broadband explained - why broadband?
why is broadband better than dialup?
If you're new to broadband internet, you may wonder what "broadband" actually means: the term describes any "always on" high speed internet access service. The main type of broadband Internet access technology used in Australia in residential homes and in businesses is ADSL.
ADSL delivers a high speed Internet connection into your home over your existing phone line and requires an ADSL modem to get you online. An ADSL modem is not the same as the modem you might normally use to "dial" into the Internet.
There are many reasons why people are choosing broadband for their homes and businesses:
broadband is faster
The main reason people choose broadband over dialup is because the download speed of a broadband connection can range from 5 to 400 times FASTER than a dial-up connection (56kbps).
Standard broadband is based on a technology called ADSL1 and it allows speeds of up to 8000kbps. ADSL2+ is the technology that allows next generation broadband speeds up to a theoretical maximum of 24,000kbps - true "ultra-fast" broadband.
The faster your Internet speed, the quicker you can:
- view websites
- view and download photographs emailed from family and friends
- download your critical software and anti-virus updates
- download movie and MP3 music files
Fans of broadband talk about the freedom of calling a friend real-time to chat about the latest sports results or movie sessions. Because they no longer have to log off their dial-up connection to make the phone call, everything is more convenient and immediate. School assignments are easier too; kids can call their mates from school whilst continuing to navigate around a website - no more disconnecting and reconnecting to make the phone call in between.
All of these types of applications can take minutes (or even hours) on a dialup connection compared to seconds on a fast broadband Internet connection.
broadband is always-on
When your computer is on, you have instant Internet access 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. No more multiple dialup numbers to remember, and no annoying busy tones, ever.
free up the phone
With broadband, you can continue to surf the Net while still being able to make (or take) phone calls. You no longer have to log off your dial-up connection to make a phone call, everything is more convenient and immediate.
cut your phone bill
With a broadband connection and VoIP enabled ADSL modem, you can start cutting your phone bill by up to 50% with cost saving Voice over the Internet (VoIP) not to mention saving on dialup connection costs.
connect multiple computers
Share your broadband Internet across several computers throughout your home and use it all at once.
the future of entertainment
As well as VoIP, broadband is delivering a new breed of entertainment options including Internet TV and Video on Demand. The days of having to buy music from a CD store are already gone. Very soon the days of driving down to the video store to hire a DVD will be a distant memory. We're talking the entertainment you want, when you want it, access through your TV and a broadband connection.
So that's broadband. The next question is, why choose iiNet ?
