| With such a range of broadband providers currently | | | | technology. As fibre technology is expensive to |
| available to us - all of whom vying to secure our | | | | manufacture and operate, cost could be seen as being |
| services with promises of fast connections for low | | | | the biggest problem with the idea of broadband by |
| prices. But with possibilities of fibre technology being | | | | fibre technology, with estimates for implementation |
| discussed both in media and in parliament, what kind of | | | | across the UK at up to £15 billion. |
| services can we expect from providers in the future? | | | | VDSL (Very High Speed Digital Subscriber Line) |
| The majority of our broadband is streamed down | | | | VDSL utilises both copper and fibre technology in the |
| copper wires - known as DSL - with the majority of | | | | circuit, with the connection between the exchange and |
| cheap broadband providers operating their own | | | | the street cabinet using fibre optics in a process |
| equipment out of BT telephone exchanges using a | | | | known as FTTC (or Fibre to the Cabinet) with the |
| technique known as Local Loop Unbundling (LLU) | | | | main connection from the cabinet deployed using |
| But what other broadband technology options could be | | | | copper wiring. |
| available to us in future? | | | | VDSL is capable of supporting a number of services |
| Cable | | | | over a single connection - including HDTV and VoIP |
| Cable broadband technology is made up of three | | | | technologies, as well a broadband connection. |
| parts: | | | | However, like current ADSL lines, connection speed is |
| - Modem at end user - connected to the customer's | | | | still distance dependent - with those closest to the |
| PC | | | | exchange likely to get the fastest speeds. |
| - TV network - which the signal flows through | | | | ADSL2+ |
| - Router at end user - which transfers the signal from | | | | ADSL2+ is an extension of current ADSL lines, |
| the network to the connection at the end user | | | | allowing for data rates to be doubled allowing for a |
| Unlike ADSL, connection by cable is not affected by | | | | faster broadband connection. The technology is closely |
| distance from the exchange. The connection uses a | | | | linked to BT work on their core network; however the |
| mixture of copper and fibre technology and the | | | | performance of such a service is dependent on |
| system is always operational, giving end users the | | | | distance and the age of internal wiring systems in older |
| opportunity to receive the same speeds. | | | | houses. |
| Fibre optic line | | | | Wimax (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave |
| Fibre line technology - as the name suggests - utilises | | | | Access) |
| cables which contain tiny fibres in order to transmit | | | | A wireless technology that utilises antenna in order to |
| digital information in the form of light signals. Unlike | | | | send and receive signals linking broadband providers to |
| electrical signals - which are prone to signal | | | | the customer. This technology is used as the dominant |
| interference from other nearby cables - light signals | | | | infrastructure for broadband access in developing |
| utilised in fibre optics can be sent at a higher frequency | | | | countries and remote areas, however landscape such |
| than the voltage down a copper line. Fibre lines are | | | | as forests and mountains can also have an effect |
| also unaffected by outside elements - so are not | | | | upon the signal. |
| subject to the noise issues that plague copper wire | | | | |