great way for remote homes to access the NBN network at speeds better than ADSL can manage. The first step is to check your address on NBN’s web site to ensure you’re in the Sky Muster coverage area – you might instead be on NBN Fixed Wireless – and then start checking with NBN ISPs offering Sky Muster packages to sort out what equipment you’ll need and how to get started.

Alex Kidman

Tech Journalist

What do I need to connect to ADSL? 

Since your ADSL connection works via your phone line, setting it up is a straightforward plug-and-play deal (assuming your connection is ready to go). Once you’re signed up with an ADSL Internet Plan, all you need to do is plug the modem into your telephone wall socket and DSL port, then switch it on. It might take a few minutes, but you should have an Internet connection. 

From there you could directly plug in your home phone or computer, as well as set up your WiFi. FYI: calling it something fun like ‘Tell my Wi-Fi love her’ will do more than just make your neighbours laugh; it’ll be easier to remember too. 

Is ADSL getting phased out? 

Like the dinosaurs before it, ADSL’s time is running out. When exactly that is for you depends on when the NBN rollout reaches your doorstep. Once the NBN comes to your neighbourhood, you usually have 18 months to switch. You can check if time is already ticking for you via the NBN Co website. 

However, there are a few exceptions to the rule. For instance, if you can only access the NBN via Fixed Wireless or Sky Muster, you could instead choose to stick with your current phone and Internet situation. If your broadband is through a private network or fibre provider beyond Telstra and Optus, you mightn’t need to jump on the NBN bandwagon either.  

Looking for an Internet upgrade? 

If you’re ready to switch or want to see if there’s an NBN Plan that offers you better value, you’re in luck. We’ve teamed up CIMET to make it easy for you to compare NBN Plans online in a matter of minutes.