Types of Broadband

Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) is a technology that delivers broadband over your phone line to be used in the home or office.
With DSL technology, large volumes of information are sent over a copper cable at rapid speeds.
DSL allows you to download web pages, text, graphics, music and video in real time.

Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) is a technology similar to the DSL technology.
With ADSL, information is downloaded more rapidly than it is uploaded.
ADSL is particularly useful for homes and businesses as it can download web pages and files at fast speeds.
ADSL2 and ADSL2+ are new technologies offered by some providers offering speed up to 24Mbps. One provider offering this service is Be

Symmetric broadband (SDSL) is a technology similar to ADSL broadband.
SDSL broadband downloads information at the same speed as it uploads information. Whereas ADSL broadband downloads the information faster than it uploads it.
This type of broadband requires an extra telephone line.
SDSL broadband is particularly suitable for businesses that send large volumes of information.

Local Loop Unbundling (LLU) is where ADSL or SDSL broadband technologies are provided without using the British Telecom's exchange system.
This means that LLU providers can offer broadband features at a competitive price.
LLU is only available in certain parts of UK. Providers include Bulldog and Be.

There are several ways in which broadband can be delivered to your PC, this type of broadband is delivered through a cable.
Cable companies also offer television and telephone packages as well as broadband Internet services.
Cable companies provide broadband, television or phone packages to about 45% of homes and businesses in the UK.
You can only get cable broadband if a company has cabled your street.
Cable providers include ntl.

There are several ways in which broadband can be delivered to your PC,PC; this type of broadband is delivered through a satellite.
To receive satellite broadband you must have a dish antenna, and can be used almost everywhere in the UK.
There are 2 types of satellite services:
One-way satellite services download information via satellite and upload information via a telephone or IDSN line.
Two-way satellite services download and upload information via satellite. This provides an even higher bandwidth and a faster speed.
Satellite transmission may be affected by weather conditions.
The cost of installing and running satellite broadband can be quite expensive compared with other types of broadband.
Satellite broadband generally has quite high latency (ping times) compared to other broadband, and so is unsuitable for certain types of Internet Access such as online gaming.

Wireless broadband is one of the ways in which broadband can be delivered to your PC.
This type of broadband requires an antenna to be installed to get connection to the Internet.
Wireless broadband is particularly suitable for distributing information between buildings and for homes where access to ADSL or cable broadband is unavailable.

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