Depending upon the setup, the same phone line also may be used simultaneously for telephone calls or fax transmissions, eliminating the need for multiple lines. In San Diego, DSL is available from a number of providers. As with cable, availability is not ubiquitous because telephone system upgrades are not complete and because DSL is limited to a radius of roughly three to four miles from a central office. Beyond that, data transmission speeds can slow to 128 to 384 kbps. Availability is not a problem in the central San Diego area, but in the outlying areas DSL service may be restricted or unavailable until Pacific Bell completes its upgrades.
Higher speeds are available at greater cost.
Discounts and fee waivers are given for multiyear contracts. When evaluating the various DSL services, be sure to consider all the features being offered, as well as the price differences. With ADSL, the upstream speed is significantly lower than the downstream speed. With SDSL, the upstream and downstream speeds are identical. SDSL will cost more, but if you need the upstream capacity it may be worth it.