asymmetric digital subscriber line

noun

variants or less commonly asymmetrical digital subscriber line

: a digital subscriber line in which information is transferred faster in one direction than the other

That is because Mr. Scaglia faces formidable competition from Telecom Italia, which is focusing on a less effective but also much less expensive broadband alternative known as ADSL (asymmetric digital subscriber line), which uses the telephone company's existing copper wires.

—Eric Sylvers

—abbreviation ADSL

Word History

First Known Use

1991, in the meaning defined above