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Listed below are Broadband topologies available within the BellSouth FastAccess Product Family. The service type you receive is completely dependant on the facilities serving your home or business; however all are considered FastAccess.

DSL (Digital Subscriber Line)
DSL is BellSouth's original copper-based broadband solution and can be deployed directly from a CO or a remote DSLAM in the neighborhood. DSL uses straight copper wire between the DSLAM and the home and requires a DSL modem. It is by far the most popular broadband service offered by BellSouth and can be self installed by the end user.

IFITL (Integrated Fiber In The Loop)
IFITL (a.k.a. as PCData) is BellSouth's first broadband over fiber to the curb service and utilizes Marconi equipment that integrates voice, video, and data capabilities. It is not DSL but a 10Mb ethernet from the ONU to your house. With IFITL no modem is needed, but you must have a professional installation by a BST technician. They will install 10Base-T protector and a special EBN in the NID, run new CatX cable (or utilize existing spare pairs, if available) from NID to a RJ-45 wall plate, and then to the NIC of your PC or WAN port on a router. Currently, IFITL customers are not eligible for Extreme 3.0 or Extreme 6.0, but IFITL can usually obtain slightly higher download speeds than FastAccess Ultra DSL customers because it uses traffic shaping instead of hard provisioning caps. Click here for additional IFTIL installation and connectivity information.

DFITL (DSL over Fiber In The Loop)
DFITL is the 2nd generation DSL over fiber to the curb offering and offeres voice and data service. It uses fiber to the pedestal and then copper to the house. DFITL pedestals are usually green in color, about 30" tall, and can service up to 4 customers. The ONU cards in the pedestal are a mini DSLAM and provide the DSL signal to the house. A standard DSL modem is required and the Self Install Option is available with DFITL. Although it works differently on the TelCo side of things, DFITL is functionally the same as DSL and MX to the end customer. Currently, DFITL customers are not eligible for Extreme 6.0. Very Important Note: AT&T Southeast is now limiting DFITL customers to the 1.5Mbps (Ultra) service tier. Older customers that currently have 3.0 service are being grandfathered, but all new (or returning) customers are limited to 1.5Mbps.

MX (a.k.a. FITL-MX)
MX is 3rd generation DSL over fiber to the curb utilizing the Marconi DISC*S MX platform. It uses fiber to the pedestal and then copper to the house. MX pedestals are usually tan in color, 30" tall, and service up to 12 customers. The ONU cards in the pedestal are a mini DSLAM and provide the DSL signal to the house. A standard DSL modem is required and the Self Install is available with MX. Although it works differently on the TelCo side of things, MX is functionally the same as DSL and DFITL to the end customer.

Originally posted by Logic1977


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by Andy Houtz See Profile edited by FAQFixer See Profile
last modified: 2009-03-03 09:00:45