Broadband is a quick internet connection. It is an “always-on” type of connection and can transmit data at a much faster rate than your usual dialup connection. Broadband also has the added advantage of not tying up your phone line, which means you can use the both the Internet and telephone at the same time. Broadband can be provided from a variety of different sources – Such as in ADSL, Cable or ISDN.
The lowest speed of internet is normally at 56kbps – Through a dial-up modem. Mid-band Internet is dial-up internet access which uses 64kbps or 128kbps. Standard Broadband starts at a basic level of 512kbps, over 5 times faster than dial-up! Broadband is also available at 1mbps, 1.5mbps and 2.2mbps. Ocassionally, you’ll find companies that offer broadband at 4mbps or 8mbps. The maximum possible for cable is around 26mbps and 24mbps for ADSL.
You can download files and stream videos very quickly with a broadband connection. Websites are even being designed now that are specifically for Broadband users! They have intense integrated graphics, flash and video. Broadband is also popular for online gaming. Game consoles like Xbox and PS2 have broadband support included. You can then subscribe to different types of gaming packages from your current ISP, which makes it possible to play Xbox and PS2 games live with other gamers over the Internet. Online gaming has been going on since the internet was first developed, but it used to be quite difficult to do. Slow and jerky response from your computer made it hard to play, and you always had to keep an eye on the time. Because of the faster internet, it has become more popular. Some games are now being released that require an Internet connection to play.
Because of the huge increasing popularity of broadband, most providers have had to put excessive usage policies in place to stop too many music and video files being downloaded. This limit can vary greatly, from as low as 1 GB up to 30 GB. Extreme users can get unlimited downloads if they wish. However, exceeding your ISP’s download limit usually results in having a limited connection or no connection at all.
A very possible feature that people want is Internet Television. Unfortunately, the current bandwidth limits aren’t big enough to provide an image of a good quality (Like on your television). The ever- increasing broadband speeds will make Internet Television a reality. You can still download clips from shows and music videos, it will soon be possible to do all yourself, legally. Another use of broadband is online telephony. This is software that allows you to use your computer as a telephone and talk to people from anywhere without any extra cost. It is becoming commonplace, and has a higher quality or recording than a traditional telephone line. With the increase in the speeds of broadband, it may soon replace your television and telephone, and will find its way into every home. Because of the success of broadband, it’s making the internet a great resource to use.