What is Exactly is Broadband?
These days, "broadband" is a word that is thrown around easily
in telecommunications and internet lingo, but the average
consumer may not have a clear understanding of how broadband is
defined. It's easy to understand why; the technology industry
defines it in different ways as well.
So how is broadband defined? The online Webster's dictionary
defines broadband as "A class of communication channel capable
of supporting a wide range of frequencies, typically from audio
up to video frequencies. A broadband channel can carry multiple
signals by dividing the total capacity into multiple,
independent bandwidth channels, where each channel operates only
on a specific range of frequencies." Let's take a look at each
part of the definition.
The first part of understanding broadband defined in
straightforward terms is to think about the phrase a "class of
communication channel."
So, we can gather that it is different from the normal class of
communication channel that we use - our regular phone lines.
Phone lines, also called baseband lines, normally carry 29.6kbps
of analog data when used for voice communications. But with the
advent of the internet, people began to demand faster data
transmission. A regular, baseband phone line can carry up to
56kbps of data with the help of a high-speed modem, but without
additional technology, that is its maximum capacity.
That wasn't nearly fast enough to keep up with the average
person's demand for and dependency on the internet. Which brings
us to the next portion of broadband defined; a broadband
connection is capable of carrying a wider range and type of
frequencies, meaning different types of data. Not only that, it
can carry it faster.
If you imagine your connection to the internet as a tunnel that
links your computer to the
internet, a regular phone line can
allow only a small amount of data to pass through at a time. In
comparison, a broadband is a wider (or broader) tunnel, allowing
a greater amount of information to pass through your connection
at one time. With broadband service, you can download different
types of frequencies as well, such as audio and video files.
The FCC's (Federal Communications Commission) has broadband
defined in their publications as any internet connection with a
download speed that is greater than 200 kbps. However, some
companies don't consider a connection to be broadband unless it
runs at a minimum of 256kbps.
Also, many companies only consider a connection to officially be
broadband if it is always connected. In other words, if you
don't have to "dial-up" to make the connection.
Usually, the connection is made with either DSL technology,
which runs over your existing analog telephone wire, or by a
cable connection, which runs over the same coaxial cable that
your cable television service does. So broadband defined, while
somewhat debated by industry professionals, does include some
agreed-upon points.
It allows you to use the internet to its potential by permitting
you to download a wider range of data types. And because the
download speed with a broadband connection is faster than a
regular, baseband connection, it is also called high-speed
internet service. So you'll also be able to use the internet
faster and more efficiently.
About The Author
Van Theodorou will help you slash your telecom expenses over 43%
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