Frequently Asked Questions about MV DSL Services

Frequently Asked Questions about MV DSL Services

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Just what is DSL?

DSL is a general term for a set of Digital Subscriber Loop technologies that that are used for high speed data transmission over an ordinary copper "subscriber loop", that is, two wires just like the ones that connect you to the telephone system. While a normal telephone loop is connected into a telephone switch that processes your voice call, a DSL loop is not. Rather, it is connected to DSL equipment which carries the data on your DSL line, and which also supplies you with a connection to your ISP. Thus, DSL service gives you a direct, always-on connection to MV Communications and thus to the Internet, with speeds faster (often many times faster) than with a dialup modem. You won't need to dial a phone -- the service will just be there when you need it.

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What are the the different types, such as ADSL and SDSL?

The common types of DSL are ADSL, SDSL, and IDSL. These simply represent different categories of DSL service.

One form of ADSL operates over your existing phone line, meaning that you can use the same phone line for voice calls and data (at the same time); other forms of ADSL and all forms of SDSL require a separate line to be installed.

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Where does MV Communications offer DSL?

Please return to the DSL Services Page for information about pricing and availability.

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What determines the rated speed that I can get?

There are many factors that influence what kind of DSL you can get, and what speeds you can get. Laws of physics dictate that the shorter the wire that connects you to the telephone company's central office (the CO), the higher the DSL speed you can get. The quality of the actual wire can also be a factor, as can how the wires are bundled together or other configuration elements. If you are beyond a certain distance from the CO (typically 18000 feet), DSL may not be available. When you order DSL, the final analysis is the actual data rate that you can achieve on the installed line.

Also make sure you see the FAQ item about areas that are served by SLCs.

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Why isn't DSL available everywhere?

Despite all its hype, DSL is still a very new product offering. Equipment must be placed in the telephone company's Central Office (CO) to service DSL lines for the area covered by that CO, and facilities must be in place to transport data between that CO and the ISP. Currently this provisioning must be done by either the incumbent telephone companies such as Bell Atlantic, or by competitive telephone companies such as Choice One. These companies can not roll out in every CO at once- and economics dictates that they attempt to recover their investment by choosing the larger COs first. As time goes on we expect to see more COs covered.

Also see the FAQ item about areas served via SLCs.

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What if I'm served by a SLC?

In New Hampshire, many locations are not connected directly to a telephone company's Central Office (CO), but instead are connected to something like a subscriber loop carrier (SLC) or digital loop carrier (DLC). The SLC is in turn connected to the CO via high speed digital trunks. You may have noticed refrigerator-sized green boxes at the side of a road, sometimes with a Bell Atlantic technician working there -- these are the SLC cabinets that serve an area near them. (Sometimes the SLCs are in small brick or wooden buildings as well.) Locations that are served out of a SLC are not likely to be able to have ADSL or SDSL, but may be able to get IDSL instead (see the FAQ item about different kinds of DSL).

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Why are DSL prices so much lower than leased line options?

In fact MV Communications has two levels of DSL pricing, and this question refers to the "normal usage" level and not the "high usage" level.

Most DSL customers fall into the "normal" interactive usage profile, which means that while you're going to be using the Internet heavily at times, most of the time you are not. For example, you may download some web data and then pause to examine it, or you may be composing mail or doing some other activity that does not make heavy use of the Internet connection. This is discussed at greater length in our pricing, terms, and conditions pages, but the bottom line is that DSL pricing is set to take this normal interactive usage behaviour into account. (This is true for all DSL providers-- some, like us, will make it clear, and some won't.)

We also have a "high usage" DSL level which is meant for organizations or for use that isn't mainly interactive-- and the pricing for this level corresponds more closedly to pricing for the high usage leased line options.

And finally, the tarrifed pricing for high speed circuits such as leased lines or frame relay connections are much higher than the pricing for DSL circuits. The lower price of the underlying DSL circuit is a factor in the pricing of the DSL service.

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What are the terms and conditions of MV's DSL access?

Please return to the DSL Services Page for information about terms, pricing, and availability.

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