Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer

What Does Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer Mean?

A digital subscriber line access multiplexer (DSLAM) is a networking device that connects multiple DSL subscribers to one Internet backbone. DSLAM is used by Internet service providers (ISP) or telecommunication providers to share high-caliber Internet bandwidth between DSL subscribers through multiplexing techniques.

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Techopedia Explains Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer

Designed to manage the incoming and outgoing Internet connectivity of DSL subscribers, DSLAM is installed at an ISP or central telco office. It is connected to the primary Internet backbone/router via a high-speed network connection, such as a frame relay, asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) or IP network. When a typical Internet request is sent by a subscriber’s modem, it reaches the DSLAM device. DSLAM aggregates many different user requests that are passed to the primary Internet backbone/router, which eventually provides dual data transfer or the Internet itself. Further, DSLAM broadcasts and separates the incoming requests of individual users to their unique DSL modems.

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Margaret Rouse

Margaret Rouse is an award-winning technical writer and teacher known for her ability to explain complex technical subjects to a non-technical, business audience. Over the past twenty years her explanations have appeared on TechTarget websites and she's been cited as an authority in articles by the New York Times, Time Magazine, USA Today, ZDNet, PC Magazine and Discovery Magazine.Margaret's idea of a fun day is helping IT and business professionals learn to speak each other’s highly specialized languages. If you have a suggestion for a new definition or how to improve a technical explanation, please email Margaret or contact her…