What is Broadband?
Broadband (which stands for broad bandwidth) is high-speed Internet connection. Provided via a telephone company, Internet service provider or cable company, broadband is “always on,” allowing users to quickly connect to the Internet and experience less of a delay when transmitting sizeable content.
Let’s Geek Out
Faster than traditional dial-up access, broadband Internet service transmits a communication bandwidth of at least 256 kilobits per second. Types of broadband Internet connection include: Digital Subscriber Line (DSL); cable; fiber-optic; wireless; satellite; and broadband over power lines (BPL). Both DSL and cable Internet are high-bandwidth connections. Many DSL connections can be considered broadband connections, but not all broadband connections are necessarily DSL connections.
Wireless Internet access through mobile devices is referred to as mobile broadband. These Internet-enabled mobile devices can range from a smartphone or a mobile phone, to a tablet or portable modem. Wireless broadband technology works in a similar way, providing high-speed and wireless Internet connection access over multiple areas.
What’s the Big Deal?
Remember dial-up connectivity where you had to hang up the phone in order to get online? The advent of broadband has diminished some of the delays and frustrations associated with the old-school technology, but for many, the connection is still very slow.
Most simply, good broadband connection means there’s more capacity to send and receive data more quickly to and from your computer. Consider all you use your computer for, from accessing the Internet, and downloading files, to streaming content and sending emails. Broadband lets you do all this much faster, eliminating load times and lag. Having access to fast broadband allows individuals and families to use opportunities that aren’t otherwise possible.