Broadband evolution, types and features

The term broadband refers to a telecommunication bandwidth that is at least 256 Kbps. A single broadband communication channel is 6 MHz wide and the voice grade is greater than 20 KHz. Broadband uses a wide range of frequencies to seamlessly transmit and receive information between networks. Broadband offers more speed than a traditional dial up internet connection because data and information can be multiplexed and transmitted on different communication frequencies and channels.

Many years of ground breaking research, effort and patience contributed to the invention of broadband in the new millennium. Standards, technical specifications and protocols were put in place by international unions and major telecom companies throughout the world started offering broadband services at 256 Kbps to home consumers, institutions and business enterprises. In a short span of twelve years the broadband speeds have gone from a meager 256 Kbps to an incredible 10 Mbps. Broadband has tremendously enhanced the growth of the world wide web and consumer applications, scripts and enterprise software are becoming more available to the public.

There are five different types of broadband connections. They are DSL broadband, cable broadband, wireless broadband, satellite broadband and power line broadband. DSL is the abbreviation for Digital Subscriber Lines. DSL is a wired broadband technology that effortlessly relays and receives data and information over conventional telephone lines. Since everyone has a landline at home, DSL is easy to install and it can provide transmission speeds of up to 1 Mbps. Airtel provides DSL services. The speed of the DSL connection varies depending on the quality of the telephone line and the distance of the telecom company from your home.

There are four different types of DSL. They are ADSL, SDSL, HDSL and VDSL. ADSL stands for Asymmetrical Digital Subscribers Line. ADSL technology is developed primarily for the residential market and for people who download more information than upload. ADSL gives more speeds in the downlink and very low speeds for the uplink without affecting the regular voice calls in the telephone. SDSL is the acronym for Symmetrical Digital Subscribers Line. SDSL is used by corporates and business people for value added services like web conferencing that requires rich bandwidth. HDSL means High data rate Digital Subscribers Line. VDSL stands for Very high data rate Digital Subscribers Line. Both these technologies are used by corporates for special and advanced bandwidth requirements.

Cable modem is a broadband technology that enables television operators to provide internet connectivity using coaxial cables. You don’t need to dial up your internet service provider and this connection is always on. Hathway provides broadband using cable modem. Wireless broadband is based on the 4G technology that uses a radio link to connect the consumer to the internet service provider. They use long range directional devices to seamlessly transmit and receive information between routers. Tikona Digital Networks provides 4G wireless broadband services. Satellite broadband uses orbiting satellites to relay and receive information in sparsely populated cities. Power lines are recently used to provide broadband connectivity using the electric power distribution network. Broadband is an amazing telecommunications technology that has changed the internet landscape and promises a bright future for net enthusiasts.