Why are most u.s. broadband connections asymmetric?

Question

Why do most US DSL and broadband companies offer asymmetric connections (e.g., 3 Mbit download/768 kbit upload)? In my area, the cost of service from the generally available service (1 MBit upload) to a "private line" T1 leaps to thousands of dollars a month.

Answer 1

The MAIN reason is that providers want you to purchase the service you need. if you are web surfing the download is the prime speed. If you want to run servers the outbound is prime and they don't want you running them off your home service! Nor do they want the expense that they would incur.

So if you need outbound speed you step up to commercial grade service and get symmetrical lines. There are symmetrical DSL lines but they cost more than the normal user wants to pay just like T1, T3 OC3 etc.

Answer 2

The reason for asymmetric connections is just a matter of resources and cost. Forgetting cost, a DSL modem can only give you so much bandwidth. How much depends on how far you are from the telephones modem, and how clean the line is, but it basically tops out at about 6 Mbit per second these days. Lets say that it tops out at 6, I could give you 3 up and 3 down, but what you mostly do is download stuff, well then in that case you would most likely prefer me to give you 1 up and 5 down. And that is what they do. I notice that even cable does this.

On the T1 line. The reason T1 lines cost so much is because unlike your DSL line they guarantee the speed, and provide much more support.