Wednesday, March 10, 2010

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…Broadband


What is Broadband?

Broadband is defined as a high-bandwidth connection to the Internet.  Broadband is easier and faster to use that the traditional telephone and modem, as information can be sent and downloaded much quicker.

Broadband can be provided over your phone line, via cable, wirelessly or via satellite. It involves large volumes of information being carried at high speeds to your computer.  This allows websites, text, graphics, music and video to be experienced in real-time.  Broadband therefore, has many features that can be taken advantage of in the home or office:

  • the connection to the internet is always on, allowing for constant internet access and no need to dial up;
  • the phone line is unaffected; this means that you can make telephone calls whilst the internet is on;
  • websites, music and video can be downloaded at a fast rate;
  • you can take advantage of instant or video messaging and online high speed interactive applications
  • you can receive unterrupted real time services, such as internet radio, streaming video and voice-over-ip, phone calls

Broadband can make using the internet in the office or home much easier, faster and more efficient.  Most businesses also take advantage of broadband to help in the running of the company.  Working from home is now much more feasible thanks to the high speeds that broadband has to offer.

Types of Broadband

ADSL Broadband

  • Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) is a technology similar to DSL technology;
  • With ADSL, information is downloaded more rapidly than it is uploaded;
  • ADSL is particularly useful for businesses and homes as it can download web pages and files at fast speeds
  • ADSL2 and ADSL2+ are new technologies offered by some providers offering speeds up to 24Mbps.

DSL Broadband

  • Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) is a technology that delivers broadband over your phone line to the used in the office or home;
  • With DSL technology, large volumes of information are sent over a copper cable at rapid speeds;
  • DSL allows you to download web pages, text, graphics, music and video in real time

Symmetric Broadband (SDSL)

  • Symmetric broadband (SDSL) is a technology similar to ADSL broadband;
  • SDSL broadband downloads information at the same speeds as it uploads information (like Pathfinder).  Whereas ADSL broadband downloads the information faster than it uploads it;
  • SDSL broadband is particularly suitable for businesses that send large volumes of information

Local Loop Unbundling

  • Local Loop Unbundling (LLU) is where ADSL or SDSL broadband technologies are provided without using BT’s exchange system;
  • This means that LLU providers can offer broadband features at a competitive price;
  • LLU is only available in certain parts of the UK, with very limited coverage across the Highlands and Islands

Satellite Broadband

  • There are several ways in which broadband can be delivered to your PC, thus type of broadband is delivered through a satellite;
  • To receive satellite broadband you must have a dish antenna, and can be used almost everywhere in the UK
  • There a two types of satellite services;
  • One-way satellite services download information via satellite and upload information via a telephone or ISDN line;
  • Two-way satellite services download and upload information via satellite.  This provides an even higher bandwidth and a faster speed;
  • Satellite transmission may be affected by weather conditions;
  • The cost of installing and running satellite broadband can be quite expensive compated with other types of broadband;
  • Satellite broadband generally has quite high latency (ping times) compared to other broadband, and so in unsuitable for certain type of internet access such as online gaming

Wireless Broadband

  • Wireless broadband is one of the ways in which broadband can be delivered to your PC;
  • This type of broadband requires an antenna to be installed to get connection to the internet;
  • Wireless broadband is particularly suitable for distributing information between buildings across rural areas where access to ADSL is limited or unavailable, such as those areas covered by the Pathfinder North network