Broadband

Broadband is the latest craze to hit the computing world, the must-have for all you internet travellers out there. But what exactly is broadband and how does it work? What are the benefits of getting a broadband connection?

Broadband refers to the width (broad) of the signal (band) that can be sent from one source to another. The wider the band width, the more material can be sent. Since a wider band means you can send more material, it is also faster than the older, narrower bands used in pre-broadband communications.

Now for the technical bit. A broadband channel divides the total capacity (or width) into smaller, separate channels. Each of these operates on its own frequency (band width), which means information can be transferred more efficiently and with greater speed. This wide range of frequencies means that data, music and video can be transmitted independently of each other, making transfers faster and more efficient.

Broadband typically refers to a type of internet connection, particularly any kind of connection with a download speed of more than 56 kilobytes per second (kbps). This is the usual speed at which most modems are designed to work.
Your connection speed is determined by the company that provides you with internet access, your Internet Service Provider (ISP). Most companies offer a broadband service and will supply you with special connectors and modem upgrades to attach to your existing equipment, often at no extra charge.

You might not notice the difference immediately if you were simply to go online in the usual way. But when you try to download information from the web, you will observe with broadband that pages open more quickly and files get downloaded and saved much faster than before.

If you’ve ever tried to download high-resolution photographs, music or videos, then you’ll know what I mean. In pre-broadband days you were likely to give up, frustrated with watching that hourglass spin slowly round in its boring, hypnotic fashion. Well, with broadband (and a decent computer) that should be a thing of the past.

The real benefit is that a broadband connection saves you time, and for some people, time is money. The ability to transfer large amounts of data at high speeds frees you up to do other things. Businesses and individuals alike can benefit from not having to sit around and wait for information, making your work or leisure time more productive and, hopefully, more enjoyable.