The world wide web has certainly changed the way how we live nowadays. We might not actually realize it, but many of us are shopping, socializing, studying, banking, playing and even working online. In order for us to perform all these things (and it is the norm that many of us need to do these things at the same time), we typically need a fast and reliable broadband connection.
What Does Broadband Mean?
Broadband is known as a high bandwidth connection to the Internet. It is quicker and easier to utilize than the conventional telephone and modem because information can be transmitted and downloaded much faster than ever before.
The word “broadband” is what people tend to describe fast Internet access. According to Wikipedia,
“Internet access is the means by which individual terminals, computers, mobile devices, and local area networks are connected to the global Internet. Internet access is usually sold by Internet Service Providers (ISPs) that use many different technologies offering a wide range of data rates to the end user. Consumer use first became popular through dial-up connections in the 1980s and 1990s. By the first decade of the 21st century many consumers had switched away from dial-up to dedicated connections, most Internet access products were being marketed using the term “broadband”, and broadband penetration was being treated as a key economic indicator.”
What are the Common Types of Broadband that are Available Today?
There are actually many types available worldwide, but below are the most common types of broadband connection:
1. DSL Broadband
- Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) is a technology which delivers broadband connections over conventional copper telephone lines that are already installed to offices and homes.
- DSL lets you to download web pages, graphics, text, video and music in real time.
- DSL broadband can be further categorized into two:
1. Asymmetric DSL (ADSL)
- With ADSL, the information is downloaded more quickly than it is uploaded.
- ADSL is typically the suitable option for homes and small businesses.
2. Symmetric DSL (SDSL)
- With SDSL, the downloading of information is about the same speed as its upload speed.
- SDSL is typically the suitable option for medium to large businesses that send huge volumes of information.
2. Cable Broadband
- This type of broadband connection is delivered to your computer by means of a cable.
- Cable companies are the ones that provide cable broadband Internet services.
3. Wireless Broadband
- This type of broadband connection is the suitable option if access to DSL or cable broadband is unavailable.
- Wireless broadband can be further categorized into two:
1. Fixed wireless broadband
- This type of broadband connection is delivered to your computer by means of radio signals instead of cables.
- This type of broadband connection is delivered to your computer by means of other technological devices such as portable modems, mobile phones, USB wireless modems, or other mobile devices.
Nice article man !! informative !! thanks for the share…. 🙂
but i have a difficulty in differentiating cable and DSL connections !! i use a ADSL that is connected with the computer via cable !! does the cable broadband connection have a modem !??
Irrespective of what type of broadband connection we use, the advantages are incomparable to the old technologies. I just hope that the quality of the services and the speed of the connections will increase continuously.
I never knew what’s what and why were they called the way they are called. Truth is broadband is not a huge issue anymore, averyone has a decent connection nowadays.
I’m really confuse on this different kind of broadband.. I’m using DSL Broadband and Wireless Broadband. The rest is what i really need to understand. But now, i guess i know what the other types of Broadband services. Have learn something today. 🙂
I have used both ADSL and Cable broadband before. Within ADSL, there is ADSL1 (upto 8MBPS) and ADSL2 (upto 24 MBPS). ADSL2 actual speeds will depend on the distance between your house and the telephone exchange & the network load. Inter speeds have tremendous increased in the last 10 years. Gone are those days when I used to wait for 40-50 seconds to get connect on a dial up modem. I sometimes miss that connection sound it makes while dialing. I guess that speed was 64kbps.
Speaking honestly I am always confused in these techy terms like adsl or dsl, all I know is I have a broadband connection and its really pathetic downloading speed in India as you need to pay very high for good connections.
Different types of broadband are available in the market, but the main key thing of broadband is the speed of faster connectivity of the internet. Many times, user have to be suffer for their work because of the slow internet speed.
Great information! It’s important for both companies and individuals to know the different types of broadband out there to suit their personal internet access needs. Thanks for sharing!