What is Broadband? 

The term ‘Broadband Internet‘, in simple terms, translates to ‘High Speed Internet‘. ADSL, DSL , SHDSL, Cable etc are all types of broadband internet  A high speed internet connection is generally anything with a download speed faster than 200kbps. A normal Dialup connection is capable of a maximum of 56kbps and is sometimes referred to as Narrowband.

 How is Broadband different from Dialup?

The main obvious difference is the speed of data transfer. A basic Broadband connection is much faster than your traditional Dialup connection, eg this enables you to do things which simply aren‘t feasible on a Dialup connection.

The first thing most people notice is that they are able to do more than one task at a time on the internet, e.g downloading email while browsing the web on a Dialup connection would prove frustrating and slow. With Broadband, you would not notice a significant drop in performance of your connection because it can handle more information at the one time.

Another main difference from Dialup is the ‘always on‘ connection. This means you would no longer have to make a phone call to connect to the internet which ties up your phone line while using the connection. One of the big selling points for Broadband is that you can be on the internet and use the phone at the same time from a single phone line.

 Are there different types of Broadband? 

Yes, you may have heard of terms such as ADSL, Wireless and Cable? 

ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line): The most common broadband product in the Australian Market. ADSL operates over the existing telephone line to your premises without interfering with your normal telephone operation. 

CABLE (Fibre Optic Cable) is the second most common broadband product. Cable broadband operates over the pay TV fibre optic networks installed throughout metropolitan neighborhoods over the last decade. If the cable runs down your street, you are most likely eligible to connect to the internet this way. Not all providers offer cable internet !. 

WIRELESS  A new, but fast growing technology connects you to the internet without any physical (cable or wire) connection. A wireless modem is connected to your computer which communicates via radio signal to a receiver in your neighborhood. Coverage of these services is growing rapidly throughout the capital cities of Australia. The convenience of not needing to plug your laptop computer in to use broadband is obvious, especially for the travelling person. If you are not eligible for either ADSL or Cable then you should investigate Wireless if you are in a major metropolitan area, or satellite if you are in a rural area. 

SATELLITE  2-Way Satellite Internet doesn't depend on land-based phone lines or cables, it can reach places that are far beyond the range of Broadband ADSL or Cable services.  Satellite services can use the enormous bandwidth and geographical coverage of orbiting satellites. So even if you live in a community far from the nearest city, you‘ll still be able to surf the net at amazing speeds. 

There are two systems: i) the 1-Way system is usually an ideal solution if you‘re a home or small business user, ii) the 2-Way solution is really a better option if you upload a lot of data - either as a professional or specialist Internet user.