Basic Questions on Broadband
* What is broadband?
In general, broadband refers to a wide band of frequencies available to carry data. By using this wide band of frequencies more data can be transmitted in a given amount of time.
Actually, the term "broadband" is always relative. The more the bandwidth in a given connection, the more information can be carried between the communicating parties. In practice, however, the term applies to networks having bandwidths significantly greater than that found in telephony networks. Connections that are higher than the common standards and that can handle demanding applications like streaming video or multimedia are referred as "Broadband connections". Because of its vast data carriage capacity, broadband Internet allows a new set of possible applications online.
Due to technological limits, broadband connections were almost exlusive to special cables (cable internet, fiberoptics) or special usage of existing cables (DSL). However, with the recent innovations in wireless communication, this constraint does not exist anymore.
* what are the advantages of broadband?
Fast, always on line, cheaper than dial-up, enables bigger files to be downloaded (video, music)
* what are the techniques available?
The breakdown of broadband technologies in December 2005 is as follows:
o DSL: 62%
o Cable modem: 31%
o Other technologies (e.g. satellite, fiber and fixed wireless: 7%