Broadband internet facilitates the transmission and reception (or ‘uploading’ and ‘downloading’) of large amounts of online digital data, including emails, photographs and video clips, in a comparatively short space of time.

Broadband internet is accessible on a range of hardware, from home computers through to 3G mobile phones, laptops, and even some games consoles. Such broadband accessible devices are known as ‘receivers’.

There are two main types of broadband.

‘Fixed-line’ broadband relies on a telephone landline to send and receive data and is most often used with home computers. Access to the landline can be wire free provided a wireless router is installed.

‘Mobile broadband’ on the other hand enables the user to access broadband signals anywhere in the country wherever there is suitable mobile phone coverage. Whilst 3G mobile phones will have such access built in, other receivers such as a laptop will require a small device, known as a ‘dongle’ or ‘stick’ to be connected to their USB port.

In order to gain access to a broadband network, users will also need to choose a broadband provider. You should compare broadband providers using these two main criterias : download or upload speeds; and, for those opting to pay a single monthly contract fee (rather than accessing broadband on a ‘pay as you go’ basis), any restrictions on total monthly broadband usage (known as ‘broadband allowance’).

Broadband speeds are measured in megabits per second (or Mbps or Mb); the larger the number of Mb, the faster the download or upload speed. Broadband allowance on the other hand is measured in gigabytes, (or GBs or GB), with a higher GB permitting more online internet activity each month.

It should be remembered that certain downloads such as video clips will use far more broadband allowance than, say, emails; and that even so-called ‘unlimited’ broadband allowances will simply mean that the maximum permissible monthly usage is relatively high.

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