A digital data service is any type of communication service where it is possible to support the sharing of data as well as audio using the same communications network. Sometimes referred to simply as DDS, digital data service is a common aspect of communications today, and makes it possible to transmit voice and data using the same facilities. Services of this type are commonly employed by businesses and are also in regular use in residential situations today, notably in terms of Internet access that also provides for telephone services and access to cable programming through a single connection into the home.
One of the most common examples of digital data service today is the ability to enjoy telephone services and Internet access through a single connection provided by the local telephone company. In order to achieve this type of connectivity, it is necessary for that phone company to transmit a digital signal that in turn is received by equipment at the user end which is able to recognize that signal. This is important, since if a residential customer lives in an area where only the older analog audio services are available, there is no way to receive digital services that support the transmission of data. This is increasingly a non-issue in many areas, as digital signals have become the normal mode of transmission even in rural areas.
In order to provide a digital data service that provides both voice and data capability, the local phone company will segregate the signal to allow for simultaneous transmission of each type of information along the same connection. Many telephone companies that offer some form of high speed Internet access, such as DSL, to their customers will make use of splitters at the point of termination to achieve this effect. With the use of those splitters, the integrity of the signal is kept intact, but it is possible to maintain an active connection to the Internet and also receive and initiate telephone calls on that same connection. This is an improvement over older technology where residential consumers had to maintain separate connections in order to enjoy Internet and telephone service at the same time.
Newer forms of digital data service do not rely on wired communications in order to function. There are now wireless alternatives that make it possible to create home networks in which one computer can act as the server for all phone stations as well as any other computers in the space, using a wireless connection. Many cable companies that have ventured into offering bundled packages that include Internet and phone service along with cable television options via a single wire into the home also employ wireless technology as part of the solution. Over time, the ability to parse out a single signal to efficiently manage several devices has grown significantly, even as the price for these services have remained affordable.