About Broadband

Broadband is high speed, always-on Internet access. An always-on connection means that you don't have to dial up every time you want to use the Internet, you're permanently connected. Plus broadband keeps your phoneline free which means you and your family can use the phone whilst you are online.

How does it work?
Which Broadband option should I choose?

What sorts of things can I do with my broadband connection?
So how do I get it?

How does it work?

Broadband is the method of sending and receiving data over high speed networks. It is most commonly associated with a far faster way of connecting your computer to the internet than is possible through a conventional dial up method, which uses standard telephone networks.

Broadband connections that use cable or ADSL mean there's greater capacity to send data then standard telephone networks. This means that you can receive far more information to your computer in the same period of time than a conventional dial up connection - allowing you to view webpages quicker, download files faster and send and receive emails without the wait.

Which Broadband Option Should I Choose?

Are all broadband connections the same?

Whilst all broadband connections offer the same benefits they will offer slightly different ways in which you will access the services. These options are:

ADSL - Known in full as Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL), this is the technology that has been developed for enabling broadband connections using existing telephone networks. A modification of your telephone connection point will be required to install this service and you will require a high speed modem. Your broadband service provider will advise you whether the telephone exchange you are connected to can receive this service.

Cable - This requires a special cable connection to be installed into your house. You may already have a cable connection to receive your television or telephone service. The service providers will help you to establish whether you live in an area which can receive a broadband cable service. You will also need a special cable modem.

Wireless- It is also possible to have a broadband connection using wireless technology. A receiver on the outside of the house sends the signals through to connection points inside. These in turn then send the data through to your computer. There are few wireless service providers in the UK at present and like ADSL and cable it is not possible to receive wireless broadband services in all areas.

Satellite - Satellite access is available anywhere in the UK so for some people in remote areas it will be the only option. It is however, expensive to install and you may need planning permission for your dish. The one-way service is comparable to cable or adsl in terms of monthly charges but uses a dial-up for when you need to upload content. There are two-way services available but these are expensive to install (around £800) and the monthly subscription costs are around £60.

What sort of things can I do with my broadband connection?

Basically anything you can do using a standard dial up connection you can do with your broadband connection - browsing, downloading, gaming, instant messaging, email - but it will be faster and easier to access than previously.

In addition, new services are being developed specifically for users with broadband connections, allowing you to do things which weren't possible or required lots of patience with a standard dial up connection - such as viewing good quality live video or downloading large MP3 files.

So how do I get it?

If you would like to find out more about getting a broadband connection simply click here and choose a supplier that best suites your requirements.