What is Broadband?

Put simply, broadband is a blanket term for a range of technologies that allow access to the internet at much higher speeds than normal dial-up connections. While current 'narrowband' systems can typically carry information at a rate of 56kbps (kilobits per second), broadband often allows rates of 512kbps and can offer speeds many times faster.

The main types of broadband technology include ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) - a technology that allows normal telephone lines to carry more data - and cable modems, which allow you to connect to a higher-speed cable network in your area. Other alternatives include satellite technology and high-speed wireless networks.

For businesses, installing broadband offers much more than increasing the speed at which you can view websites. The nature of how information is sent over broadband networks means that you no longer have to go through the lengthy dial-up process to establish a connection each time you want to go online - it is 'always on.'

'Always-on' means that emails appear almost the instant they are sent and that access is charged on a rental rather than per-minute basis. You don't have to calculate the number and duration of your calls to the web when accounting for your telephone bills and you can use the phone and internet simultaneously. You can also have different PCs connecting to the web at the same time.

On a wider scope, broadband technology has been a hot topic for the past two or three years, but only recent developments (price reductions and increased roll-out across local telephone exchanges) have really made the technology widely available. Consumers are rapidly signing up to broadband access at home, while the Government is providing funding for public sector organisations to install high-speed access in public buildings such as schools.