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In this article:
- What is Broadband?
- Broadband Technology
What is Broadband?
“Broadband” or “Broadband Internet Access” is a type of Internet connection which features a high rate of data-transmission. Broadband Internet typically has speeds of 256 kilobits per second (kbps) and more. This speed is at least 4 times more than the usual modem or dial up connections over a phone line. Today, broadband internet access is growing rapidly around the world since 2000 and in the US alone, the usage rate was 6% in June 2000 to more than 30% in 2003.
The problem with broadband connections all over the world is that the speed that is claimed to be offered by the Internet Service Providers is not what the customer actually experiences. This is so because there is not a minimum standard rate or speed for an Internet connection to be called a broadband one. Thus, ISPs make claims where they brand their slower connections as being broadband. Also, a huge number of customers are allowed to share the same backbone connection of an ISP putting an overload on it since the connection is not made for handling such large amount of traffic.
As the market for broadband connections increases in reach, it is being seen as a good method to deliver services that have high bandwidth requirements such as streaming video and audio. However, the day when one would be able to see ‘smooth’ video over an Internet connection is still far as most of these services require a connection with at least 2 Mbits/s speed.
Broadband Technology
There are various ways that broadband Internet access is delivered. The most popular of these approaches are DSL and cable modems. Newer avatars include VDSL and Optical Fiber connections. Recently, Wi-Fi networks have also entered the scenario for broadband access.
Apart from DSL and cable modem broadband, some new types of technologies are in development or beginning phases. These are explained below:
- Satellite internet
Satellite internet, as the name suggests, makes use of satellite placed in geostationary orbit to transmit data from an ISP to a customer. At the moment, this is the most expensive type of broadband technology which is major disadvantage. However, it is a good way to provide Internet access to rural areas where other means of connections are next to impossible.
Presently, most satellite internet providers use a Fair Access Policy (FAP). According to this, as soon as a customer a certain limit of data transfer (called the ‘invisible wall’ which is around 200MB per day), the connection speed is reduced to that of a dial-up connections. Hence, applications that require high bandwidth at all times such as P2P networks may not be able to complete their transfers or take too long to do so.
- Remote DSL
Remote DSL is a methodology to provide broadband Internet access to rural areas. Under this, all DSL hardware is put inside a weatherproof enclosure. However, costs to install such equipments are very high since the company also needs to install long fiber optic cable lines and this the reason most companies back off out of this.
- DSL repeater
This is used to solve the problem of distance of DSL connections. DSL repeaters are placed at an interval of 3 kms each. This helps the DSL signals to travel long distances without being lost midway.
- Wireless ISP
Wireless broadband access makes use of the 802.11 Wi-Fi radio systems and link the remote locations together. In rural areas, equipment is made by hobbyists who put them up on tall tress, towers etc.
- T-1/DS-1
T-1 broadband access is very good for a customer in rural areas. However, what makes it ‘inaccessible’ are the high costs for setting it up as well as the monthly charges since they depend on distance of the customer from the ISP.
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