ZipLink and DSL:
High Speed Access at a Low Cost

ZipLink has begun offering in the Boston, MA area DSL Enterprise Solutions, a complete package for dedicated Internet business connectivity using DSL (Digital Subscriber Line).

The main feature of ZipLink's DSL service is its full complement of Internetworking tools, including high-bandwidth Internet access and delivery, e-mail, and Web hosting. We believe you'll find ZipLink's DSL Enterprise Solutions not only competitive with other DSL providers, but especially with current dedicated business options from ISDN-Centrex to T1.

A range of speeds are available to choose from, from 192Kbps to 1.1Mbps (downstream rates of approx. 1.5Mbps is available on our ADSL option). DSL service is bundled with e-mail, commercial Web hosting, and other Internet products to make up a comprehensive, all-in-one Internet solution for the small and medium-sized business.

DSL Enterprise Availability

Below are listings of where you can expect service to be available. Placement of service can change -- for this reason these listings should not be taken as guarantees of availability.

CURRENT DSL ENTERPRISE LOCATIONS
Acton Andover Arlington Bedford Belmont Beverly Billerica Boston Braintree Brockton Brookline Brighton Burlington Cambridge Canton Chelmsford Concord Danvers	Dedham Derry, NH Dorchester Framingham Haverill Hingham Lawrence Lexington Lowell Lynn Malden Manchester, NH Marlborough Merrimack, NH Milton Nashua, NH Natick	Needham Newton Norwood Peabody Quincy Randolph Reading Salem Salem, NH Sudbury Wakefield Waltham Watertown Wellesley West Roxbury Weymouth Worcester

Call 1-888-947-5465 if you're interested in DSL for your organization. We can provide further, more detailed checking of availability in your area. Look here for DSL Enterprise plans and pricing, or send e-mail to dsl@ziplink.net if you need further information about ZipLink's DSL Enterprise solutions.

What is DSL?

It's DSL's methodology in using pre-existing twisted-pair copper wiring, in other words the present telephone network, that makes it an attractive, Cost-effective solution for many dedicated and high-bandwidth needs. However, there is not just one solution in the DSL mix. You'll find many flavors out there, some of which are still in the planning stages.

ZipLink will initially focus on two versions of dedicated, point to point DSL services. These are ADSL (Asymmetric DSL) and SDSL (Single line or symmetric DSL).

The main difference between ADSL and SDSL is coverage area based on distance from a local network/telco central office to a client location (known as the local loop). SDSL is typically limited to 10,000 feet, whereas ADSL service can reach up to 18,000. Also, ADSL provides a faster download speed than what one will find on the upstream part of the connection (hence 'Asymmetric').

What are DSL's limitations?

Due to issues related to how DSL works over twisted-pair copper wiring and how this wiring is placed in areas, DSL, depending on the flavor being used, can only be offered to areas within a specific range of a location's Central Office (CO).

Also, quality of service (the speed of the connection) can degrade a bit with distance. For example, SDSL service offered at 1.1Mbps may have some small performance degradation if the client is 9000 feet from the CO in comparison to a client location only 4000 feet away (SDSL service is only rated up to 10,000 feet).

Still, DSL service in most areas will meet the speed guarantees that ZipLink provides to our customers.

Why do I need DSL?

Though we believe current broadband services such as T1 and ISDN will stay around for a while, we're also certain that DSL will take on a primary role in dedicated access in the next few years, mainly due to its lower cost, but also because of the varieties of service DSL will offer to many areas of the marketplace.

DSL will not be the way to go for all, but it is quickly becoming a product that can't be ignored when deciding your company's strategy for Internet connectivity.

More Information on DSL

For further information about DSL/xDSL, here are a few links that should help get you started:

• What is...DSL and xDSL -- whatis.com
• xDSL Local Loop Access Technology - 3COM