Getting Started With Broadband

A broadband ISP, which will advise you on the hardware needed to run its service

The ISP will usually supply the modem (or antenna or dish) plus cables, and will charge a fee (about £25-200) for installing and setting up the connection. Several ISPs also offer a less expensive 'plug and play' DIY install ADSL product that the technically aware can install without assistance.

To pay monthly subscription or service fees averaging £20-30 per month for up to two networked PCs and £60-plus for a business or multi-user account of basic services (all including call and data costs). There may be extra costs for additional data capacity or for symmetric - services that allow fast uploading as well as downloading - or enhanced services.

There may also be additional charges for multiple email addresses and handling, domain name services and website hosting. Some ISPs offer the option of an ASP-model email service complete with back-up, virus scanning and protection.

Additional services such as email provision can be sourced from other suppliers.

Once your connection is set up you'll be able to use the browser of your choice to get online and to source other services like email. Your email programme will need to be configured to work with the service.

The costs you'll incur in setting up your broadband connection and in paying for ongoing services vary from provider to provider and will depend on the services you want to use and how often.

• Location
  Your geographical location may restrict the services available to you. Urban centres are generally well served by ADSL and cable, while fixed wireless and satellite services are becoming more widely available across the UK. However, you may not be able to receive broadband ADSL where you are. Some services, for example fixed wireless, can be made available if demand is high enough. (There have been several cases of local businesses and enterprises successfully grouping together to share a fixed wireless base station.)
   
• Business needs
  Your needs will also determine your choice. Will you use a modem or a router allowing network access? Do you wish to host a server? Set up a VPN? Videoconference? You will need to choose between NAT and routed IP configurations. For all these things, check with your local adviser or your ISP for advice. Do you download more information than you upload? Many standard broadband connections are asymmetric (they have more capacity available for downloading). Most data is asymmetrical in nature, and this 'bursty' type of connectivity is ideally suited to the asymmetric nature of most broadband services. However, several ISPs can offer a tailored service that meets individual needs depending on your business applications and how you use them.
   
• Web hosting
  If you have a choice of service, look carefully at what each ISP offers. Broadband is designed to boost speed and connectivity, but that doesn't mean that it is necessarily a good idea to host your own website using a broadband connection. Broadband packages aimed at SOHO or home users may not support a web server, nor be able to cope with the traffic. You'll need to specify your connection preferences if you wish to host a server yourself. A good ISP will offer reasonably priced web hosting that is enhanced by your broadband connection, allowing you to remotely update and monitor your web content.
   
• Remote access
  Once you have a broadband always-on connection to the internet, you can give remote internet users access to your networked computers and the information they hold. But if you want to make all or part of your office computer network accessible to home-workers, mobile staff or outworkers, branch offices, selected customers and suppliers or even to the public, you'll need to check that your ISP will support this. You may have to provide your own network security firewall. This page discusses this and other security issues too.
   
• Usage patterns
  For basic browsing and email, a modem connection will perform perfectly adequately as the processing requirement is 'bursty'. For applications that require constant activity, it is better to set up your service using a router, as relocating the processing task to a dedicated router allows the computer to get on with the important job of processing information.
   
• Large files
  Even though broadband is designed for sending and receiving large files, some ISP filters or internal network controls can block very large files, so be clear about the set-up that you are looking for and that your network and ISP can support it. ISDN connections remain useful if you frequently send large files to a specific business partner.
   
• Speed of service
  If it's instant communications that you need - email, for example - you may be able to get the same benefits more cheaply with a standard internet connection. Remember that email can be subject to delays at various points on the Internet, so it's not always instantaneous, even with broadband.
   
• All-in packages
  Many telcos and ISPs now offer phone, mobile and internet services. SMEs may find economies of scale in services and business applications from one supplier. Look out for extras such as the service agreements, range of email services on offer, available web space and domain name services.
   
• Switching Internet providers
  Most ISPs are now offering broadband at competitive prices, but if you can't find the service you need at the right price, you may need to switch. If you have registered your own domain name this isn't a problem, but if you haven't and your email address changes as a result, email forwarding should see you over the change-over period.

There is no UK-wide programme of funding specifically for companies wishing to buy broadband, but it may be worth contacting the Department of Trade and Industry (www.dti.gov.uk) or your Regional Development Agency for more information about any existing schemes under which relevant grants may be awarded.