Understanding Broadband
Broadband Definitions:
Broadband – High-speed internet that is faster than traditional DSL or dial-up. Broadband is delivered through multiple technologies, such as fiber optic cable, fixed antenna, satellite, mobile, and coaxial cable.
Underserved – Locations with broadband service at speeds of less than 100 Mbps download and 20 Mbps upload. These locations may have slow or unreliable service.
Unserved – Locations with broadband service at speeds of less than 20 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload. These locations may have very slow service or lack a connection all together.
Mbps and Gbps – Megabits per second and Gigabits per second are units of measurement that generally refer to upload and download speeds. They measure the file size of data transferred per second and are used to show how fast a network or internet connection performs.
Download Speed – The rate that which data or information can be received by a user’s computer or device to the internet.
Upload Speed – The rate that which data or information is transferred from a user’s computer or device to the internet.
Bandwidth – The volume of information that can be sent over a connection in a measured amount of time.
Fiber Optic - Technology that uses thin strands of glass or plastic fibers to transmit data in the form of light pulses. These optical fibers are designed to carry information over long distances while maintaining high bandwidth and low signal loss.
Network – A system that connects two or more computing devices for transmitting or sharing information.
Internet Service Provider (ISP) – A company that provides residents and businesses access to the internet and other related services.
Digital Equity – Refers to the concept of ensuring that all individuals have equal access to and opportunities for digital technologies, such as the internet, computers, and other digital tools.
Speeds:
25 Mbps: Good for checking email, streaming music on one device: 30 minutes to download a 2-hour HD movie.
100 Mbps: Good for streaming video on one device, video calling, single-player online gaming: 8 minutes to download a 2-hour HD movie.
300 Mbps: Good for streaming HD video on a few devices, online gaming, downloading files: 2.5 minutes to download a 2-hour HD movie.
1 Gbps: Good for heavy internet use and downloads, HD streaming on multiple devices, online gaming, downloading large files: 35 seconds to download a 2-hour HD movie.
Type of Connections:
Wireless Internet:
3G (3rd generation) (7 Mbps) – Wireless that led to using a network of cell towers to pass signals. Creating a set of standards and technolgies that enable mobile devices to connect to the internet with higher data transfer speeds than the previous generation (2G).
4G (4th generation or LTE) (100 Mbps) – Wireless technology is a standard for mobile telecommunications that succeeded the third generation (3G). It represents a significant leap in terms of data transfer speeds, capacity, and overall performance compared to its predecessors.
5G (5th generation) (10 Gbps) – Wireless technology that represents the latest standard in mobile telecommunications. It is the successor to 4G (LTE) and is designed to provide significantly faster data speeds, lower latency, increased capacity, and support for a wide range of connected devices.
Wired Internet:
Satellite (250 Mbps) - A type of internet service that utilizes satellite technology to provide high-speed internet access. Data comes from a satellite to an antenna and then to a router or device.
DSL (400 Mbps) – Digital Subscriber Line is a technology that provides high-speed internet access over traditional copper telephone lines. It is a type of broadband internet connection that allows users to access the internet while simultaneously using their telephone line for voice communication. DSL is a popular alternative to dial-up internet, offering significantly faster speeds.
Cable Modem (2 Gbps) - A type of broadband internet service that uses the same coaxial cables that deliver cable television to transmit data for high-speed internet access. Cable internet typically provides faster speeds than traditional dial-up, DSL, and Satellite.
Fiber (100+ Gbps) - A high-speed broadband internet service that uses fiber optic cables to transmit data. Fiber uses light signals to transmit data over long distances with minimal signal loss and provides faster, lower latency, and more reliable internet connections compared to traditional wired connections.