An internet access device that connects between the telephone service provider's digital subscriber line (DSL) and either the router or the client computer. DSL modems in the United States use the ADSL protocol to transmit voice, video, and data.

Assists in translating and routing high speed transmission. The provider will sell or lease modems to the customer. A modem receives and translates transmissions to and from the Internet.

This is a piece of hardware required to get a high speed broadband service, it can give speeds up to 512Kbps downstream and 256Kbps upstream.