EarthLink to Test High-Speed Home Internet Lines

EarthLink Network Inc. said it will begin testing high-speed home Internet connections using digital subscriber line, or DSL, technology in parts of Southern California next month. The company plans to begin selling DSL access with its Internet service as soon as July--but only in Pacific Bell regions in which DSL is available. The technology has become a hot topic among home Internet users because it works over standard copper lines, handles voice and data simultaneously, and delivers connection speeds of up to 50 times faster than most dial-up modems. The actual speed depends on the customer’s distance from a phone company switch, but EarthLink plans to sell DSL packages promising speeds of between 384 kilobits and 1.5 megabits per second. EarthLink’s DSL trial will include about 500 people for roughly two months, the company said. While Pasadena-based EarthLink’s test covers just regions served by PacBell, the company said it is working on deals with other carriers.