What is DSL? It is home internet sent over the copper telephone line already wired to many buildings, using a DSL modem to keep the connection always on while the phone still works.[1][2] Its speed drops as distance from the phone company's equipment grows, and some companies are now retiring copper lines entirely.[2][3]
If you have DSL now, or it is the only wired option listed for your address, the real decision is whether to keep it or move to something else. Check what reaches your area first.
How DSL works
DSL is a wired technology that sends data over traditional copper phone lines. The common home version, ADSL, downloads faster than it uploads and shares the line with voice calls without interrupting them.[1] Business versions such as SDSL send data at equal speeds in both directions.[1]
You need a DSL modem between the phone line and your router or computer.[2] Unlike dial-up, the connection stays on; you do not dial in each time.[2]
How fast is DSL internet?
It varies more than most technologies. Xfinity's explainer puts DSL anywhere from several hundred kilobits to millions of bits per second, with performance falling as the copper run to the provider's nearest site gets longer.[2] Two homes on the same street can therefore get different results.
Current offers show the range. CenturyLink advertises Simply Unlimited Internet at $55 a month for any speed up to 140 Mbps where available, with paperless billing required and taxes and fees extra.[4] CenturyLink itself notes that, depending on where you live, there may be better choices than DSL for online gaming.[4]
Our FCC data shows how much copper service falls short of faster tiers. As of December 30, 2025, copper service was reported at 25/3 Mbps or faster in 2,678 of 3,143 counties, but at 100/20 Mbps or faster in only 1,400.[5]
Why phone companies are retiring copper
The FCC says telephone and internet companies are retiring aging copper networks where fiber, wireless or satellite services can replace them. It describes copper as costly to maintain, increasingly hard to repair and often less reliable in extreme weather.[3]
Some large providers have already stopped selling DSL. AT&T says it no longer offers DSL service and points U-verse customers to AT&T Fiber where it is available.[6]
You should get warning before a service ends. The FCC requires providers to notify customers and obtain approval before discontinuing a service, and a company may first stop selling an older service while existing "grandfathered" customers keep it for a time.[3]
What to switch to
Pick from what is actually reported at your address. Our fiber internet guide shows how to confirm the technology on the FCC map.
| If your address has | Consider | Check first |
|---|---|---|
| Fiber | Usually the first choice to price | Installation, upload speed and the price after discounts. |
| Cable | A wired step up | Upload speed and evening performance; see what cable internet is. |
| 5G or fixed wireless | No new wiring | Address eligibility and a trial; see wireless home internet. |
| Only DSL or satellite | Compare both honestly | Real DSL speed at your address versus satellite sky view and cost. |
If you live outside town, the rural internet options guide covers co-op fiber, fixed wireless and satellite in more depth.
Before you leave DSL: a checklist
Your copper line may do more than carry internet. Work through this before ordering:
- Landline and number: If you keep a home phone on the same line, ask how it will work after the change. The FCC notes that upgraded phone service may not work in a power outage without backup power.[3]
- Connected devices: Ask whether medical monitoring systems, security alarms and fax machines will work with the new service, as the FCC suggests.[3]
- Equipment: CenturyLink lets customers lease equipment for up to $17 a month or buy it for up to $200 plus tax.[4] Find out what you must return when you leave.
- Credit: CenturyLink says a credit check or deposit may apply to postpaid service.[4] Ask the new provider the same question; our no-credit-check guide explains the alternatives.
- Overlap: Keep DSL active until the new connection works.
Compare options for your address
The ZIP lookup gives area-level choices. Our comparison line is for shopping new service, not repairing an existing DSL account. Ask each provider to confirm your exact address before you cancel.
Frequently asked questions
Is DSL the same as dial-up?
No. Both use the phone line, but DSL stays connected all the time, and broadband runs at far higher speeds than dial-up.[2][1]
Do I need a home phone plan to get DSL?
Not always. CenturyLink advertises DSL without a bundle requirement.[4] Ask your provider whether a voice line is required.
Is cable faster than DSL?
Often. The FCC describes cable speeds as comparable to or faster than typical residential DSL.[1] Compare the actual plans offered at your address.
Sources
- FCC: Getting Broadband Q&A. Federal Communications Commission, Getting Broadband Q&A, accessed October 20, 2026. DSL, cable and broadband descriptions. ↩
- Xfinity: DSL vs. Cable Internet. Xfinity, DSL vs. Cable Internet, accessed October 20, 2026. DSL modem, always-on service, speed range and distance effect. ↩
- FCC: Tech Transition, Modernizing Communications Services. Federal Communications Commission, Tech Transition: Modernizing Communications Services, accessed October 20, 2026. Copper retirement, notice rules and device checks. ↩
- CenturyLink DSL Internet Service. CenturyLink, DSL Internet Service, accessed October 20, 2026. Plan price, fees, equipment and credit terms. ↩
- FCC National Broadband Map, Broadband Data Collection (nationwide data). Broadband Trail analysis of FCC Broadband Data Collection data as of December 30, 2025, retrieved October 9, 2026. ↩
- AT&T Fiber Internet FAQ. AT&T, Fiber Internet FAQ, accessed October 20, 2026. DSL and U-verse answer. ↩
Written with AI assistance and checked against the sources listed; our data from FCC/Census as dated. FCC data as of December 30, 2025; Census ACS 5-year 2020-2024. Editorial policy