The most common is ADSL, which utilises existing copper telephone lines and exchanges to provide internet connectivity. Then there is Cable broadband, which uses fibre optic technology and typically offers higher download speeds, though with limited coverage compared to ADSL. Mobile broadband is the latest addition to the broadband collective and unlike the other two it does not require a fixed landline connection, instead using 3G wireless networks to provide a connection that can be accessed from anywhere with good signal strength, making it perfect for roaming web browsing.

In the next few years these existing broadband technologies will evolve and improve. ADSL will continue to provide a majority of customers with broadband, but BT is beginning to roll out its Fibre-to -the-cabinet (FTTC) technology, which effectively provides a high speed fibre optic broadband connection right up to the cabinets in every residential street. From these the copper wiring will still perform the last mile of the service, but download speeds and upload speeds will be dramatically higher than the theoretical maximum attainable using ADSL technology alone. Cable broadband, which can already offer 50Mbps speeds, is being tweaked to offer 100Mbps and upwards in the future and the next generation of mobile broadband will see the download speeds jump from an average of 3Mbps to 100Mbps and higher.

Because there are so many different options facing the average consumer when it comes to broadband technology and because there are many different providers offering what can seem to be similar packages, choosing the right firm to commit to can be a bit of an issue. The best advice is to take a step back before you even begin to look at broadband packages and think about what it is that you need from a provider and a connection before you dive in. Speed is of course and important issue, but it is worth checking which connection types are available in your area, as cable and mobile broadband are not universally installed. Minimum contract length is another sticking point. It seems that at the moment the 12 month term is common, but mobile broadband is usually longer with 18 or 24 months of commitment required to get the best value. Another consideration is data allowance, which is basically a limit placed by some provi ders on how much you can use your connection each month. Many ADSL and cable packages come with unlimited downloads, but even these will have conditional requirements which must be met. If you are going to be a light internet user then this should not be a problem, but for someone looking to download large files, play games online and stream high quality videos from the internet a limited data allowance could be more of a contentious point to think about. One final consideration that you might want to think about is what kind of equipment is included in a deal. Many offer wireless routers, but the capabilities of these can vary. Others offer online storage space to which you can backup your files, though you will need to think about your own requirements in order to make a decision that you are happy with in the long run.

back to main index | more articles in this category | add to/query this article?
use this link to subscribe ONLY to this category, otherwise use the other "subscribe" links

More about the  computing category

information on computers, electronics and all things gadgets and gadgety!

More about the author

nik is webmaster and site administrator

All Products Books Pop Music Classical Video DVD Toys/Games Baby Videogames Electronics Software Tools Outdoor Kitchen/House Camera/Photo Wireless

Pick up an obscenely cheap IPOD now from easypeasy.
It's the law!

Easy Guides
in web & email...
[effective email]