Broadband has become such an important part of many peoples lives. It is used by almost everyone for one reason or another. Some use it for business, others for shopping, or online gaming, to chat to friends and many other reasons.
So what ever your reasons for using broadband it is important to make sure you are the getting right package to suit your needs.
What is broadband?
Broadband is simply a quick and easy way to connect to internet from your laptop or home PC. Broadband always has a permanent connection to internet which is why it is known for its speed. With broadband you can still use your phone while you are sufing the internet.
The Office of National Statistics claim that over 95% of households in the UK now use broadband to connect to the internet.
What type of broadband services are available?
Broadband comes in many forms but the most common types are ADSL (Asymmetric digital subscriber line) and cable broadband.
ADSL broadband is typically delivered through your existing landline socket and will require a router in order to connect to the internet. Most internet providers will usually give you a free router when you sign up to there broadband.
Cable broadband is delivered through a fibre optic cable which is normally run through your TV aerial cable. Cable broadband itself is much faster than ADSL broadband although it is available in fewer areas because the underground cable networks are not developed as much as the the overhead phone lines.
Other types of broadband are satelite and wireless. Satelite broadband gets its connection from satelites in space which means you can connect to the internet almost anywhere as long as you have a clear view of the sky, where as wireless broadband recieves its connection from transmitters on top of buildings.
Who can get broadband?
Most broadband providers run through your phone line so having an active phone line is neccessary for most broadband providers. Virginmedia offer there fibre optic broadband which is currently the only provider who doesn't require you to have an active phone line so unless you go with virginmedia you will need an active phoneline. Some providers do offer phone line packages and will install it all for you.
Broadband Speeds
With so providers to choose from and with so many speeds to choose from it can sometime be a little confusing. So we'll explain what each speed has to offer and who it will suit.
2Mb Broadband
2Mb broadband is an ideal solution for general internet users who wish browse the internet with a decent speed but dont need to download very much content. 2Mb broadband is roughly 4 times faster than dial up. Downloading Music and movies will be pretty slow, so if you download regular you may want to choose a faster broadband like 8Mb - 10Mb. Overall 2Mb broadband is a good place to start if your new to broadband.
8Mb - 10Mb Broadband
This would be a good choice for those who like to download music and video clips regularly. Internet speeds are fairly fast and web pages should come up straight away. Average movie downloads are roughly 30 minutes.
16Mb Broadband
16Mb broadband is great for regular internet surfers who prefer to download music, movies and video clips relatively quickly. Overall 16Mb broadband is a very fast broadband service and is more than enough for most households.
20Mb-24Mb Broadband
This broadband service isn't available in all area's. Downloading movies, music and video clips are pretty fast with web pages loading almost instantly. Streaming videos from the likes of iplayer and other sources are in good quaility.
50Mb Broadband
This choice of broadband is more for seriosly heavy users and download speeds are increased incredibly. Downloads for movies, music and video clips are very fast.
50Mb broadband is very fast and will remain very fast even if you have several other family members downloading videos or music at the same time. You will be able to watch live stream HD quality movies or TV shows without any reduced quaility.
Virgin Media are the provider who offers this broadband service at the moment with there fibre optic broadband. Other providers may offer broadband of this speed in the future but at the moment this is only offered by Virgin Media.
How much does UK broadband cost?
UK broadband prices varies from provider to provider, and depending on what speed and download limits you require.
ADSL and cable broadband are the cheapest options on the market, you can find a basic package for less £10 per month. Faster broadband packages which offer better download limits cost on average around £20 per month.
Wireless broadband packages can range anywhere from £15 to £40 per month, the price varies depending on contract length, download limit and broadband speed. Some providers will also charge a set up fee this is normally anything upto £50.
Satelite broadband are the most expensive packages. Satelite broadband cost on average around £60 per month and set fees will cost roughly £1000.
What is WiFi?
Wi-Fi is a popular wireless network technology that allows you to connect to your broadband connection anywhere in your home. If you have a wireless router in your home you you can connect any Wi-Fi enabled computer or laptop to the internet wirelessly.
Wi-Fi is supported by many applications and devices including video game consoles, home networks, PDAs, mobile phones, major operating systems, and other types of consumer electronics. These can also connection to the internet via your wireless router.
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