Broadband

Broadband in telecommunication refers to a signaling method that includes or handles a relatively wide range of frequencies, which may be divided into channels or frequency bins. The wider the bandwidth, the greater the information-carrying capacity. Bandwidth is the capability of carrying amount of data at a time. Although various minimum speeds have been used in definitions of broadband, ranging up from 64 kbit/s up to 1.0 Mbit/s, the 2006 OECD report is typical in counting only download speeds equal to or faster than 256 kbit/s as broadband, and the US FCC currently defines broadband as anything above 768 kbit/s.

Broadband transmission rates

Connection						Transmission Speed
DS-1 (Tier 1)						1.54 Mbit/s
E-1						2.04 Mbit/s
DS-3 (Tier 3)						44.73 Mbit/s
OC-3						155.52 Mbit/s
OC-12						622.08 Mbit/s
OC-48						2.48 Gbit/s
OC-192						9.95 Gbit/s
OC-768						39.81 Gbit/s
OC-1536						79.60 Gbit/s
OC-3072						159.20 Gbit/s

Satellite Internet

This employs a satellite in geostationary orbit to relay data from the satellite company to each customer. Satellite Internet is usually among the most expensive ways of gaining broadband Internet access, but in rural areas it may only compete with cellular broadband. However, costs have been coming down in recent years to the point that it is becoming more competitive with other high-speed options.Satellite Internet also has a high latency problem caused by the signal

having to travel 35,000 km (22,000 miles) out into space to the satellite and back to Earth again. The signal delay can be as much as 500 ms to 900 ms, which makes this service unsuitable for applications requiring real-time user input such as certain multiplayer Internet games and first person shooter played over the connection. Despite this, it is still possible for many games to be played, but the scope is limited to realtime stategy or turnbased games.






Advantages

• True global broadband Internet access availability
• Mobile connection to the Internet

Disadvantages

• High latency compared to other broadband services, especially 2-way satellite service
• Unreliable: drop-outs are common during travel, inclement weather, and during sunspot activity
• The narrow-beam highly directional antenna must be accurately pointed to the satellite orbiting overhead
• The Fair Access Policy limits heavy usage, if applied by the service provider
• One-way satellite service requires the use of a modem or other data uplink connection
• Satellite Dishes are very large. Although most of them employ plastic to reduce weight, they are typically between 80 and 120 cm (30 to 48 inches) in diameter.

Cellular broadband

Cellular phone towers are very widespread, and as cellular networks move to third generation (3G) networks they can support fast data; using technologies such as EVDO, HSDPA and UMTS.

These can give broadband access to the Internet, with a cell phone, with Cardbus, Expresscard, orUSB cellular modems, or with cellular broadband routers, which allow more than one computer to be connected to the Internet using one cellular connection.

Advantages

• The only broadband connection available on many cell phones
  
  
• Mobile wireless connection to the Internet
• Available in all metropolitian areas, most large cities, and along major highways.
• No need to aim an antenna in most cases
• The antenna is extremely small compared to a satellite dish
• Low latency compared to satellite internet
• Higher availability than WiFi
• A traveler who already has cellular broadband will not need to pay different WiFi Hot Spot providers for access.

Disadvantages

• Unreliable: drop-outs are common during travel and during inclement weather
• Not a truly nationwide service
• Speed can vary widely throughout the day, sometimes falling well below the 400 kbit/s target during peak times.
• High latency compared to DSL and Cable broadband services.
• Often more costly compared to other methods