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Consumers understand that when there is more competition in a market, there are lower prices. This is especially true in the computer industry where it is reported that 68% of households have a computer. According to the Computer Industry Almanac, the worldwide number of Internet users will exceed 1 billion this year with the United States leading with over 185 million users. The number of users will continue to increase as well as competitors, forcing companies to offer faster connections at a cheaper price. Two technologies that will lend a hand in allowing new players into the Broadband market are BPL and WIMAX.

Broadband Over Power Lines, BPL

BPL is a technology that allows Internet data to be transmitted over utility power lines and is also referred to as Power-line Communications or PLC. The technology works by modulating high-frequency radio waves with the digital signals from the Internet. These radio waves are fed into the utility grid at specific points, then travel along the wires and pass through the utility transformers into homes and businesses.
One main concern by officials in the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA), is that BPL will interfere with radio systems including fire, police, short-wave and land mobile. There are other groups who are taking the initiative in realizing this potential including the IEEE which has begun to develop IEEE P1675, “Standard for Broadband over Power Line Hardware.”

This technology has gained national attention with reports by the Wall Street Journal that industry powerhouses Google and Goldman Sachs have invested nearly $100 million into Current Communications Group, a company that provides high-speed Internet access over electrical power lines. According to Reuters, CCG will use the financing to deploy voice, video and data services in domestic and global markets. IBM is also currently researching the use of electrical power lines to provide internet access by opening a BPL center in Houston with CenterPoint Energy although IBM has declined to put a dollar value on the amount invested.

Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access, WIMAX

WiMAX, also known as IEEE 802.16, is a standards-based wireless technology that provides broadband connections over long distances and is intended for wireless “metropolitan area networks”. It can be used for wireless networking in much the same way WiFi is used today while also allowing for more efficient bandwidth use and interference avoidance. WiMAX has a broadband wireless access range of 30 miles compared to only 100 - 300 feet for a WiFi wireless local area network.

WiMAX can be used for a number of applications, including “last mile” broadband connections, hotspots, and high-speed connectivity for businesses. Alvarion, a global organization headquartered in Israel that supplies integrated Broadband Wireless Access (BWA) solutions, has announced it will supply satellite provider DirecTV Group Inc. with equipment that uses WIMAX technology in order to enhance customer upstream bandwidth requirements. By implementing “last mile” broadband connections, DirecTV would then be able to supply faster connections to rural areas where it would cost millions to lay down the cable lines necessary for high speed. Another application under consideration is gaming. Microsoft is looking to make WiMax a standard feature in its Xbox 360. This would allow gamers with similar equipment to interact with other players without any internet access. All the funcionality of WiFi with improved range and reduced network latency makes WiMAX a very attractive alternative.

James Junior is a freelance writer and web programmer for http://www.jccorner.com

Tags: BPL, broadband, gaming, internet, internet connection, wifi, WIMAX, wirelessBPL, broadband, gaming, internet, internet connection, wifi, WIMAX, wireless

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The Internet is the vogue of the day and the wave of the future. So much has been seen and heard about the Internet. It has revolutionized almost every part of our existence, from the way we think to how we buy and sell things. But even with all the technology that has gone into the making of the Internet, there seems to be more to be expected than has been seen.

The Internet is like a cyber library. It is a huge international network of computers with tons and tons of information. The means of accessing the information contained in the Internet varies. The earliest Internet access was the Dial up method.

The Dial-up Internet connection involves an Internet access over a public switch telephone network. With the dial-up connection, users in a neighborhood share the available bandwidth provided by single cable line. The connection speed usually varies depending on how many people are using the service at any particular time.

More advancement in technology gave birth to the Broadband Internet connection option. Broadband is a high-speed transmission. It is used to refer to Internet access, which uses cable modems or DSL (Digital Subscriber Line). Broadband DSL connections are faster and more effective compared to dial-up connections.

The Broadband technology can support a wide range of frequencies. Broadband in general refers to data transmission where multiple pieces of data are sent simultaneously to increase the effective rate of transmission.

The medium through which the broadband technology is based has the ability to transmit multiple pieces of data simultaneously and to carry signals from different network carriers. This is done through fiber-optic cables. The fiber-optic cables are made of thin glass strands and have the capacity of transmitting trillions of bits per second.

The broadband, therefore makes access to the internet faster and more efficient. Because of the high-speed transmission, retrieving information from the internet has become really fast and efficient.

The speed of data transmission over the DSL is measured in Megabytes per second (Mbps). With broadband connection, the threshold frequency varies from one provider to the other. It ranges from 1.5Mbps or as high as 45Mbps with some providers. Although the broadband Internet access option costs more than the conventional Dial-up connection, you will enjoy what you are paying for. The speed and efficiency of connection is something you won’t want to miss. Besides this, most cable companies operating broadband connections would normally allow you the luxury of being online 24/7 and on the phone for a flat monthly rate. You can always plan your budget to accommodate the few extra bucks for this luxury.

The other part of the story is how do you choose a reputable operator out of the multitude out there. When it comes to this, there are several things to consider and compare before making your choice. Of course, you will need to compare prices, that comes up first, but do not forget other factors like, speed of connection, abilities and credibility of the operator, additional features that comes with your purchase and the ease of use of their service. There are Internet companies that will offer additional features like Spam blockers, virus scan and even firewalls. All these should be considered before you make a purchase. Whatever you choice remember that you are spending your hard earned bucks, you deserve the best service, take your time to get the best and enjoy the new era of internet connection via the broadband technology.

Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Broadband

Tags: broadband, internet connectionbroadband, internet connection

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Of primary concern to all internet users is their actual connection to the internet.

A user needs to look at all the factors and weigh the benefits and costs

1. Reliability - is the connection available 24/7, or do you get a busy signal?

2. Speed - at what speeds can a user upload and download files?

3. Costs - what are the setup and monthly costs for the internet connection service?

4. Support - is support available 24/7 and is it free or is there a cost associated with it?

5. Availability - is the desired service available at your location?

Available options with good and bad features include:

Local dial up with phone company (local isp) - While this many times is the simplest, often times, they are the most costly and support can be an issue. Speeds are typically the slowest at 26k to 56k connection speeds.

Software file compression- If you only have 26k dialup isp connections available to you or you want to speed up your DSL connections, this is an important option you should take a look at. With this type of software you can increase your internet connection speeds by as much as five times for very little money. Popular software products that accomplish this are ActiveSpeed, PropelAccelerator, Dr. Speed, and SuperSpeeder, Highly recommended solution to increasing your browsing experience.

Local dial up with national firm - This is by far the most popular with companies like AOL, People PC, Juno, EarthLink, and Netzero providing this service to millions of users. These certainly are the most cost effective and provide excellent 24/7 support. With the high speed upgrade options you can approach 112 k speeds. If the company has a local or toll free number available in your area, then this alternative provides the lowest cost isp internet connection.

Cable connection - If cable TV is available in your area, many firms also provide an internet connection for an additional fee. Requires special cable modem. Speeds are anywhere from 512k to 10Mps.

DSL or digital service line - Many local phone companies are providing this service to selected areas. Requires installation of DSL modem on your computer and speeds typically are from 512k to 9Mps. The distance from the local hub also affects your speed. You will pay 2 to 3 times the costs of basic dial up.

Broadband - Is a term loosely thrown around that is applied to a DSL, cable, wireless, or satellite internet connections. Technically broadband is a minimum of 1.5Mbs but is used to market products with bandwidth as low as 512k. When you hear the term broadband used, think like “health food”, an undefined marketing catch word.

Wireless internet connection - This option is available in limited area’s and requires a wireless modem on your computer. Speeds typically are 2Mbps and this is a flexible approach as you do not need to be hardwired or plugged in. Available in many metro area’s.

Satellite internet connection - This is the perfect solution for remote area’s if you require a high speed internet connection. Upload and download speeds are different and in some cases you can only download via satellite and are required to upload via dial up. This is the most expensive alternative, but you can get service basically anywhere in the world. Speeds starting at 500k are available. Contact Directway for dependable and fast satellite internet connections.

About The Author

Ray LaFoy has been providing professional web and software development services since 1999. Living in Montana, he has made a career of excelling in marketing.

http://BroadBandQuick.com

http://www.ExpertHelpNow.com

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Tags: bandwidth, broadband, Cable, dsl, internet, internet connection, internet provider, ISP, modemsbandwidth, broadband, Cable, dsl, internet, internet connection, internet provider, ISP, modems

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