Broadband beginners guide

How broadband works

Tuesday29 May, 2012

By Duncan Heaney

Broadband internet is a fast internet connection delivered through an ADSL line, fibre optic cables, a mobile signal or satellite.

Read on to learn about the different broadband delivery methods, and see a general explanation of how they work.

ADSL broadband

ADSL (asymmetric digital subscriber line) broadband uses your existing BT telephone line to deliver an internet connection. It uses the standard copper BT telephone wires that enter your house, and separates the line into two channels - one for voice and the other for broadband.

The ADSL signal is carried to the telephone exchange nearest your home, and then to your home. The strength of this signal degrades over distance and can encounter interference, so actual speeds are often considerably less than providers’ up to speeds.

ADSL is a proven technology, and although it’s slower than fibre optic cable broadband (see below), it’s also typically much cheaper. Providers typically offer top speeds of between 14Mb and 18Mb ADSL broadband, but actual speeds could be less depending on a number of factors, including where in the country you live.

We recommend using our postcode checker to compare broadband in your area and see what ADSL options are available to you.

Cable broadband

Fibre-optic cables enable providers like Virgin Media (www.Virginmedia.com) and BT (www.BT.com) to deliver broadband with extremely fast download speeds.

Cable broadband is, frankly, a massive improvement on ADSL broadband. It’s faster, and connections are more reliable. It works by sending information down clusters of glass fibres as pulses of light, which move incredibly quickly, and are resistant to interference. The result is a more stable internet connection and very fast internet speeds. Cable also allows more people to use a single broadband connection at the same time without experiencing a drop in speed.

Many providers now offer fibre optic broadband. The most experienced player is Virgin Media (www.Virginmedia.com), which offers broadband with speeds of up to 30, 60 or 100Mb.

BT Infinity is another popular option, offering speeds of up to 76Mb for most people, and even 100Mb in a few areas.

Other companies that offer fibre optic broadband include Plusnet (www.Plus.net), TalkTalk (www.Talktalk.co.uk) and ArticleLink id="187">Sky (www.Sky.com), and new options are being added as the UK’s cable infrastructure improves.

To see what cable broadband packages are available in your area, use our postcode checker.

Mobile broadband

Mobile broadband allows you to wirelessly connect to the internet via providers’ mobile phone networks. Currently, the UK uses 3G - the third generation of standards for mobile telecoms services - and this is set to be replaced in the next few years by 4G , which offers download speeds that are as good as fixed line broadband connection.

Most smartphones and some tablets and laptops will be able to take advantage of a mobile broadband connection with a sim or microsim. In some cases, you’ll need to get a >mobile dongle to connect to a 3G network.

Mobile broadband data plans often come with strict usage limits, typically 1GB or 2GB, and if you exceed these, you’ll have to pay extra.

The easiest way to see all the mobile broadband options available is to compare them.

Satellite broadband

Satellite broadband allows you to get online without a fixed line internet connection. Rather than travelling down cables, data is sent via satellite, and received by a special receiver dish installed in the home.

There are typically three costs involved in setting up satellite broadband. Firstly, you’ll need the equipment, which can usually be bought upfront for a hefty sum or rented for a lower monthly charge. Secondly, you’ll need to pay for installation. Thirdly, you’ll have your monthly package cost, which varies depending on your speed and download requirements.

All of which means that satellite broadband isn’t the cheapest way of getting online. However, for areas where the fixed line broadband infrastructure is lacking, or even non-existent, it does provide a way to get online with decent speeds.

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