What Is Verizon DSL In 2024? (Is It Good, Availability + Cost)
Demystifying Verizon DSL Internet – How it Works and What it Offers in 2024
Verizon DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) has been around for over 20 years, providing households across the northeast U.S. with an affordable and consistent broadband option. But even as 75 million American homes now have access to speedier fiber optic technology, DSL remains a practical alternative worth understanding – especially for rural or underserved markets.
Below we’ll explore what Verizon DSL is, how fast it is today, who has access, and most importantly, whether it can meet a modern family’s internet needs.
How DSL Delivers Internet Over Phone Lines
Unlike cable or fiber broadband that use coaxial or fiber cables respectively, DSL transmits data over telephone lines – the copper wires connecting virtually every home. It converts analog voice signals to digital data through modem devices on either end of the phone line.
By leveraging existing telephone infrastructure, phone carriers are able to offer DSL internet without costly new cable deployment. Maximum speeds however depend on the phone wire quality and distance to the nearest internet access point.
Verizon DSL Speeds – Video Streaming Possible, Gaming Lags
Verizon’s DSL service claims download speeds ranging from 0.5 Mbps to 15 Mbps, with upload speeds topping at 1 Mbps, varying by your location specifics.
While 15 Mbps download should allow smooth video streaming for one or two connected devices, online gaming performance may suffer due to slower upload rates impacting latency. Verizon indicates DSL supports “basic” video streaming – so consumers wanting to stream 4K or high quality video to multiple household members at once would fare better upgrading to their Fios Gigabit Connection.
To illustrate, Netflix indicates 5 Mbps download speed per stream for standard definition quality, so a household with 3 members streaming would require at least 15 Mbps. High definition 1080p quality requires 25 Mbps per stream.
Verizon DSL Stays Online Over 99% of the Time
One advantage DSL holds over cable internet is reliability, with Verizon advertising an impressive 99% uptime across it’s network. Translating to less than 4 days of outage per year, it’s easy to appreciate why DSL remains a trustworthy option.
A 2021 FCC report tracking leading providers’ outage durations affirmed Verizon’s network consistency, with an average DSL customer experiencing only 15 minutes without connectivity per year. Reasons for going offline included equipment failure, fiber cuts by third parties, and power loss during severe weather.
In contrast, the average cable customer saw 72 minutes of downtime in 2021, nearly 5x more than Verizon DSL users.
Limited Availability – Predominantly Northeast U.S.
Given fixed infrastructure requirements, Verizon DSL access depends wholly on your location…
