Do you remember the days of dial-up internet? Looking back, it’s like we were living in the stone age. Today, more and more people are enjoying access to broadband internet.
In telecommunications, broadband means a household or business can access a wide bandwidth.
Bandwidth is the size of the medium used to transmit data. The larger the medium, the more data you can transfer in a given unit of time.
Please keep reading to learn why broadband is essential and how to access it.
Dial-Up vs. Broadband
We live in an interconnected, fast-paced world that wouldn’t be able to function at total capacity if it was at the mercy of dial-up internet.
Broadband internet transmits data “bits” (text, images, and sound) faster than dial-up internet. The transmission speeds of broadband and dial-up are represented by the following:
- Broadband – typically measured in Mbps (megabits per second).
- Dial-up – measured in Kbps (kilobits per second).
To put things into perspective, 1 Mb (megabit) equals 1,000 Kb (kilobit), or one million bits. Dial-up was only ever able to run at a maximum of 56 Kbps.
Broadband & High-Speed Internet
High-speed internet refers to internet service faster than the average, allowing one to connect multiple devices simultaneously to stream and access modern applications.
Broadband and high-speed internet can be interchangeable as long as the high-speed internet transmission speed is equal to or higher than the transmission speeds that define basic broadband services.
For internet transmission speeds to be considered basic broadband, they must meet the broadband minimum transmission speeds set by The Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
The FCC & Basic Broadband
In 2015, the FCC updated the broadband minimum transmission speed to:
- 25 Mbps downstream (downloading data)
- 3 Mbps upstream (uploading data)
However, in a press release from July 15, 2022, FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel proposed increasing the national minimum to:
- 100 Mbps downstream
- 20 Mbps upstream
The proposed increase references the Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act (IIJA).
Signed into law by President Joe Biden in 2021, the act defines underserved broadband as internet speeds less than 100/20 Mbps.
The push for higher broadband internet standards was discussed in a White House press release that stated, “Broadband internet is necessary for Americans to do their jobs, to participate equally in school learning, healthcare, and to stay connected.”
Rosenworcel also proposed a separate long-term national goal of increasing minimum broadband speeds to:
- 1 Gbps (gigabits per second) downstream
- 500 Mbps upstream
While the FCC has yet to make any changes to minimum broadband speeds, it is something that service providers and telecommunication companies should be on the lookout for.
Broadband in the U.S.
According to the FCC 2021 Fixed Broadband Deployment Report (Form 477):
- 17 million Americans don’t have high-speed internet at 25/3 Mbps.
- 20.9% of tribal and 17.2% of rural lands don’t have high-speed internet at 25/3 Mbps.
- 95.6% of American households have access to 25/3 Mbps high-speed internet. However, only 68.9% of those households subscribe to a service at that level or above.
To see where internet services are provided across the nation, use the interactive FCC National Broadband Map.
Types of Broadband Technologies
Various high-speed transmission technologies allow users to access broadband internet.
These types of broadband technologies include:
Digital Subscriber Line (DSL)
DSL uses existing copper wires from telephone lines in homes or businesses to transmit data. DSL broadband transmission speeds range from several hundred Kbps to millions of Mbps.
There are two types of DSLs:
- Asymmetrical subscriber line (ADSL)
An ADSL is for users who receive a lot of data but do not send much data because it has faster data downloading speeds and slower data uploading speeds.
It’s used in home residences where occupants use the internet to surf the web, watch movies, and play video games.
- Symmetrical subscriber line (SDSL)
An SDSL provides the same high transmission speeds for downloading and uploading data.
Many businesses use an SDSL because their internet needs are much more significant than residential residences, and they need to be able to receive and send considerable amounts of data for different tasks (e.g., videoconferencing).
Faster DSL services available to businesses include:
- High data rate digital subscriber line (HDSL)
- Very high data rate digital subscriber line (VDSL)
Cable Modem
Cable modems are external devices that work through coaxial cables, the same cables that deliver pictures and sound to your TV set. Cable operators can provide broadband services through coaxial cables.
Cable modems usually have two connection points:
- The cable wall outlet
- A computer
Those utilizing cable modem services can use their computer and watch TV simultaneously.
Transmission speeds vary on the type of cable network and cable modem, as well as traffic. However, this service typically provides data transmission speeds of 1.5 Mbps or more.
Fiber
Fiber optic technology converts electrical signals to light. These electrical signals carry data. The light is sent through transparent glass fibers.
The data transmission speeds are much faster than DSL and cable modems by tens to hundreds of Mbps.
The same glass fibers providing broadband service can also deliver voice (VoIP) and video services, like video-on-demand, making fiber broadband another optimum choice for businesses.
Currently, telecommunication providers can sometimes only offer fiber broadband in limited areas. However, they have announced plans to expand their fiber networks.
Wireless
Wireless broadband can be mobile or fixed and connects the user (homes or businesses) to the Internet via radio signals between the user’s location and the service provider’s facility.
Wireless broadband can provide long-range transmissions to rural areas where DSL, cable modem, and fiber would be more expensive. Yet, the transmission speeds are comparable to DSL or cable modem broadband.
Satellite
A form of wireless broadband, satellites in the Earth’s orbit are crucial to providing broadband to remote areas worldwide. Transmission speeds can vary depending on many factors. However, speeds are generally around 500/80 Kbps.
Broadband Over Powerlines (BPL)
This one is pretty self-explanatory. BPL transmits data through existing powerlines, which can be set up with a building’s existing electrical system. Because BPL uses power lines, it reduces the need to build new costly broadband infrastructure.
BPL offers similar speeds to DSL and cable modem broadband, but it is a relatively new technology and is available only in select locations.
Receive Exceptional Broadband Internet with CC3 Solutions
At CC3 Solutions, we offer a range of dedicated broadband internet from symmetrical speeds and service level agreements (SLA) to various other solutions perfect for HTML browsing and non-critical traffic.
We also realize that network design is not one size fits all. That’s why we provide flexible network configurations that allow you to maximize your network budget.
You can purchase your business’s bandwidth today, knowing the service can be easily upgraded to higher speeds, from megabits to gigabits.
Our goal is to keep your business connected and functioning at total capacity. All the while sparing you the hassle of dealing with the time-consuming labor of directly dealing with your carrier or device manufacturer.
If you need easily implemented and reliable telecommunication services, contact us today!