What is Broadband?

In our modern, fast-paced environment we have come to expect instant gratification. That also pertains to how we access the internet. For years, the only option was a dialup connection. Believe it or not, there still are a massive percentage of internet users still on dial-up.

Broadband internet also known as ADSL refers collectively to technology that allows data transfer through your phone lines, cable service or via satellite at a much higher rate than standard dialup.

ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) is a form of DSL(Direct Subscriber Link)? DSL or xDSL, is a family of technologies that provide digital data transmission over the wires of a local telephone network. DSL originally stood for digital subscriber loop, although in recent yearshave adopted digital subscriber line as a more marketing-friendly term for the most popular version of consumer-ready DSL, ADSL. DSL uses high frequency, regular telephone uses low frequency. DSL allows you to connect to the internet at the same time you are using your phone without any interruption. It does this by putting digital “bits” that are not heard into the frequency of your phone line.

What is Bandwidth?

Bandwidth is the size and speed of the internet connection. You need the fastest speed and reliability where the connection has a higher priority, i.e. FROM the internet TO your home or office, while a smaller bandwidth is used in the opposite scenario FROM your home or office TO the internet.

See the definition of Bandwidth at Wikipedia

The bottom line is that ADSL is faster, more efficient and more reliable than standard dialup. If you have ever tried downloading large files on a dialup connection, you know how long it takes. When it comes to listening to music, watching any kind of videos or playing games, it is virtually an exercise in futility on a dialup connection.

Broadband is relatively inexpensive for what you get:

You can enjoy streaming live audio and video, watch movies online, listen to radio stations and live news and that’s just for starters! If you like to play computer games, you can do that while online and still not miss any important phone calls!

Downloading data, sound or video files can be accomplished in almost the blink of an eye. What used to take a half hour or more to download will be done in minutes or in some cases even in seconds! And all of those photographs that you’ve taken with your digital camera to send to the grandparents? No need to wait for developing. In seconds you can send the photos!

If you are lucky enough to live in an area where DSL is available, by all means jump on the bandwagon and bring your surfing experience into the 21st century!

Summary of why is Broadband better than standard Dial up:

 It's faster

Enjoy Internet access up to more than 100 times faster than a standard 56kbps dial-up connection.

  It's always-on

There's no need to wait to get online, you're permanently connected until you turn your PC off.

  It keeps your phone line free

Surf the Internet and talk on the phone at the same time.

  It's easy to install

There is no need to call an engineer. Once you've registered you receive your broadband modem with simple instructions on how to set this up with your PC.

  It's a new experience

Broadband changes the way you use the Internet. You can shop and bank online instantly, download music and games in seconds, email large attachments easily, watch music and film clips from your PC and much more.