Where Next for Broadband?

By Anthony George

The broadband market has undergone nothing sort of a revolution in the past 3 years. From a service dedicated to only the most committed of internet users, to a mass market service that everyone home in the UK should really have. The rate of increase has been nothing short of phenomenal.

But this broadband growth has caused a deep flaw in the market. Broadband providers knew that it was going to be very difficult to attract customers once they have signed up with a rival provider. So providers have been at all out war with each other to attract broadband adaptors while they are up for grabs. The war is being fought on two fronts. A price front and a technological front.

The war being fought on the price front simply involved providers having to constantly under cut each other. From 25 per month, to 20 to 15. Then it was 9.99, which was an amazing price front. Now, the price that we all expect is free. Yes, providers are giving broadband away for free. Of course, this means that you have to sign up to a bundle with at least one other, non-free, product. But we all use those products anyway, so there is not any extra cost.

The technological front involved providers having to offer ever-increasing speeds to stay ahead of their competitors. When broadband first came out, it was at a speed of 512kb, which was ten times faster than we were used to on dialup. Now you can reach speeds of 24Mb, some 480 times faster than a dial up connection. This need for speed does not come for free. Providers have had to invest in their own network with the very latest in technological advances.

So to succeed in the broadband market, providers have had to spend millions in technology and drop the price down to zero. Broadband is now nothing more than a loss leader. A product that is used to attract customers to another product that that company offers. But those other products, mainly home phone and digital TV, are also highly competitive. The intense pressure on providers to survive has lead to consolidations with bigger providers swallowing up smaller ones.

But where is the future heading? Well, the simple answer is even more consolidation. But not only will the bigger providers swallow up the smaller ones. The bigger providers are the ones that face the most pressure, with high overheads and angry shareholders. Bigger providers will start to absorb each other. This trend has already begun with two of the broadband powerhouses, AOL and Tiscali, putting their UKs operations up for sale. Only the strongest of the strong will survive. This will lead to less competition and therefore less choice in the long run. But then how much choice do we actually need. The market is likely to become more like the mobile market, which only has 6 main networks. Competition is still rife amongst those 6, so as consumers, we will still be able to demand the world from broadband providers.

Tony George is editor of the UK broadband market.

Accelerated Dial-Up and Your Home Internet Business - Is it a Good Combination?

By Bob Davis

I have always been a firm believer that in order to run a successful Internet business, it is important that you use the fastest, most reliable Internet connection that is available to you and that you can reasonably afford. In this article, I'll be addressing the relatively new form of Internet connection called accelerated dial-up.

You've probably seen accelerated dial-up services advertised in television commercials and some of you may even be using it right now. Most Internet service providers advertise surf speeds up to 5x faster than standard dial-up. First of all, let's make it clear that accelerated dial-up is not a form of broadband or high speed Internet access.

Common industry perception tends to view any speed over 512 Kbps as broadband when in actuality, the FCC defines broadband as anything over 200 Kbps while the ITU (International Telecommunication Union) classifies it as anything upwards of the 150 Kbps to 200 Kbps range. To put these speeds in perspective, a standard V.90 dial-up modem will allow you to browse the web at a maximum speed of 56 Kbps, dependent on both the hardware your ISP provides, and the quality of your phone line.

Accelerated dial-up still uses your normal phone line and still transfers data at the same rate as standard dial-up. There are three primary reasons that your surfing experience is 'accelerated' and there is nothing magical about any of them:

* Web page caching
* Data compression
* Improved network communication

With web page caching, your ISP essentially 'predicts' the pages that you will visit by caching or storing your frequently visited pages on its network. Since these cached pages are already downloaded, the appearance is that you are actually surfing at faster speeds. Your ISP is making use of what is called a 'cached network'.

Web accelerators use a compression algorithm to compress certain text and images before the data is transferred. The accelerator software that you install on your PC can uncompress the text data but images cannot be uncompressed. This is because the only way to compress an image is to reduce its quality by using a 'lossy' compression algorithm and once this takes place, there is no way to undo the process. Basically, your ISP uses a type of image optimizer on their end before transferring the data to you.

The accelerator software also manages the connection between your modem and the ISP network so that it stays optimized. In most cases, this simply means that your connections remain persistent rather than being closed and then re-established.

So, what benefits are provided to your Internet business by using an accelerated dial-up connection? Put simply -- None.

While accelerated dial-up is wonderful for web browsing and web-based email retrieval, typically to the tune of another $3.00 to $6.00 per month, file transfer times, streaming media transfer times and secure page download times remain identical to what you experience with standard dial-up. In the world of Internet business, faster surfing speeds do not compensate for faster data transfer rates.

For most online businesses, file transfer and email retrieval are the two primary tasks that benefit from a high speed Internet connection. Accelerated dial-up does not provide a speed boost in either of these areas.

Accelerated dial-up plans often tout faster email access on the web in addition to the faster surf speeds. It's the 'on the web' that you need to be aware of. This means that web-based email services like Yahoo or Hotmail will appear to be faster, but your local email applications such as Outlook, Netscape or Eudora will serve up your email as slow as ever.

When it comes to running your Internet business, don't skimp on your Internet connection. Strive to get the fastest, most reliable high speed Internet connection that is available in your area. If you can't immediately afford the 'speed you need', then upgrade once you get some online profits rolling in. Don't settle for any type of dial-up unless you absolutely have no other choice.

Bob Davis is a professional database consultant, web designer, graphic artist, and Internet marketer. If you'd like some solid tips on starting your own legitimate internet business, then visit his free 'Home Internet Business Guide for Beginners' at http://www.internetbusiness-home.com.

ADSL vs. 3G vs. iBurst vs. myWireless

By Bronwen Elisabeth Roberts

The upside and downside of broadband Internet in South Africa

Always-on internet is all the rage as smaller firms seek a comprehensive broadband connection.

There is an escalating demand for ADSL, with service providers reporting figures of 100% to 200% growth over the past six months. When the price of ADSL was high the market take-up was slow, but as soon as Telkom reduced the cost, demand escalated.

A lot of this demand is coming from small businesses that have been using a dial-up connection and are realising it is now more viable to use an always-on broadband internet connection.

Where a small business used to pay 11800 a month for 512 kilobits per second (kbps) ADSL line, it now costs about R318 a month.

If a business is spending 30 minutes a day connected to the internet on a dial-up line it will cost about R342, and this could justify an ADSL line.

Small businesses that are using a 64kbps leased line connection at 112 000 a month are now saying they would be better off paying a quarter of the price for ADSL even if it means having a less consistent quality of service.

However, it is hard to satisfy demand and with Telkom there is a four to six-month lag in service delivery.

Having been sold on the benefits of ADSL customers want it now and are asking whether they should go for another type of broadband service such as 3G/HSDPA, iBurst or myWireless instead.

HSDPA is providing good response times and router devices are available that will allow a small business to connect multiple laptop and PC users to the service and share the bandwidth in the same way they would with ADSL.

A bundled 3GIHSDPA router and data card as an alternative to ADSL is available. A number of different mobile data packages are also available with 3G and HSDPA - ranging from R350 to R5 000 a month, depending on how many megabytes of data download capacity is required.

The advantage of 3GIHS-DPA is that the service will switch to EDGE or GPRS if the user moves out of the coverage area, whereas with the iBurst and My-Wireless wireless service there is no alternative.

Dual-mode cellular/WiFi phones are available that allow calls to be routed to users over the wireless local area network (LAN) when they are in the office or over the mobile data network when they are traveling, using the same device. This is a lot cheaper than making conventional cellular voice calls, charged for by the minute, because data is charged per megabyte of capacity. This will save companies a lot of money because statistics show that 50% of cellular calls are made in the office environment.

A company should have an internet protocol-capable PBX to take advantage of this new capability. Then, if an employee has a wireless access point at home, VoIP calls can be routed to him on his dual mode phone from his office.

Stand apart with on demand and always on. International and cellular least cost routing ensures you cheap business calls.

Evaluating Bandwidth Choices-OC3 vs OC12 vs OC48

By Michael Lemm

Looking for bandwidth? That can be a daunting and frustrating task even in the best of situations. There's lots to consider in order to make the right decision for your needs. Below you'll find some help when evaluating OC3 vs OC12 vs OC48. Factors covered include Technology, Speed, Description, Application, Pros, Cons, and Cost.

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Technology: OC3

Speed: 155.52 Mbps

Description: Optical carrier (fiber) connected by equipment capable of speeds up to 155.52 Mbps.

Application: Large enterprise or ISP backbone.

Pros: Extremely high speed and throughput.

Cons: Extremely high cost.

Costs: Expect cost of an OC3 to start at around a $10-30,000 for a stable, reliable system (e.g. from a Tier 1 provider).....not including local loop or extensive setup. However....the pricing for these connections can vary widely depending on the carrier, location of service and the application for which the connection is being used. For example...Tier 1 providers may cost more than local/regional Tier 2 and Tier 3 providers but are much more stable and reliable. A Tier 1 provider should always be the provider of choice for any business serious about the quality of their OCx network.

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Technology: OC12

Speed: 622.08 Mbps

Description: Optical carrier (fiber) connected by equipment capable of speeds up to 622.08 Mbps.

Application: Large enterprise or ISP backbone.

Pros: Extremely high speed and throughput.

Cons: Extremely high cost.

Costs: Expect cost of an OC12 to start at around $1-300,000+ for a stable, reliable system (e.g. from a Tier 1 provider)..... plus several hundred thousand dollars in setup costs. However....the pricing for these connections can vary widely depending on the carrier, location of service and the application for which the connection is being used. A Tier 1 provider should always be the provider of choice for any business serious about the quality of their OCx network.

~~~~~~~~~~

Technology: OC48

Speed: 2.488 Gbps (Gigabytes per second)

Description: Optical carrier (multiple strands of fiber) connected by equipment capable of speeds up to 2.488 Mbps.

Application: Large enterprise or ISP backbone.

Pros: Extremely high speed and throughput.

Cons: Extremely high cost.

Costs: Expect cost of an OC48 to start at around $3-500,000 for a stable, reliable system (e.g. from a Tier 1 provider)..... plus several hundred thousand dollars in setup costs. However....the pricing for these connections can vary widely depending on the carrier, location of service and the application for which the connection is being used. A Tier 1 provider should always be the provider of choice for any business serious about the quality of their OCx network.

Michael is the owner of FreedomFire Communications....including Broadband Nation where you're always welcome to drop in and catch up on the latest BroadBand news, tips, insights, and ramblings for the masses.

Broadband Gives You Access To The Internet, Phone and TV

By Keith George

Do you remember using the Internet back when you had to dial in using a modem. If you are unlucky enough to still be using dial-up Internet access, I feel for you. The internet is a growing and dynamic entity and everyone will have broadband sooner or later.

Naturally companies try to offer access to internet in growing number of ways. Assuming the user has the correct hardware, a wi-fi account, and is in range of the transmitters, the service allows the user to connect to the internet at broadband speeds without the use of cables. Users can log on to the internet at these hotspots provided they have an account with the broadband supplier and the necessary wireless equipment, such as a wireless laptop or broadband-enabled mobile phone.

An extra phone is the only way to get calls that cannot be received due to the dial up connection. Fixed line operators are now incorporating wireless with their traditional phone services providing ease of having one device and one bill for both mobile and fixed line calls. You can take it out of your phone bill.

Broadband phone actually uses voice over internet protocol (VoIP) to carry phone calls through the internet. There are also a number of companies that has VoIP as a free service.

Digital Subscriber Lines, or DSL uses the existing customer phone lines to provide internet or intranet access to businesses and homes using high-speed broadband technology of varying levels. 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. It's easy to understand why; the technology industry defines it in different ways as well.

Just be sure you do not choose an ISDN line (because it is getting obsolete) or power line (because the technology is not mature, and it will be some years before the bugs are ironed out). The cheapest broadband deals allow for such technology to reach our homes for less than $10 per month.

Ok, on to the two major broadband access methods, cable and DSL. There is cable access, DSL access, satellite access. Although cable broadband internet is a whole lot faster than dial-up, I usually experience a slight delay when opening a webpage.

Perhaps most people do not notice the latency associated with cable internet, but it got my attention right away. So are cable television modems, which have similar speeds. Approximately 4 million people in the UK use ADSL with an extra 2 million using a cable connection, meaning 6 million people in the UK have an always-on internet connection.

The fact is that anything less than the speed supplied by a broadband cable has become inadequate for todays internet users.

Providers

However it has emerged that broadband providers touting such products are not revealing the full story to their customers. The key will be for broadband providers to develop the services that broadband allows for, and to deliver them to as many households as possible. High-speed Internet services are growing in popularity because intense competition from broadband providers is continually driving the product exposure in the marketplace to new highs, and prices to new lows.

Connecting to the Internet for the first time in your home or office is as easy as securing a fixed telephone line (which you probably already have) and signing up to one of the dozens of Broadband Providers, like AOL and others.

Satellite

Bummer indeed, but you still have broadband Direct PC by satellite and it seems to make it through those clouds and so you can surf the NOAA website and get the latest results or watch video streams of the local TV station right. Broadband Internet by Satellite is about the coolest invention in the World and indeed it has helped the unconnected become connected even if they live in the middle of nowhere. Did you know you can get a special satellite antenna hooked up on your motor home or recreational vehicle that will enable you to get the Internet anywhere in North America.

Television

So they are bundling broadband with other products, such as home phone, digital television and mobile. The acronym is used to describe services which broadcast on-demand television programming to consumers, delivered via a broadband connection on normal telephone line to TV screens. Broadband television is a means of providing TV programs via the Internet.

Broadband Television is being hailed as the biggest change in the way we watch television since it was first invented.

Keith George always writes about valuable news & reviews. A related resource is Economy

The Future of Online Marketing

By Rodney Brooks

The definition of insanity is continuing to do the same thing over and over, and expecting different results - Albert Einstein

Lets face it. The methods by which consumers are absorbing information and the ways we perceive, retain and engage with brands and brand messages have changed enormously.

Magazines, radio broadcasters and television networks, are losing advertising to the Web. With television networks, the growing problem is that digital television is bringing on the rise of video-on-demand, video downloads, interactive game networks, Internet TV and other consumer and revenue stealing enterprises. Radio broadcasters are losing listeners, talent and revenues to iPod playlists and satellite upstarts.

Because enough consumers spend a lot of time accessing information and entertainment through digital media cable TV, mobile phones, video games and the Internet the overall pattern of media use has shifted.

Which means that these can be wonderful times for Internet Marketers who recognize the trends and are capable of change.

Using different media to create more meaning to, and develop deeper connections with your customer, should be one of the things at the top of your marketing checklist.

One sure method of developing a deeper connection with your customer is to simply add video to your website. People will be more open to your offers if they can see and hear you. You are able to convey a deeper sense of emotion in your messages by the use of facial expressions and in your tone of voice, thereby deepening the connection between you and your audience.

Another quick and easy method is to add a podcast or online radio broadcast to your Website that will be of interest to your target market. There are hundreds of sites online with free information, videos, training and tutorials on podcasting and adding audio and video to your Website, with more and more coming online everyday.

There now also seems to be a new Prime Time - 9am 5pm. Why? Simply because more people have access to computers during those hours. A recent survey conducted by Internet Retailer Magazine (www.internetretailer.com), indicated that more and more people are using their lunch breaks to shop online.

Mobile devices such as cell phones and iPods will create additional means of reaching customers outside of their homes.

Adults and children alike are broadcasting podcasts, playlists, online periodicals, even original music recordings and films, and according to Strategy+Business Magazine, over 8 million Americans maintain their own blogs. The social networking Web site MySpace, on which men, women and children post about themselves and their interests, has more than 50 million registered users and was adding 4 million new users a month at the end of last year. The shopping site eBay has 79 million registered users. And YouTube, a site launched in February 2005 for member-uploaded video clips, already streams more video than Google or Yahoo.

With so many people now connecting to the media in so many different ways, the possibilities and opportunities for todays advertisers are endless. What we are now witnessing, is The Most Significant transformation of the marketing profession in more than 50 years.

By embracing and utilizing the many different advertising channels afforded us by this new digital media, and injecting into this mold our own individual savvy and creativity, todays Internet Marketer can continue to be successful well into the next millennia.

Rodney Brooks is President / CEO of Brooks Global eBusiness Solutions Take look at the most amazing suite of video products never before seen on the Internet or anywhere else! Company is launching in June 2006 Go to: http://brooksglobal.blogspot.com

What is Broadband?

By Neil Shevlin

Defining broadband can get complicated

There are many different takes on how to actually define the word: broadband. The first and most obvious way to define it is a transmission medium that allows for multiple pathways and types of data, far exceeding simple voice communication devices. Simply, put it is the ability to access a variety of data through one connection at a reasonable speed.

Where a phone line severely limits the amount of information it can transmit, a broadband line, which has bandwidth greater than 2 mbps, unlike a standard dial-up connection which will only have 56kbps, can allow for a variety of different frequencies and channels to travel down its wide pathway. This makes it optimal for those who play video games on the Internet or are involved in heavy graphics work that they need to import, send and receive along the information superhighway.

The minimum width of a broadband line has become a matter of debate. While initially, the broadband definition was a line that was greater than 2 mbps in width, other experts began asserting that it should be at least 3 mbps wide. Still others complain that at least 20 would be appropriate. But now, broadband services start as low as 1 mbps, for those who are trying out broadband for the first time. So who really knows what the minimum level of bandwidth is needed in order for it to be called broadband? One thing is certain though. DSL service which an range from 256 kbps capacity on the downstream and upstream side up to 1.5mbps, or even higher, is considered a broadband service as well. So are cable television modems, which have similar speeds. So, in reality anything with greater capacity than a narrow line, like a telephone line, which can only hold up to 64 kbps, is technically considered a broadband service.

Broadband services have become all the craze in the past few years. When the Internet started to become more mainstream in the 1990s people were content with simple dial-up Internet services, which used only narrow lines. But as the need for speed became important, especially as files and Web pages became more elaborate, requiring more computer storage space and memory, the need for larger bulks of information being able to be sent and received at a quicker pace became essential. Hence, we have the broadband revolution. Today, hardly anyone uses narrow band service, or dial-up. Broadband Internet access is the name of the game. And if you work in an office it is absolutely essential, as larger chunks of information are frequently sent to and from businesses on a regular basis. Simply put, if you dont have broadband today, you are probably a person who does not need the Internet for a living. With the number of telecommuting jobs available today, the need for broadband serv ices is only likely to expand greatly.

About The Author:

Neil Shevlin is the owner of UK Cheap Broadband which is a great place to find broadband links, resources and articles.

For more information go to: UK Cheap Broadband

http://www.ukcheapbroadband Copyright 2005

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