Access network

Residential Access

Digital Subscriber Line (DSL)

Asymmetric Speed
- 24-52 Mbps dedicated downstream transmission rate
- 3.5-16 Mbps dedicated upstream transmission rate
Dedicated Access Network

Cable-based Access

frequency division multiplexing (FDM): different channels transmitted in different frequency bands.
HFC: hybrid fiber coax • asymmetric: up to 40 Mbps – 1.2 Gbs downstream transmission rate, 30-100 Mbps upstream transmission rate
Share Access Network

Difference Between

Feature	Cable-Based Access	DSL (Digital Subscriber Line)
Infrastructure	Coaxial cables + fiber optics	Existing telephone lines (copper wires)
Type of Connection	Shared among users in the same area	Dedicated line from home to ISP central office
Bandwidth	Higher download speeds (up to 1.2 Gbps), shared	Lower speeds (up to 52 Mbps), dependent on distance
Download/Upload Speed	Asymmetric: faster downloads, slower uploads	Asymmetric: slower than cable, but with dedicated access
Impact of Usage	Bandwidth shared with neighbors, potential slowdowns at peak times	No impact from neighbors, but speed decreases with distance from ISP

Wireless Access Networks

Shared wireless access network connects devices (like smartphones, laptops) to an access point (e.g., a WiFi router) or a base station (for cellular networks).
802.11 (WiFi) standards enable wireless local area networks, commonly used in homes and businesses for short-range, high-speed connections.
Cellular networks offer wider coverage, such as 4G and 5G, providing mobile users with Internet access as they move.

Transmission Delay

Institutional Access