Broadband is a high-speed internet connection that enables you to surf the internet at the fastest speeds. It is becoming a popular internet connection choice in homes as it is incredibly quick and enables us to make the most of the internet. The commonly used internet mediums are optical fiber and copper phone lines. When speaking in technical terms, broadband is a wide bandwidth data transmission that has all sorts of signals and traffic transported at the highest speeds at the click of a mouse.

The internet was only accessible through dial-up connections before internet broadbands came around. Dial-up is very slow by today’s standards and is generally an unpopular option when choosing internet services for the home.

How does broadband work?

An Internet Service Provider, or ISP, supplies broadband internet services. They supply the service, the router and arrange for the socket to be installed if required. There are various types of broadband to choose from, including ADSL, cable, and fiber broadband.

1. ADSL Broadband: This is stands for Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line. It is one of the most popular connections used, and the service is provided using existing phone lines. ADSL works mainly through a fixed-line access network, known as the telephone lines we see on the street. These telephone lines are made up of copper wire, and they exchange a series of digital messages which give you the information you receive on your devices. ADSL is not the fastest out there, as it is not as fast as fiber. However, it is a reliable choice of broadband as the speed you get depends on your distance from the telephone exchange. So the closer you are to it, the faster the connection you get.
2. Cable Broadband: This type of internet broadband uses the same infrastructure as cable television, mostly fiber optic cables. It is quite unlike an ADSL connection which only utilizes copper wires. Fiber optic cables make the connection more secure, giving you a more reliable and less chance of distortion than ADSL. Cable is not strictly the same as fiber optic, however. The cable connection is carried in coaxial cables for the last mile between your local telephone exchange and your home. The coaxial cable carries data faster than regular phone lines, making it an option with greater speed.
3. Fibre Broadband: If you enjoy regularly streaming music and movies, fiber broadband is a great choice. There are two types of connection: FTTC (also known as Fibre To The Cabinet) and FTTP (also known as Fibre To The Premises). These two types are ultra-fast and reliable.
4. Mobile Broadband: This internet service does not require a fixed-line and typically uses mobile phone networks to transmit broadband via an ISP.

Getting a reliable source of internet broadbands is never an easy choice. Always make sure to consider your choice carefully before picking one.