Meaning – The term line speed, refers to the number of binary digits that can be sent over a telecommunication line in one second, expressed in bits per second (bps).
Line speed depends on several factors such as line quality, the distance of the cabinet or exchange, and whether the ADSL micro-filters are installed correctly.
Line speed can depend on the plan purchased from an internet service provider (ISP). Even then, it may not be possible to get the highest available speed all the time because of several factors.
When the highest speed is affected, the resultant speed is known as the throughput speed. The throughput speed is the actual download speed of an internet connection as opposed to that stated in the internet plan.
Example of usage – “When using internet services, line speed refers to the maximum speed a line can support. Fifty Mbps is an example of line speed.”
