Understanding Broadband
Generally the purpose of broadband is to get these fast services from the Internet to the desktop of a user. Look at this diagram that shows the three areas where broadband is an issue:
The Internet Backbone
This is usually a broadband zone, with speeds of between 100Mbps to 1000Mbps. We often refer to the connections on the Internet as being pipes. Pipe size or bandwidth on the Internet is continually growing. A 100Mbps pipe, can transfer just over 100 x 1000,000 bits per second Typically this is the equivalent of transferring 100 paperback books of 200 pages of text in one second.
The Local area network
If your business is wired for a computer network, it is usually wired with Category 5 cabling. Cat5 as it is known is capable of speeds around 100Mbps. Modern techniques of cabling, including the use of Fibre optic transfer, can increase the bandwidth to 1000Mbps. This means that your LAN is capable of similar speeds to the Internet Backbone. Consequently the only thing that prevents full on broadband transfer around the Internet is the speed from your premises to the Internet backbone.
The Internet connection
Connection from your network to the Internet is via your Internet Provider, who may offer you connection over Cable ( fibre optic) or over the BT copper wire circuits. Depending on a whole range of criteria you will be offered a connection speed which could be:
- 512 Kbps
- 1 Mbps
- 2 Mbps
- 6- 8 Mbps. Typically the fastest current Copper wire speeds
- or upto 20 Mbps. Typically the fastest Cable speeds
Generally, the higher the speed, the greater the cost.
