About Wireless

Defining All Things Broadband

What is Broadband?

Broadband is high speed internet and can be up to 400 times faster than a dialup connection. Dialup uses the same frequencies on your phone line that your phone uses to make and receive calls. This is why you can't be on the phone and the net at the same time. But with broadband, you can surf the net or email, without disruption to your phone calls. That's because broadband uses a higher frequency range than your phone does.

On broadband you can open web pages or emails quickly (even those with large images). You can also stream videos and music in an instant, so you can check out YouTube clips or stream your favourite radio station without having to wait for ages. Broadband is always on, so there is also no need to dial in or log off as there's no extra charges for leaving it on 24/7.

There are different types of broadband internet technologies. It can come in the form of ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line), ISDN (Integrated Service Digital Network), Wireless mobile broadband (connecting via mobile towers) or Satellite Internet, to name a few.

What is the difference between ADSL and DSL?

In short, ADSL is a type of DSL.

DSL stands for Digital Subscriber Line and is the parent word to describe the technology that allows the transmission of data over the copper line originally installed in the ground to connect you to your local telephone exchange in order to transmit your phone calls. This data represents your connection to the internet.

ADSL describes a type of DSL and the 'A' stands for Asymmetric. The asymmetric puts more emphasis on the download (as this is where people need the fastest speeds), providing greater download speeds then upload speeds. Further enhancements to this technology have allowed download speeds to ramp up to 24Mbps, or 16 times faster than DSL which means your internet browsing is faster, your emails download and open quicker.

What is ADSL2+?

ADSL2+ is a technical term used to describe a form of high speed broadband internet. The technology behind ADSL2+ allows your internet connection to download up to 24 megabits per second (sometimes abbreviated as 24Mbps, or 24,000kbps). In English, this means that you can download up to 3 times faster than a normal ADSL connection, or over 400 times faster than dialup.

In Australia, this is one of the fastest ways of accessing the internet and is the fastest your internet can go using the standard copper wiring that connects your home to your local telephone exchange, which was traditionally used only for phone calls.

What is Naked DSL?

Naked DSL is super-fast broadband that lets you say goodbye to paying for a phone line. You'll save money by not paying monthly fixed phone line rental and you can still use your normal phone! Naked DSL includes a broadband phone service which includes all your local and national calls. The only difference is, instead of using your traditional landline to make phone calls, your phone will use your internet connection instead.

About the Author:

This article is on the topic of broadband internet and the definition of the various broadband technologies such as ADSL, DSL, ADSL2+, Naked DSL. Find out more about high-speed broadband internet connections and how you can surf the net quickly.