What Is a Broadband Connection?

Broadband stands for "broad bandwidth." It is a connection that uses multiple data channels to increase bandwidth, which is the amount of data that can be transferred in a given time period. Broadband, high-bandwidth Internet connections are used to get faster downloads and uploads. Dial-up service, conversely, is a low-bandwidth, narrow-band connection.

Types

There are four types of broadband Internet connections: Digital Subscriber Line (DSL), Broadband Integrated Services Digital Network (B-ISDN), cable and satellite. Although broadband ISDN is capable of achieving high data transfer rates, it is a rarely used.

Features

DSL speeds can range between 128 kilobits per second (Kbps) and 6 Kbps. B-ISDN supports speeds up to 1.5 megabits per second (Mbps.) Cable reaches speeds as high as 30 Mbps. Satellite speeds can vary between 1 and 3 Mbps. However, the definition of what consititutes a true broadband connection varies. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) changed its definition of broadband in March of 2008. Connections with speeds between 200 and 768 Kbps are referred to as "first generation data." The first tier of broadband, with speeds between 768 Kbps and 1.5 Mbps, are now called "basic broadband." There are six additional tiers above the basic tier.

Function

DSL signals are sent along ordinary telephone lines. These signals are higher than the frequencies used in telephone conversations. When you install DSL, you place a filter on each telephone to screen out these noises. With DSL, you can use your telephone and your Internet connection at the same time. Cable transmits signals along TV coaxial cables. Each television signal is 6 megahertz (MHz) wide. Cable Internet download signals are sent in 6 MHz segment of the cable's bandwidth. Uploads occupy segments of 2 MHz. B-ISDN transfers data along channels of 64 Mbps. Many of these channels can be combined to reach higher bandwidths. Satellite cable uses a dish on your roof to send and receive signals from an orbiting satellite.

Benefits

DSL offers the most speed for the money. Cable, on the other hand, can reach speeds that DSL is incapable of. Satellite service is beneficial mainly for people who live in rural or remote areas where DSL and cable are not available. B-ISDN is useful for integrating voice, data and video transmissions.

Considerations

Satellite service is a broadband, high-bandwidth service with high latency. This means that there is a delay between the time you request data and the time it arrives. Satellite service is also relatively expensive. DSL and cable are low-latency services. However, both DSL and cable providers discovered that most of their bandwidth is used by a very small percentage of users. Therefore, these providers sometimes impose bandwidth caps and over-the-limit charges. B-ISDN has no real application for home use. The speeds it can realistically reach at this time are not much different than those of DSL, cable and satellite, yet the costs are higher. When deciding which broadband service, be sure to compare the speeds and prices offered by different providers. Also tailor the service to your needs. If you won't be downloading large files or large quantities of streaming audio and video, you probably don't need a cable connection. DSL will speed up your surfing and downloads for a price that better fits your budget.

Resources

• Broadband service providers