Broadband Features
There are three key features of broadband which are:
Faster Connection
A broadband Internet connection is much faster than a standard dial-up connection. A range of speeds are available, but as a rough guide a standard broadband connection can be twenty to forty times faster than dial-up. This gain in speed allows you to receive twenty times more data through a broadband link in a given time which helps your business in several different ways:
- Large files can be downloaded in seconds rather than the minutes and hours it takes with dial-up,
- Complicated or large documents, images and brochures can be emailed rather than mailed or faxed,
- Software upgrades and updates can be downloaded in moments, making it much easier to keep ahead of security threats.
The extra speed of the broadband connection introduces the potential for:
- Viewing high-quality movies, images and graphics,
- Holding online meetings,
- Using video and audio-conferencing,
- Introducing web-based security cameras,
- Loading web pages in an instant.
The above advantages can translate into significant benefits for your business.
Always On
With broadband, your computer is connected to the internet whenever it’s switched on. You never have to dial up. In this way, the internet becomes a utility comparable to electricity or water: it’s available when you need it and you don’t have to give it any thought beforehand. Just open your browser. Some people like to think of access to the internet as having an extra disk drive on your PC; only that disk drive is huge and has vast amounts of information on it.
This permanent connection is normally charged at a fixed monthly rate. This means that you don’t incur any additional costs however much use you make of the internet. Constant access to the internet enables a free flow of information to and from your organisation. Many new things then become possible:
- You receive emails as soon as they are sent so there’s no delay in receiving important messages.
- You can establish permanent connections to your other offices and maintain constant links to third-party services. If there are important changes, you are updated instantly.
- You can establish secure off-site servers, enabling your people to work remotely from home or when they are on the move. You can also back up your data securely off-site.
- You can implement a more cost-effective leasing model for your ICT needs, with management and support subcontracted to off-site specialists.
Finally, you can use your computer as a phone to make calls at low cost or even free of charge.
Shared Phone Line
Broadband, just like standard dial-up access, involves your computer connecting to the Internet via a modem. It’s the technology behind the scenes that changes.
One big difference is that you can make telephone calls at the same time as using the Internet. You will never again miss a call because you’re on the web. If you have an extra telephone line installed specifically for Internet use, you may no longer need it.
One practical benefit is that you can talk to a customer or supplier on the phone while you both look at the same web pages. This is particularly advantageous if your products and services are richly supported on your website, because you can then lead customers to any information they might require.
A broadband connection also supports more than one computer, so you can connect several machines to the Internet through the same line.