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A beginners guide to broadband
The word "broadband" generally
refers to a high speed connection to the internet. Your broadband
connection will be "always on" which means there is no need to
connect to the internet each time you need it. You pay a once per month
fee which covers all your usage, so you pay the same if you are online for
3 minutes per day or 30 minutes. The three main ways in which you can
receive broadband are through your telephone line (also known as ADSL), or
through a cable connection, or through a mobile internet dongle or
datacard.
Telephone broadband basicsReceiving your broadband through the telephone infrastructure is the most common method. It works by using filters which create two separate streams of information in your phone line, voice (telephone calls), and data (your access to the internet). Because broadband works in this way, it enables you to browse the internet and use the telephone at the same time, with no loss of quality from either.
Cable broadband basicsIf you wish to connect to the internet via cable, you will need to be in an area where this is available. Currently there are only 12.5 million homes which can access cable, this represents approximately a third of the total homes in the UK. If you do live in one of these areas then you can receive your broadband, telephone, and TV through this method, but you do not have to get all of the services.
Mobile broadband basicsMobile broadband is a relatively new concept, only going mainstream in 2008. Mobile broadband works by utilizing the 3G signal as used by mobile phone operators. In order to utilise the service you need to plug a dongle or data card into your Desktop or Laptop PC, this then allows your computer to communicate with the mobile network. Mobile broadband is great if you need broadband on the go as it can be used anywhere there is a 3G signal. It's a little more expensive than other forms of broadband so if you don't need access on the go, look elsewhere. If you need more in-depth information why not check out our Mobile Broadband Guide.
If you don't currently have broadband
If you currently do not have an internet
connection (or connect using dial-up) and are viewing this page from a
public library, internet cafe, or from a friend or relatives computer, and
cannot decide if you want broadband or dial-up internet, help is at hand.
Although we cannot make your mind up for you, we can explore the 'pros'
and 'cons' of both types of connection.
Compare different types of broadband
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