Types of Broadband Connections

Broadband includes several high-speed transmission technologies such as:

Digital Subscriber Line (DSL)
Cable Modem
Fiber
Wireless
Satellite
Broadband over o!er lines (BL)
"he broadband technolog# #ou choose !ill depend on a number o$ $actors% "hese ma# include !hether #ou
are located in an urban or rural area& ho! broadband 'nternet access is pac(aged !ith other services (such as
voice telephone and home entertainment)& price& and availabilit#%
Digital Subscriber Line (DSL)
DSL is a !ireline transmission technolog# that transmits data $aster over traditional copper telephone lines
alread# installed to homes and businesses% DSL-based broadband provides transmission speeds ranging $rom
several hundred )bps to millions o$ bits per second (Mbps)% "he availabilit# and speed o$ #our DSL service
ma# depend on the distance $rom #our home or business to the closest telephone compan# $acilit#%
The following are types of DSL transmission technologies:
*s#mmetrical Digital Subscriber Line (*DSL) + ,sed primaril# b# residential customers& such as 'nternet
sur$ers& !ho receive a lot o$ data but do not send much% *DSL t#picall# provides $aster speed in the
do!nstream direction than the upstream direction% *DSL allo!s $aster do!nstream data transmission over
the same line used to provide voice service& !ithout disrupting regular telephone calls on that line%
S#mmetrical Digital Subscriber Line (SDSL) + ,sed t#picall# b# businesses $or services such as video
con$erencing& !hich need signi$icant band!idth both upstream and do!nstream%
Faster $orms o$ DSL t#picall# available to businesses include:
-igh data rate Digital Subscriber Line (-DSL). and
/er# -igh data rate Digital Subscriber Line (/DSL)%
Cable Modem
Cable modem service enables cable operators to provide broadband using the same coa0ial cables that
deliver pictures and sound to #our "/ set%
Most cable modems are e0ternal devices that have t!o connections: one to the cable !all outlet& the other to
a computer% "he# provide transmission speeds o$ 1%2 Mbps or more%
Subscribers can access their cable modem service b# simpl# turning on their computers& !ithout dialing-up
an 'S% 3ou can still !atch cable "/ !hile using it% "ransmission speeds var# depending on the t#pe o$
cable modem& cable net!or(& and tra$$ic load% Speeds are comparable to DSL%
Fiber
Fiber optic technolog# converts electrical signals carr#ing data to light and sends the light through
transparent glass $ibers about the diameter o$ a human hair% Fiber transmits data at speeds $ar e0ceeding
current DSL or cable modem speeds& t#picall# b# tens or even hundreds o$ Mbps%
"he actual speed #ou e0perience !ill var# depending on a variet# o$ $actors& such as ho! close to #our
computer the service provider brings the $iber and ho! the service provider con$igures the service& including
the amount o$ band!idth used% "he same $iber providing #our broadband can also simultaneousl# deliver
voice (/o') and video services& including video-on-demand%
"elecommunications providers sometimes o$$er $iber broadband in limited areas and have announced plans
to e0pand their $iber net!or(s and o$$er bundled voice& 'nternet access& and video services%
/ariations o$ the technolog# run the $iber all the !a# to the customer4s home or business& to the curb
outside& or to a location some!here bet!een the provider4s $acilities and the customer%
ireless
Wireless broadband connects a home or business to the 'nternet using a radio lin( bet!een the customer4s
location and the service provider4s $acilit#% Wireless broadband can be mobile or $i0ed%
Wireless technologies using longer-range directional e5uipment provide broadband service in remote or
sparsel# populated areas !here DSL or cable modem service !ould be costl# to provide% Speeds are
generall# comparable to DSL and cable modem% *n e0ternal antenna is usuall# re5uired%
Wireless broadband 'nternet access services o$$ered over $i0ed net!or(s allo! consumers to access the
'nternet $rom a $i0ed point !hile stationar# and o$ten re5uire a direct line-o$-sight bet!een the !ireless
transmitter and receiver% "hese services have been o$$ered using both licensed spectrum and unlicensed
devices% For e0ample& thousands o$ small Wireless 'nternet Services roviders (W'Ss) provide such
!ireless broadband at speeds o$ around one Mbps using unlicensed devices& o$ten in rural areas not served
b# cable or !ireline broadband net!or(s%
Wireless Local *rea 6et!or(s (WL*6s) provide !ireless broadband access over shorter distances and are
o$ten used to e0tend the reach o$ a 7last-mile7 !ireline or $i0ed !ireless broadband connection !ithin a
home& building& or campus environment% Wi-Fi net!or(s use unlicensed devices and can be designed $or
private access !ithin a home or business& or be used $or public 'nternet access at 7hot spots7 such as
restaurants& co$$ee shops& hotels& airports& convention centers& and cit# par(s%
Mobile !ireless broadband services are also becoming available $rom mobile telephone service providers
and others% "hese services are generall# appropriate $or highl#-mobile customers and re5uire a special C
card !ith a built in antenna that plugs into a user4s laptop computer% 8enerall#& the# provide lo!er speeds&
in the range o$ several hundred )bps%
Satellite
9ust as satellites orbiting the earth provide necessar# lin(s $or telephone and television service& the# can also
provide lin(s $or broadband% Satellite broadband is another $orm o$ !ireless broadband& and is also use$ul
$or serving remote or sparsel# populated areas%
Do!nstream and upstream speeds $or satellite broadband depend on several $actors& including the provider
and service pac(age purchased& the consumer4s line o$ sight to the orbiting satellite& and the !eather%
"#picall# a consumer can e0pect to receive (do!nload) at a speed o$ about 2:: )bps and send (upload) at a
speed o$ about ;: )bps% "hese speeds ma# be slo!er than DSL and cable modem& but the# are about 1:
times $aster than the do!nload speed !ith dial-up 'nternet access% Service can be disrupted in e0treme
!eather conditions%
Broadband over o!erline (BL)
BL is the deliver# o$ broadband over the e0isting lo!- and medium-voltage electric po!er distribution
net!or(% BL speeds are comparable to DSL and cable modem speeds% BL can be provided to homes using
e0isting electrical connections and outlets% BL is an emerging technolog# that is available in ver# limited
areas% 't has signi$icant potential because po!er lines are installed virtuall# ever#!here& alleviating the need
to build ne! broadband $acilities $or ever# customer%