Broadband can be accessed by a range of different methods involving phone, fibre or cable TV networks, and without wires via wireless or satellite services.
PHONE LINES
The line is divided into two separate channels - one for Internet data and one for normal voice calls. A special modem is supplied so that the phone can still be used as normal even while you're online. If a special wireless modem, called a router, is used then access to broadband is available to PCs with a wireless card in other rooms.
Special equipment has to be installed at the telephone exchange to enable phone lines to be divided. If your local exchange is not yet enabled you will not be able to use broadband through your phone line. The quality of the service is also dependent on distance from the exchange and on the quality of the wiring. Unfortunately, because of these limitations, not everyone can avail of broadband via phone line.
ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) is the technical term for broadband over phone lines. Data travels from the Internet to your PC (the downstream/download direction) at a different speed (usually faster) than it does from your PC to the Internet (upstream/upload). The download speed is usually quoted since that's what's important to most of us. The speeds are usually shown together as 1M/256K - showing the asymmetric download/upload speeds.
FIXED WIRELESS
High-speed Internet access can also be delivered without wires. A wireless modem inside the building or a small antenna outside picks up the signal - the choice depends on where you are located relative to the transmission site and what obstacles might be in the way. A phone line is not required.
Wireless broadband is growing in popularity, as are public "hotspot" locations from which you can access broadband on a wireless-equipped laptop in public areas such as cafes, airports, etc.
CABLE NETWORKS
Broadband can also be delivered through cable TV networks. A separate cable socket is installed and is connected to a PC through a special cable modem. To use the connection from other rooms, an internal wireless modem can be used.
TV viewing is not interrupted while the Internet is being used and neither service interferes with the other. A phone line is not required.
Because of the capacity of the wiring used, faster data transmission speeds can be provided on cable networks than are currently available on phone lines.
SATELLITE
Satellite broadband is useful in remote locations which are beyond the reach of other delivery methods or where the costs of providing infrastructural equipment are prohibitive. Download data transmission speeds are usually faster than upload speeds and there can be a time delay (lag) associated with uploads which can make some services difficult to use. Because of the equipment involved, satellite access is more expensive than phone and wireless access.
FIBRE-OPTIC NETWORKS
Fibre optic is the Rolls Royce of broadband delivery methods. Capacity is unlimited and data is transmitted at the speed of light - as fast as you want and as much as you'll ever need. Some new housing developments are now being built with a fibre-optic network installed to provide access to TV and video on demand (by download), Internet access and phone services, all delivered on the same broadband line.
Cork County Council is project managing the delivery of fibre optic networks to 15 towns in Cork County. These Metropolitan Area Networks are called MANs. These are described later in the guide on the Regional Broadband Programme page (see page 10).
The availability of broadband in today's mobile work environment is essential. In support of this, broadband supplied by BT is widely available throughout the airport in Cork.
Joe Gantly,
Chairman Cork Airport.
