What is a Broadband Internet Connection

Broadband in the literal sense, means a wide range of frequencies used to transmit and receive data. Earlier, accessing the Internet was a very slow process due to the dial-up connection. The dial-up connection is a cheap way of accessing the Internet, as the cost is the same as that of local phone calls. The monthly plans of a dial-up connection are also similar to those of the telephones. However, the speed of a dial-up connection is too sluggish and the telephone remains busy while accessing the Internet. These factors have made the broadband Internet connection the preferred method for Internet access.

The term, broadband refers to the bandwidth of the Internet connection. The technical definition of bandwidth states that, it is a range of frequencies. The term bandwidth is generally used to refer to the data transfer rates, in case of computer networks and Internet connections. Data transfer rates are usually measured in bits per second (bps). In a broadband connection, the transfer rates are very high as compared to the dial-up connection. There are various types of broadband connections, depending upon the cost, speed and availability. These are as follows:

ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line)

ADSL is the most commonly used broadband connection. It is widely used for residential and commercial purposes. The ADSL is a digital line which can be used to access Internet without keeping your telephone line busy. ADSL works at a speed of 512 kbps or higher. An ADSL enables high-speed Internet connectivity without keeping your telephone line busy. The downloading speeds are greater than the uploading speeds, in case of an ADSL connection. It is called 'asymmetric' because of this difference in the downloading and uploading speeds.

SDSL (Symmetric Digital Subscriber Line)

SDSL is similar to the ADSL, differing only in one aspect, i.e. the uploading speed. The SDSL is characterized by identical uploading and downloading speeds. It is beneficial for commercial and business purposes as the uploading speeds required are high, and an SDSL connection satisfies this requirement. It is costlier than ADSL, but it is worth the expense when business and commercial profits are taken into consideration.

Wireless Broadband

Wireless Internet connection is the need of the day. Today, laptops, palmtops and mobiles, all have a wireless connection. The downloading speeds provided by this type of broadband Internet access technology ranges from 128 kbps to 2 Mbps. This technology is flourishing due to the increased use of wireless devices like mobile phones and laptops.

Cable Broadband

Internet can be accessed via the cable TV connection. The cable TV is used by almost everybody and now the Internet is also made available along with the cable TV channels. Cable broadband provides a speed ranging from 2 Mbps to 8 Mbps. The connection is widely used in residential areas. It is more popular as compared to the ADSL connection, although the downloading and uploading speeds of both the types are the same.

Satellite Broadband

All the forms of broadband connections described above have limitations of area, i.e. only a limited area can be covered by them. Satellite connection is the solution to this problem. In this, the geostationary satellites provide the Internet access. It requires a satellite dish and other supporting hardware to receive the required signals. The speeds offered is 2 Mbps for downloading and 1 Mbps for uploading. This speed is less as compared to other types of broadband connections, and weather affects the signal to a great extent.

Fiber Optic Broadband

Fiber optic technology is a relatively new technology that converts the electrical signals to light signals. This signal is transferred through the fiber optic cable. It is reliable, but can be cost prohibitive for residential consumers.

Today, the various forms of broadband Internet are providing limitless coverage and mobility options. This technology is developing rapidly to meet the requirements of speed and quality of service.