Broadband Internet Connection - Essay Example

Broadband Internet Connection al affiliation: Introduction Internet is an integral part of our life. Most internet providers are providing high speed internet connection as opposed to the slow speed dial-up internet connection. Improving from speed-up dial connection to broadband internet access is an investment worth taking. Broadband internet provides multiple advantages, over dial-up internet connection, which makes it a necessity in some situations (Vacca, 2001). High speed internet is reliable in the sense that; connection is constant so users need not to worry about losing the signal and having to log back on. High speed internet connectivity has greatly improved various areas (Huske, Protheroe, and Shellard, 2001). Consider the following rewards to investing in broadband internet: Page-load time is faster Waiting for pages to load is annoying. With broadband internet, pages load faster than average speed and require less page reloading. With high speed internet connection, people can browse the internet with many tabs open even with video and photos present on various pages. Uninterrupted streaming With broadband internet, one can stream media without interruptions. Streaming movies, music, and television shows is becoming increasingly popular and interruptions can be annoying especially when reloading a page requires more than just troubleshooting. Multiple Internet Users are supported Connections can be extremely slow if there is more than one person in a particular household using the internet at the same time. This is a major setback of the dial-up speeds internet connection. Broadband internet allows multiple users to access the internet at the same time that is; multiple users can access and utilize the internet concurrently without a hitch in connection (Vacca, 2001). Thesis Statement To keep up with the technology of the future, you need to catch up with the technology of the present. Internet connectivity is, and will be, a necessity and there are various methods of being connected so as to be able to access and utilize the internet. DSL (Digital Subscriber Lines) Digital Subscriber Lines/Loop refers to a family of digital telecommunications protocols that allow high speed data communication over the existing telephone lines between end-users and telephone companies. DSL service is an umbrella of a number of different technologies. The most commonly installed DSL technology is the Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ASDL). DSL uses higher frequency bands for data and this is the reason why the DSL service is delivered simultaneously with wired telephone service on the same telephone line. DSL requires a modem that is responsible for splitting transmissions into two frequency bands namely; the lower frequencies for ordinary telephone calls, and the upper band for digital data for connection to the internet. Depending on; line conditions, DSL technology, and service-level implementation, the bit rate of consumer DSL services ranges from 260kbit/s to over 95Mbit/s downstream (in the direction to the customer). The throughput of the communication, which can either be symmetric or asymmetric, ranges from 126kb/s to over 6Mb/s. The designation of asymmetric service arises from the fact that, the throughput in the upstream direction is lower. This means that, a large percentage of the bandwidth connection is devoted to downloading leaving a small-scale connection for uploading data. In Symmetric Digital Subscriber Line (SDSL), the upstream and downstream data rates are equal. Advantages of DSL services DSL users are guaranteed of security. Every user operates on a separate network and this ensures that intrusions and vulnerabilities are minimized. A user can have higher speeds of up to 1.5Mbps as compared to a regular cable modem which has speeds of up to 54kbps. DSL is always on, which means that, users do not have to connect and reconnect over time which is common with dial-up. Where the user needs high volume of incoming data as compared to outbound data, DSL is suitable over other internet alternatives since downloads are faster than uploads. Disadvantages of DSL services DSL is transmitted on traditional copper wires. This means that; it is incompatible with fiber optic cables. Uploads are slower than downloads. This is not the case with cable modems or wireless cellular capabilities. DSL may be impractical to use where the activity involves frequently uploading a high volume of files. DSL effectiveness depends on proximity. Efficacy depends on the distance of the DSL provider. This is unlike satellite connection whereby distance is not a limiting factor. There is no standardization of equipments from the DSL service providers. Each company comes with its own equipment which means that a new set of equipment is required if a user moves from one city to another. Effectiveness of connection depends on the traffic on the phone lines. Users may experience stalling when the lines are busy and this is unlike users who utilize cable modem connection. Cable Internet Connection Cable internet access is a form of broadband internet access that utilizes the cable television infrastructure. Cable internet connection is embedded in the cable television infrastructure to provide network edge connectivity from the internet service provider to an end user. High speed cable internet access requires a cable modem and a cable television head end at the client’s premises and at a cable operator facility respectively. Bit rates vary depending on the direction of data. The direction towards the user, downstream, bit rates can be 300Mbit/s and 100Mbit/s for business connections and for residential connections respectively. Directions originating from the user, upstream, bit rates ranges from 380kbit/s to more than 15Mbit/s. A downstream direction can handle hundreds of cable modems. Advantages of cable internet connection Cable internet system can operate where the distance between the modem and the termination system is up to 150 kilometers. This is unlike Digital Subscriber Lines whose efficacy relies on proximity to the service provider. Cable broadband performs much better as compared with DSL or wireless connection. Fiber optic cabling is immune to most types of eavesdropping unlike copper cable transmission media which is susceptible to eavesdropping through tapping. This is due to the fact that fiber optic cabling uses light instead of electrical signals. Light is immune to interference. This means that, it can be modulated at very high frequencies therefore much higher data rates are possible with fiber optic cabling as compared to DSL connectivity. It is relatively inexpensive and enjoys wide availability as compared to the other internet connectivity methods. Disadvantages of cable network connection A router is required where there is more than one user. This means that sharing the network can lead to congestion problems which is not the case with DSL services. Network cables can be difficult to maintain with time. The cables get pulled or stepped on which cause serious damage on them. This is unlike wireless, satellite, and even DSL internet connectivity methods. The cost of upgrading a cable network is relatively higher than wireless cellular capabilities since the equipment that connects to it is very expensive. Cable networks require sophisticated technical skills and general know-how to operate them. This means that it is not accessible to each and every internet user. This is unlike the wireless connection which is relatively easier to operate (Huske, Protheroe, and Shellard, 2001). Satellite Internet Connection This is an arrangement in which outgoing and incoming data is sent from, and arrive at, a computer through a satellite. It is a type of high-speed internet provided through satellites and not cables or telephone lines. The user’s hardware includes a satellite dish antenna fitted with a transceiver (transmitter and a receiver) that operates in a radio spectrum. Internet connection is asymmetric since the upstream data is sent at a slower speed than the downstream data. Uplink speeds range from 50 to 140kbps on a single computer. Depending on internet traffic and the size of downloaded files, downlink speeds range from 140kbps to 1200kbps (Palter, 2003). Advantages of satellite network For people in rural areas, satellite internet systems are the best option since DSL and cable modem connections are not available. The two-way satellite internet connection ensures an always-on connection which is far more beneficial as compared to the dial-up process. Satellite network is efficient in downloading of files due to its high speeds and less interference as compared to cable modems. Satellites transmit network signals directly to the user’s computer unlike with land-based systems where transmission can be interfered with. Disadvantages of satellite internet connection It is a liability due to hack attempts unless a firewall is used to protect the computer. This is unlike land-based systems. Compatibility of satellite networks on interactive applications is poor because of the long latency compared with purely land-based systems. Satellite links are prone to rain fade and solar interference (especially when the sun lines up with the satellite). Land-based systems are not prone to such constraints. It is relatively expensive as compared to cable modems. In order to receive satellite internet at home, a user will need a special satellite dish and service contract with a satellite internet provider unlike when using a cable modem where the user only requires a broadband modem (Palter, 2003). Wireless cellular capabilities Fixed wireless is a broadband that utilizes mounted antennas pointed at radio transmission towers. They support a network bandwidth ranging from 1 and 10Mbps. Users install transceiver equipment on their premises to communicate with the fixed wireless ground stations. Fixed wireless dishes and radios communicate only with ground stations. Wireless systems permit operations that are impossible to implement with the use of wires. Cellular networks have evolved to become a mainstream form of wireless internet service. By tethering a cell phone to a computer, internet can be accessed and maintained in any area with cell tower coverage. Advantages of wireless cellular internet connection Wireless networks are easy to access and does not require sophisticated skills to utilize it as compared to cable connection. It is way much cheaper as compared to other methods of internet connection which require sophisticated equipments which are costly to be fitted to a user’s premise. Mobile internet connectivity operates on the same signal as a cell phone’s network which means the services reach much farther than that of DSL connections in the home. Wireless technology provides room for the use of internet without the hustles of cable connected devices. Wireless cellular internet connection is not limited to one computer. This is unlike cable modems which operate under the one modem one computer principle. Disadvantages of wireless cellular internet connection This method requires ‘line of sight’ access between the user and the ground station. Obstructions hinder installation of the ground stations which is makes this internet connection method unfavorable as compared to the other methods. The cost of bandwidth per Mbps for users tends to be higher as compared with other forms of broadband. It is tied to one physical access point per subscriber unlike WiMax. This means that it does not support roaming. The speed of wireless modems depends primarily on the connection speed between the internet service provider and the modem unlike in the satellite internet connection where the speed depends on the specifications of the satellite service provider (Vacca, 2001). Conclusion While technology changes at a rapid pace, so do Internet connections. Internet users’ need for faster internet connections grow as technology grows. Internet’s high demand has led to the development of connectivity methods from dial-up methods to more sophisticated connectivity methods that are faster and reliable. This means that internet has become a necessity among users therefore the choice of the method of access is based upon the user. Users must be rational when deciding which connectivity method to choose and this means that they must weigh the options available in the market so as to achieve the best services. References Huske, L., Protheroe, N., & Shellard, E. (2001). The Internet connection: exploring the power of the web as a teaching tool. Arlington, Va.: Educational Research Service. Palter, D. C. (2003). Satellites and the Internet: challenges and solutions. Sonoma, CA: SatNews Publishers. Vacca, J. R. (2001). Wireless broadband networks handbook: 3G, LMDS & wireless Internet. New York: McGraw-Hill. Read More