Communication Needs

Does broadband always use fibre optics?

Since I changed from dial up to broadband the phone companies involved did not come rouund and change my phone line to a fibre optic one so what happened? uk people please!

Public Comments

1. DSL ! = Fibre Optics
2. broadband does not use fiber optics. it uses telephone/ethernet cables u r gonna have to put a dsl filter on all phone lines
3. Most broadband uses the existing telephone network. Laying down the infrastructure for new systems is very expensive, particularly the last 10% from the local exchange to the house. It makes more sense to use existing coax where possible.
4. DSL = Digital Subscriber Line Typically an ISP will active the DSL service on your existing telephone line and give you filters that you must connect to your traditional phone equipment (telephone, fax, etc.) Alternatively, some ISPs will run a second line into the house -- the second line being DSL and leave your existing line as POTS.
5. Not always. Laying new cable is expensive. I'm sure they sat down with a team to figure out how to provide broadband using existing cables. Just doesn't make sense to rip streets up for it.
6. DSL/broadband is a digital subscriber line. It comes through your existing phone lines, all you have to do is put filters on your phone lines to prevent any interference from the signal and hook up the modem to your computer. All of that equipment should have been sent to you by your provider when you signed up. Fiber optic is a different type of internet signal that runs through fiber optic lines.