What is broadband?

In general terms

Broadband refers to high-speed data transmission, such as cable, ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network), and DSL (Digital Subscriber Line). Essentially, broadband technologies offer faster connections to the Internet than traditional dial-up connections.

Broadband is the UK's most popular form of internet connection used by millions of people across the country and globally. It refers to a signaling method which includes a wide range of frequencies which may be divided into channels.

Broadband is actually a relative term because it can only be understood in context - i.e. as opposed to narrowband (this is essentially 'dial up' to the layman).

The wider the broadband's bandwidth, the more information can be carried. In broadband-speak, a bandwidth of a few megabits per second can be handled by ADSL which is also a more technical way of describing broadband over telephone lines (the traditional copper type).

Broadband is often in the form of ADSL (along phone lines), though cable is also common.

What is ADSL Broadband?

ADSL is the most common, and widely available, method of receiving broadband in your home. Broadband comes from your local telephone exchange, owned by BT, through a fixed line access network made out of copper wires; these are the telephone lines which you see in the street.

You have a telephone line directly linked up to your house, through which you connect to the internet by using a modem attached to a telephone point indoors. At this point there is also a piece of equipment called a microfilter which separates out your telephone line from your broadband, this is how you can connect to the internet and make a phone call at the same time.

The information that you initially receive in your home is a series of digital signals which come through your modem and are decoded and recoded into usable information. Using this information your computer lets you view your favourite websites and check your e-mails.

Because broadband works on an always on basis the connection is never switched off, like it is with dial-up, you can access the internet any time.

What is Cable Broadband?

Cable broadband is a service provided by Virgin Mobile and it is currently only available in some urban areas. The internet data comes to you through an underground network of cables.

Unlike the copper wires of an ADSL connection, the cables are partially made of fibre-optic material. The reason why you can attain much faster broadband speeds on cable is that the material allows for far less signal degradation.

The other advantage of cable is that it also allows for the transmission of audio and visual signals which means you can get your landline and digital TV services from your cable broadband provider.

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