Generation

Family
ADSL 2

ITU

Name

Ratified

G.992.3

G.dmt.bis

2002

G.992.5

G.dmt.bis+

2003

G.993.1

Very-high-data-rate DSL

2004

G.993.2

Very-high-data-rate DSL 2

2006

G.993.5

G.vector

2010

G.9700

G.fast-psd

2014

2G
ADSL2+

VDSL
3G
VDSL2
Vectored
VDSL
4G
G.fast

Speed
Capabilities
~10Mbps
over
5km
~20Mbps
over
5km
~50Mbps
over
1km
~100Mbps
over
500m
100Mbps
Over
500m
Up to 1Gbps
over
up to 300m

CapEx
----------

----------

----------

---------$300-500
per line
$1400
per line

ADSL2
It optionally extends the capability of basic ADSL in data rates to 12 Mbit/s downstream and,
depending on Annex version, up to 3.5 Mbit/s upstream (with a mandatory capability of ADSL2
transceivers of 8 Mbit/s downstream and 800 kbit/s upstream). ADSL2 uses the same bandwidth as
ADSL but achieves higher throughput via improved modulation techniques. Actual speeds may reduce
depending on line quality; usually the most significant factor in line quality is the distance from
the DSLAM to the customer's equipment.
Features:

Improved rate up to 12 Mbps

Improved reach
o Power cutback capability
o Reduced framing overhead
o Better modulation frequency
o Channelization capability
o Bonding of lines

ADSL2+
ADSL2+ extends the capability of
basic ADSL by

doubling

the

number

of downstream channels. The data rates

can be as high as 24 Mbit/s downstream
and up to 1.4 Mbit/s upstream depending
on the distance from the DSLAM to the
customer's premises.
ADSL2+ is capable of doubling the frequency band of typical ADSL connections from 1.1 MHz to
2.2 MHz. This doubles the downstream data rates of the previous ADSL2 standard (which was up to
12 Mbit/s), and like the previous standards will degrade from its peak bitrate after a certain distance.
Features:

Much increased rates up to 20Mbps

o Doubled downstream frequency band to 2.2MHz
Reduced cross talk
Allows provisions of advanced services
Builds on all ADSL2 features
Legacy interoperable

VDSL
A digital subscriber line (DSL) technology providing data transmission faster than ADSL over a
single flat untwisted or twisted pair of copper wires (up to 52 Mbit/s downstream and
16 Mbit/s upstream), and on coaxial cable (up to 85 Mbit/s down- and upstream) using the frequency
band from 25 kHz to 12 MHz. These rates mean that VDSL is capable of supporting applications such
as high-definition television, as well as telephone services (voice over IP) and generalInternet access,
over a single connection. VDSL is deployed over existing wiring used for analog telephone service and
lower-speed DSL connections.
Features:

Very high speeds up to 50Mbps

Uses one wire pair
Can be asymmetric or symmetric
Uses existing copper
Services for multimedia, voice, Video on Demand, video conferencing, interactive
gaming

VDSL2
Is an access technology that exploits the existing infrastructure of copper wires that were
originally deployed for traditional telephone service as a way of delivering very high speed internet
access. The main high-speed link (e.g. a fibre optic connection) terminates at a hub near the customers'
location. The existing copper wire infrastructure is then used to carry the high speed connection for the
short remaining distance to the customers. It can be deployed from central offices, from fiberoptic connected cabinets located near the customer premises, or within buildings.
VDSL2 permits the transmission of asymmetric and symmetric aggregate data rates up to
200 Mbit/s downstream and upstream on twisted pairs using a bandwidth up to 30 MHz. It deteriorates
quickly from a theoretical maximum of 250 Mbit/s at source to 100 Mbit/s at 0.5 km (1,600 ft) and
50 Mbit/s at 1 km (3,300 ft), but degrades at a much slower rate from there, and outperforms VDSL.
Starting from 1.6 km (0.99 mi) its performance is equal to ADSL2+.
Features:

DMT modulation bandwidth increased from 12MHz to 30MHz

Worl wide Versatile Standard
Support for variety of Services
o Integrated QoS features
o ATM
o Channel bonding for extended reach or rate

G.Vector
Vectoring is a noise-cancellation technology, comparable in concept to the technology found in
noise cancelling headphones. With VDSL2 Vectoring, the crosstalk on each line in a DSL binder, or cable,
is measured, and an anti-phase signal is applied to each line to remove the crosstalk.
With VDSL2 Vectoring, every line in a binder can operate at peak performance, as if there were
no other VDSL2 lines in that binder. This results in consistent, predictable, and most importantly,
sellable performance gains. Actual gains will depend on loop length and line quality.
Features:

Enhancement to existing VDSL2

Enables 100Mbps services over 500m loops
Works on most existing copper plant
Works with most recent VDSL2 modems

G.Fast
A standard for local loops shorter than 250 m, with performance targets between 150 Mbit/s
and 1 Gbit/s, depending on loop length. High speeds are only achieved over very short loops. It is a
further development of technology used in VDSL2, however it is intended for operation on loops shorter
than 250 m, while VDSL supports loops up to approximately 2500 m.
Similar to vectored VDSL, G.fast supports vectoring, which reduces crosstalk that is found in
multi-pair cables and at higher frequencies. The first version of G.fast operates over frequencies of up to
106 MHz, and uses linear vector pre-coding to eliminate crosstalk in the downstream direction. A future
version of G.fast may operate over frequencies of up to 212 MHz, and may support higher-performance
non-linear pre-coding to allow for even higher speeds.
Features:

Enables very high speed reaching almost up to 1Gbps over short cable loops
Obviates the problem of deploying fiber in the final drop and inside the premises