Very High-Speed Digital Subscriber Line, or VDSL for short, is a unique DSL technology characterized by exceptionally high transmission speeds. The term VDSL summarizes several standards that have significantly higher transmission rates than classic DSL connections. While DSL is only transmitted over copper cables, VDSL uses both copper and fiber optic cables. A conventional DSL connection currently allows consumers a bandwidth of up to 16 Mbit / s downstream.
WHEN DOES A VDSL CONNECTION MAKE SENSE?
A VDSL connection is particularly worthwhile when high transmission rates are required, and the access is used intensively. The speeds of an ADSL connection are usually entirely sufficient for simple surfing and small downloads. VDSL, on the other hand, is particularly suitable for the use of triple-play offers. This type of DSL tariff allows internet access, telephony, and television via one connection.
A VDSL connection is also worthwhile for applications that have a large volume of data. Video-on-demand services or television programs can also be transmitted in HDTV quality, also known as UltraHD.
This even works if several people use the connection at the same time. The internet connection remains stable.
The Advantages of VDSL At a Glance
- Faster downloads (up to 100 Mbit / s)
- Faster uploads (10-40 Mbit / s)
- Now available in many areas
- Reduced loading times
- Intensive internet use by several people is possible.
That is why a VDSL connection is beneficial for families, shared apartments, or other multi-person households in which the Internet is used in parallel daily. In this way, everyone benefits from higher data rates and can surf the Internet without disrupting the connection. In the future, it is to be expected that the number of possible applications will increase with the constant expansion of the VDSL network.
DECISION FOR A VDSL CONNECTION: YOU HAVE TO CONSIDER THAT
Since a VDSL connection is a comparatively expensive proposition, you should weigh up in advance whether this type of Internet access is worthwhile. VDSL connections are usually 10 to 30 percent more costly than conventional DSL connections, and the old hardware may also have to be replaced with a new router.
Whether a VDSL connection is worthwhile ultimately depends on your usage behavior and the number of people who want to use the access. Therefore, it is advisable to carefully consider how and for what you have always used the Internet up to now.
If you already know that the performance cannot be fully exploited, a classic DSL connection is probably the better and cheaper solution. Before you decide on a tariff, it is also essential to pay close attention to the tariff details. The offers can differ significantly in terms of the hardware supplied or the shipping costs. Various fees may also apply when setting up the connection. Furthermore, it is common practice with some providers for Internet access to be throttled after a specified amount of data has been used. So always find out in detail what the conditions of different tariffs look like.
Also Read: What is WiFi, And How Does It Work?
DSL Internet
A classic DSL connection also has its advantages: The significant advantage is that it is available almost everywhere in Germany. Depending on the tariff, you can surf the Internet at speeds of up to 100 Mbit / s. Find out here about the advantages, tariff types, and rates of a DSL connection and find the right offers.
VDSL CONNECTION: EQUIPMENT AND REQUIRED TECHNOLOGY
To be able to use VDSL in your household, the connection must first be set up. This is usually not a problem, but you will need the proper hardware to do this. Depending on the provider, this is often already included in the tariff or rented for little money. As with a DSL connection, you also need a router or modem and possibly a splitter for VDSL access. Since the telephone and the Internet signals run over the same line, the splitter essentially ensures that they are split up.
This enables the relevant Internet data to be forwarded to the router or modem. However, a splitter is not always necessary these days, as many connections are now IP-based.
A modem is rarely used with VDSL connections: although it is a simple and inexpensive variant, VDSL modems are seldom available in free trade. In addition, only one terminal device can be connected at a time.
A VDSL router, on the other hand, connects several end devices, such as laptops, PCs, or smartphones, to the Internet – usually via a wireless connection (WLAN). The telephone system can also be connected to the router. If you also want to use IPTV via the relationship, you also need a receiver, which can also be connected to the router.
WHICH VDSL STANDARDS ARE THERE?
Two standards are defined by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU): VDSL1 and VDSL2. With VDSL1, up to 52 Mbit / s are possible downstream, but the bandwidth decreases with the transmission path length. While the switching centers are regularly available in large cities, usually only a certain radius is covered in smaller towns.
At a distance of 2000 meters from the exchange, the transmission speed drops to the level of an ADSL connection. Due to this short signal range and the incompatibility with the ADSL network, however, the VDSL1 standard could not fully establish itself and is hardly used nowadays.
VDSL2 was finally developed as the successor standard: This standard is based on ADSL2 + and the Discrete Multitone (DMT) transmission method and guarantees up to 100 Mbit / s downstream. When VDSL is mentioned, it usually means VDSL2.
The so-called vectoring technology mainly improves access. This is not a new type of connection but an extension of the existing VDSL2 standard.
The reason for a reduced bandwidth is often the length of the copper cable, but not exclusively. Adjacent copper lines can also influence and impair one another in the main thread. Vectoring is supposed to compensate for the electromagnetic interference and to shield the signals from one another. Thus, the transmission rates can be increased enormously. In addition, VDSL2 is fully downward compatible, so that the technologies ADSL, ADSL2, and ADSL2 + can also be used over VDSL2 lines.
OUR CONCLUSION
With a transmission speed of up to 100 Mbit / s, the fast VDSL is particularly suitable for people who rely on a closed network or high transmission data. This can be the case with families or shared apartments, for example. When choosing a tariff, it is essential to check which operator supplies the place of residence. It can also be worthwhile to compare different tariffs. The offers can differ significantly in some cases.