Broadband Internet

Broadband Not As Unstoppable As Previously Thought

2008-09-26T07:37:00.003-07:00

According to VNUnet news, in 2005 the global broadband boom was unstoppable, and now, just three years later, Ars Technica has declared that "it's no secret that broadband growth in the US is stagnating". Both Ars Technica and VNUnet have reported on the lowest levels of broadband growth in the US in seven years.

Two reports published recently, one by Leichtman Research Group and another by the Communications Workers of America (CWA) have painted rather a bleak landscape of America's broadband industry.

The Leichtman paper revealed that broadband take-up has halved in the second quarter of 2008 when compared to the second quarter of 2007. Telephone companies experienced the lowest levels of growth, while cable companies took the lion's share of new acquisitions. According to the report, an undue emphasis on high-speed FiOS and U-verse bundled services over traditional DSL services is largely to blame.

Predictions for the future of broadband are contradictory. According to Bruce Leightman, president of the Leichtman Research Group, there's a lot of potential for growth in the US market. But he admits that there have been reports that say the US broadband market is nearly saturated. Around 55% of the US population has broadband in their homes. The other 45% can either not afford to subscribe to broadband services, aren't interested in or are out of range of broadband services. In one instance, a city that was out of range of commercial broadband services tried to build their own network. But it was sued by a local telecommunications company so that the city wouldn't be able to provide them with the necessary fibre to complete the task.

The report published by the CWA showed that the US broadband speed falls far short when compared to many other industrialised countries. The average speed from 230,000 internet users was found to be 2.3Mbps. The two extremes were Rhode Island at 6.8Mbps and Alaska at 0.8Mbps. In comparison Japan has the fastest broadband speeds at 63Mbps; South Korea was second at 49Mbps, while France clocked in at 12Mbps.

According to Larry Cohen, president of the CWA, broadband speed isn't just about how fast users are able to download movies. Cohen says that download speed is important to the economy and to developers who are trying to be competitive in an increasingly sophisticated global market. But if expense, consumer apathy and competition with the US market continue to hamper growth, America could soon find themselves falling behind developing nations, such as South Africa.

5 Reasons Verizon Fios High Speed Internet Service is Better Than Cable Internet

2008-09-26T07:37:00.002-07:00

It used to be that cable Internet service was considered the gold standard, the best that you could get. But these days Verizon FiOS is surpassing cable Internet service as the industry standard for the best service available. The cutting edge technology being used by Verizon is raising the bar for other companies in the industry.

Have you thought about switching to the new Verizon FiOS Internet service but haven't really made up your mind yet? If you're still on the fence about whether or not you want to switch from cable Internet service to Verizon FiOS High Speed Internet service, here are 5 reasons you should take the plunge and switch:

1. Verizon FiOS High Speed Internet service is faster

Most cable companies offer a maximum speed of 8 mega bytes per second, and you can expect to pay lot even for that speed. With the Verizon FiOS service you can get speeds of 5 mega bytes per second, 15 mega bytes per second or an impressive 30 mega bytes per second depending on what speed you need. And you will pay about the same prices as you'd pay for the 8 mega byte per second speed from the local cable company.

2. Verizon FiOS High Speed Internet Offers Online Flexibility

Do you want to be able to watch videos and TV shows online, download your favorite music, watch movies from online movie rental sites and take advantage of all the other multi-media applications on the Web? Try doing it with a cable Internet connection and you'll get frustrated fast. Verizon FiOS High Speed Internet service has the power to handle multi-media on the web without slow loading time and interrupted streams.

3. Verizon FiOS High Speed Internet - More Value for Same Cost

In most places Verizon FiOS Internet plans cost about the same as local cable companies charge for their slower Internet connections. If you take advantage of some of the pricing deals and service bundles that Verizon offers (Verizon FiOS Triple Play), you can get an Internet service that is much faster than cable for less than the cost of cable. If you decide to get Verizon FiOS TV, digital phone service and Internet service bundled together you can save a lot of money with the Triple Play bundle.

4. Less Down Time with Verizon FiOS Internet

When there are a lot of users on an Internet connection that connection will slow down or you could get dropped off the Internet all together. That happens a lot to cable Internet users because cable companies use copper wires as the base structure of their network. These wires can't support having a lot of users at once. The Verizon FiOS High Speed Internet service uses fiber optic cables that can accommodate a lot more users, so it's very rare for anyone to get dropped or for the Internet connection to go down.

5. Verizon FiOS High Speed Internet is the Future

Soon all the satellite and cable companies will be forced to switch to a fiber optic network similiar to the Verizon FiOS network in order to stay competitive, so why wait? Fiber optics is the future of Internet and TV technology and Verizon can give it to you for about the same cost as cable.

Wireless Internet and Hot Spots

2008-09-26T07:37:00.001-07:00

When internet was first introduced, the World became a better place. Now it is even better with the wireless internet. It doesn't matter if you are using a PC, MP3 player, PDA, game console, mobile phone as long as it is wireless enabled.

In a plane, hotel, or library, you can still text your wife, check the inbox, listen to music, and download programs or whatever thing that you can do when connected. The wireless internet offers you all this in just a touch of the buttons.

However, advantages have their corresponding disadvantages. The wireless has its demerits also. For you to be able to carry out any activity, you have to be within the range of the wireless network connected to the internet. The coverage of one or more connected points referred to as hot spots can comprise of an area as small as a single room with wireless-opaque walls or as large as many miles covered by overlapping access points.

In addition to restricted use in homes and offices, wireless makes internet publicly available at a hot spot free of charge or to subscribers of various providers. Organizations and other businesses such as airports, hotels, restaurants, often provide free hots pots to attract customers. Enthusiasts or authorities who wish to provide services or even to promote business in a given area sometimes provide free hotspots also.

If you are a subscriber you have to part with some dollars. You can either pay through credit cards or through subscriptions to the service provider. If you are not a subscriber of the hot spot, their rates will not be promising for you. Another good thing with the hots pots is that they have maps to their locations. Hence you don't have to move from one point of the town trying to find the wireless internet coverage.

Time Warner Cable Road Runner

2008-09-26T07:37:00.000-07:00

Do you use the internet on a regular basis? Who doesn't, right? We all use the internet like crazy now and it has become a thing that is necessary in our homes and workplaces. You need to have the best internet connection you can get and that means you need time warner cable road runner high speed internet. It is necessary to get rid of dial up or DSL to get the better connection speed, security, and more. Here is what to expect.

First, you will get the download speeds that you need to have to be productive. This will allow you to be able to download video, music, and files in a much faster way. You can download so much faster that you will be amazed. Plus you will not have to worry about whether or not you stay connected or not.

Second, with dial up you can get kicked off the internet on a regular basis, but with high speed cable internet you are always connected. This is a huge advantage because you will not get kicked off while you are in the middle of something and you will be able to be on the telephone and the internet at the same time. Plus you can bundle your television and phone service with your internet and get a better monthly rate from Time Warner for all three.

Last, you will have top technical support and will be able to keep up with the ever changing technology. Time Warner Cable Road Runner high speed internet will continue to make improvements as the technology advances so you will not have to worry about making a switch for many years. Those that started with this service when it first came out know that it just keeps getting better and better each time something new comes out.

Information on Broadband Internet

2008-09-20T04:37:00.004-07:00

By now most everyone has heard of Broadband Internet. It uses a high speed modem which allows you to access information on the internet very quickly and this is why it is commonly referred to as high speed internet. There are three different types of Broadband Internet and they include DSL, cable or satellite. Broadband Internet made its debut in the early 2000's when the popularity of the internet was increasing by huge numbers and this gave internet surfers a big advantage over the traditional dial-up internet because it allowed them to access web pages at a much faster and efficient speed. When it first came out, it was rather expensive, but as time went on it became more affordable for everyone and now it is available worldwide.

People that have always used dial-up internet cannot understand why people get excited over Broadband Internet because their service takes them to the same internet that the Broadband does. If most of these people have a chance to try out Broadband Internet, it does not take them very long to realize what they have been missing and they soon want to switch over their service to high speed internet. There are public places that you can go such as the library where you can try out the Broadband Internet for a couple of hours and see what it has to offer.

Broadband Internet has many advantages over dial up internet. It is not only 10 times faster then dial up, it also does not tie up your phone line so you can surf and talk on the phone at the same time. This also takes care of the problem of getting knocked off line if the phone rings and you are in the middle of doing something important that you are working on online.

All three broadband connections work very fast and well. They may not all be available to you because it depends in which service area that you reside in. You should also compare prices and installation charges because you may be able to save some money on different services. If you would like more information on Broadband Internet.

What Makes Verizon FiOS All-Digital Fiber Optic Internet Extraordinary?

2008-09-20T04:37:00.003-07:00

There has been a lot of media coverage and industry acclaim for the Verizon FiOS all digital fiber optic Internet service. The Verizon FiOS all digital fiber optic Internet, digital phone, and digital TV services are being called the new standard of quality for the telecommunications industry and are being praised by critics for bringing faster speeds and higher quality to services that most people use everyday. Industry insiders are praising Verizon for really raising the bar in the industry and encouraging the development of new technology to improve telecommunications and mass communications.

But why is the Verizon FiOS fiber optic network so amazing? Because Verizon has done something no company, and certainly no major communications carrier, has done before and has changed the technology that is used in the industry. Before Verizon built this new 100% fiber optic network the best materials available to build a spine for an entire communications system of phone service, TV service and Internet service was copper wires. These copper wires quickly were adopted by almost all of the companies in the industry and are still used today by both cable companies and satellite companies.

Verizon created the first network using cutting edge fiber optic cables to support its network, and that is what makes the FiOS network so extraordinary. Using fiber optic cables instead of copper wires changed the playing field of mass communications because fiber optics allows the network to move as much as 3 times faster than the maximum speed that is possible using copper wires. Plus, the fiber optic cables won't get clogged the way the copper wires can with thousands of users which means that sometimes users get dropped. The larger, more advanced fiber optic cables can accommodate a lot more data and a lot more traffic without failing.

Fiber optic cables also mean higher quality and better clarity. The picture on the FiOS digital TV service is much clearer than a regular TV picture. The voice clarity of calls made with Verizon digital phone service is astonishing, and the speed and reliability of the Verizon FiOS Internet service is something that both consumers and critics are praising. Soon satellite and cable companies will be forced to switch to a fiber optic network like the one that Verizon has built just to stay competitive because more and more customers that try the Verizon FiOS network are blown away by the quality of the FiOS network and don't want to go back to using cable or satellite.

Not only has Verizon managed to create industry history with the introduction of the 100% fiber optic FiOS network they have also managed to keep the cost to consumers competitive with cable and satellite. Who wouldn't want to sign up for the increased quality and reliability of the Verizon FiOS network when it costs about the same or in some cases less than regular cable or satellite services? Consumers are flocking to Verizon to sign up for digital TV, digital phone and digital Internet service on the first fiber optic network in the world, the Verizon FiOS network.

Comcast Cable Company

2008-09-20T04:37:00.002-07:00

Comcast was sounded in 1963 as a cable operator and today they are America's largest provider of cable and broadband services. They have a focus on broadband cable, commerce, and content. They have over 24 million cable customers, 14 million Internet customers, and 5 million voice customers. They are headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and they are traded on the Nasdaq.

They have over 100,000 employees nationwide and service customers in 39 states and the District of Columbia.

Comcast has come a long way from when they started back in 1963. With their new digital offerings, customers are able to get the best clear picture quality and sound. The advancement in technology also makes it possible for customers to enjoy television programming easier and more affordably.

Comcast's digital cable television service now comes with digital video recording technology which allows you to digitally record and store your favorite television shows and view them whenever you want. Another popular feature is the parental guide function that gives parents the ability to have total control over what programming is watched on the units, even if the parents aren't home. They accomplish this by blocking shows via ratings, titles, channels, or content. There is an on-screen index that makes this easier for parents.

Comcast's Internet has also come a long way since it's inception. Although not as old as the other services Comcast provides, Comcast has been able to make the high-speed internet 70-100 times faster than standard dial-up internet connections. This makes it easy to download as well as stream video and play games online.

With their voice product, they offer features such as caller ID, call forwarding, and voicemail all at no extra charge. The customers money goes a lot further than ever before.

Top 10 Questions to Ask Your Satellite Internet Service Provider

2008-09-20T04:37:00.001-07:00

If you are a corporation in search of disaster recovery networking solutions, a first responder who may need connectivity from anywhere at any time, or you simply need broadband internet connectivity from remote locations you have probably considered that satellite may be your only reliable option. In the midst of a disaster many businesses and first responders may find themselves without communications of any kind due to the loss of terrestrial infrastructures, or the lack of it ever existing in the first place.

The problem is that most business professionals and emergency service workers do not have a complete understanding of the satellite business and the idiosyncrasies of communications via satellite, and why should they? Satellite communications is not their profession. In the quest for a satellite internet service provider there are certain questions you should be prepared to ask before you get locked into a contract for services that won't satisfy your needs:

1) Do you have Non pre-emptible satellite space segment?

Satellite operators such as SES Americom, Intelsat among others lease space segment to satellite service providers. There are different levels of protection available in varying price ranges. Many service providers will opt to contract for pre-emptible space segment because it's much less expensive and they can make larger profit margins which they may or may not pass on to their end users. Pre-emptible space segment gives the satellite operator the ability to deny access to the satellite for the service provider in the event of an on board equipment failure, or to make room for a service provider who is willing to pay the Non pre-emptible premium.

During large scale disasters such as the hurricanes in the Gulf States in 2005 many pre-emptible segments of satellite space were cleared to make room for government requests for satellite service leaving other service providers with no access. If you are considering contracting for service for disaster recovery applications it is highly recommended that you find service providers that guarantee that they have contracted for Non pre-emptible space segment. The service provider should be able to provide you with evidence of their service agreement with the operators if you ask. You may pay a little more each month for your non pre-emptible service, but at least it will be available when you most need it.

2) What is your "Over Subscription" or "Contention Ratio"?

Most satellite service providers who are providing Internet services are operating systems that use TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access) based systems. A TDMA system is normally controlled by a central hub location which will command the remote units in the field to transmit their data when the hub is ready to receive it. This allows for many remote units to share the same slice of bandwidth improving the overall efficiency of the system. The transmissions from the remote units are sequenced at a very high rate, many times per second, which makes the service appear to be continuous.

However, the more units that are added to the system, the slower the service will be. A true enterprise level operator will never allow their contention ratio to exceed 20:1 or essentially 20 terminals per segment of bandwidth. Many operators that offer lower grade services will over subscribe their systems as high as 40, 80, 120:1 or more. Some operators may not be willing disclose this information to their end users. If a service provider will not tell you their contention ratio, you might consider looking elsewhere as their ratios are likely to be high. This will directly affect the quality of the service you receive. Enterprise level operators with contention ratios of 20:1 or less will charge more for their services since they have fewer users for their contracted space segment. But, you get what you pay for.

3) What is your system Latency, and does your hardware or software include TCP/IP acceleration?

Any IP transport platform will have a certain amount of latency that is inherent to the structure of the system. Latency is normally measured by how long it takes for a TCP/IP "Ping" to be sent to a server on the other side of the transport link and be returned back over the link to the point of origin. Satellite systems, due to the physics involved will have much higher latency figures that any terrestrial link. Data is transmitted to the satellite at the speed of light, or 186,000 miles per second. The satellite is located 22,223 miles above the equator.

For a ping to make its round trip it must travel up to the satellite, back to earth to the server, up to the satellite again and back to the origination point. This is a round trip is approximately 88,892 miles. When calculated with the speed of light, in a perfect world the round trip will take about 448 milliseconds. When you add in coding delays and processing delays you can increase that figure by 100 to 250 milliseconds. On an efficient system, a round trip ping should take between 550 and 700 milliseconds (225 ms one way in each direction).

Many lower grade systems on the market today will actually return ping times of 1200 milliseconds or greater which is too slow to allow for functionality of certain software applications. Some system operators have added TCP/IP acceleration products to their equipment. This can either be a hardware or software solution. Acceleration of TCP/IP does not speed up the actual transmission as it is already being transmitted at the highest speed possible, the speed of light. The acceleration is achieved by modifying the TCP protocol in ways that allow for more efficient transmission over high latency networks such as satellite. Acceleration can significantly improve the speed of loading web pages, so it is a highly desirable product to have. Most of the products are not capable of accelerating encapsulated data such as VPN's, but the system should still pass that data, however more slowly. Be sure to ask whether or not the system has an acceleration product included.

4) Does your system support VoIP, VPN, and Streaming Video transmissions?

If you have certain applications that you intend to operate, be sure to inquire whether or not these applications are supported on the system. VoIP (Voice over IP) for telephone connectivity is becoming a very common need in satellite communications. All types of users from emergency services to business continuity are asking for telephone connectivity. The biggest concern most prospective users of VoIP over satellite have is that the latency will be too high for effective voice communications. This has largely been proven to not be true. In fact, most cellular telephone systems will experience as much or more delay in their systems than VoIP over satellite. Most satellite providers will support these systems, but if the system latency is more that about 800 milliseconds, you may experience difficulty carrying on a conversation. Some service providers will also sell VoIP equipment. If you choose to purchase from them, or on your own you will want to make sure the equipment includes good voice compression.

Most off the shelf VoIP systems that are not designed for use with satellite will occupy between 40 Kbps and 90 Kbps of bandwidth to complete each call. If you purchase 128K of satellite uplink bandwidth you may consume all of your bandwidth with one or two phone calls leaving none for internet access for your computers. There are compression VoIP systems available that have been designed for use over satellite that will use as little as 8 Kbps per phone call and the call is toll quality. There are even compression systems that will allow for a 1544 Kbps T1/PRI connection over less than 256 Kbps of satellite bandwidth. You will also want to inquire about connectivity to the PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network). When the signal lands at the hub it will need to connect your VoIP traffic to a telephone line. Some service providers will provide this service for a fee; some will not provide it at all, so be sure to ask. If you need to operate a VPN over the system, keep in mind that it will likely not be accelerated over the satellite.

Acceleration of VPNs can be achieved with external hardware; however it is normally up to the customer to provide that equipment. There are some systems, mostly consumer grade, that will not support VPN's at all or there are additional charges so be sure to ask. The same goes for Video transmissions from a streaming device, or a web cam. Video streams are highly bandwidth intensive applications and most service providers will require dedicated bandwidth for these applications. The pricing for dedicated bandwidth will be substantially higher than the shared ratio pricing as it consumes 100% of the bandwidth 100% of the time. If you are planning to stream video to multiple receive sites it is recommended that you stream the video over the satellite to a server, and allow other users to get the stream from the server. This way there is only one active stream over the satellite where the bandwidth is expensive.

5) Do you offer CIR or CRA services?

CIR (Committed Information Rate) and CRA (Committed Rate Assignment) are different acronyms with the same meaning. It is dedicated satellite bandwidth that is usually required by the service provider if you intend to operate high bandwidth applications such as video streaming over the satellite. Most enterprise level service providers offer CIR/CRA packages, most consumer level operators do not. The pricing for these services will be significantly higher than shared ratio services, so be prepared. Some providers also require CIR/CRA services for VoIP. Be sure to inquire if this is something you need as some operators may not volunteer this information until it's too late.

6) How many public IP addresses do I get?

Many consumer level services do not assign public static IP addresses for you to use. This is primarily why they don't support services such as VoIP and VPN. Enterprise level providers usually provide at least one address, some will provide more. Most providers will give you a fixed number of addresses with your service and charge you if you want additional static IPs. The recommended way to avoid the additional charges is by using your own router on the system and natting your own addresses. Some systems will not support natting so be sure to inquire if this is what you need.

7) Do you have a FAP?

A FAP or Fair Access Policy is a set of rules that you agree to abide by when contracting for their services. They also will include certain restrictions on your service. Read this policy very carefully as the providers like to include wording that can seriously restrict your usage. Some service providers will "meter" your throughput on the system. If you reach a certain level of usage, usually recorded in Kbps, or Mbps they may restrict your bandwidth to a low level, or cut off your service entirely until the next billing cycle. It is very difficult to measure your own usage since most people have no Idea how many Kbps are sent or received when loading a web page. The FAP is also where the provider will spell out the rules of usage concerning applications such as streaming video and VoIP. Going over that document with a fine toothed comb will be in your best interest.

8) What will be my actual measured speeds?

The service providers will sell you a specific rate plan that will have an uplink or return data rate, and a downlink or forward data rate. This will usually be expressed in a manner such as "128/512" or sometimes "512/128". The larger number will always be the forward channel which is your downlink as a user. Most providers will not tell you that the speeds include IP overhead. Every internet system whether its satellite or terrestrial uses IP protocols that require a certain amount of bandwidth to process the IP traffic. Because of the overhead you can expect that your actual measured payload speeds will be around 20% lower than what you are paying for. Actual speeds can be measured by running a speed test from a PC over the satellite link.

If the service provider has their own speed test server at the hub location this will give you a more accurate test of the satellite link than an Internet based speed server. The internet based servers have too many variables to obtain accurate results since the data is being transferred over connections that are not under your control, or theirs. Most systems will be similar in their IP overhead usage, but be aware of this when you purchase your service. If you don't think the speeds will be high enough when you factor in the 20% overhead you may want to consider a higher service level plan.

9) What Pricing plans do you offer?

In your search for a service provider you will likely encounter a multitude of pricing plans. Each provider will create pricing structures that meet their business model, and that will give them an edge over their competition. Because of this you may find it difficult to compare price. All providers will offer full time 24x7x365 service plans. Some will also offer plans based on usage, and some will sell daily or hourly plans. There are even providers that will sell service for a fixed number of days each month. These plans can be attractive as you will not likely use a system designed for disaster recovery every day of the month, so why should you pay for full time service? If you are comparing price between providers it is easiest to look at their full time rates to determine the cost. However, keep in mind that operators base their pricing on their cost for the satellite space segment. If they are charging less it may be because they don't have non pre-emptible space or because they operate with high contention ratios, or both.

10) Do you offer other services such as terrestrial connectivity and collocation?

Be sure to inquire about value added services such as collocation space and terrestrial connectivity. Unless you are only buying internet access and have no need for VoIP, streaming, or data backup, you will likely need these services. Some service providers will provide connectivity to the telephone network, and some will not. If you need dial tone you will probably want to contract for that as well. For disaster recovery solutions it is highly recommended that you originate your dial tone from a safe location that is far away from the affected area.

Cable Internet is Going to Unplug

2008-09-20T04:37:00.000-07:00

Cable Internet Access is currently the fastest service in town other than some fiber optic networks that have very small service areas. This is great for home users, offering robust networks that an entire family can enjoy without bandwidth concerns. Cable Internet is one of the most widely used Internet serves in the US with availability in almost every market. The problem has been however the service stopped at the front door. There has been no reliable service cable providers could offer to its customers that would extend their Internet access wirelessly. It would appear Clearwire will change all that.

Clearwire, a Washington based wireless internet firm, has proposed a merger with Sprint's Xohm WiMAX unit. The new Clearwire network is being referred to as a 4G network (4th generation) in that voice, data, and streaming multimedia will all be accessible over it anytime and anywhere. This is a dramatic change from current cellular networks or wireless coffee shop hubs, and could perhaps offer relief to the latency plagued Satellite Internet customers one day.

Comcast is investing heavily in this new enterprise with the intention of throwing its hat in the wireless ring to offer new services to its large user base. The merger is contested, but Comcast and Sprint both claim the deal will be done by the end of the year. This is important to Comcast as this timetable will give the company the ability to offer a 4G network almost two years before the proposed Verizon 4G rollout. Two years could create a large user gap that will be difficult to fill.

Comcast isn't the only firm interested in Clearwire. Time Warner, Intel, and Google have all invested in this new 4G network creating a $14.55 billion company poised to change how wireless internet works. This new product offering is stated as being capable of 2MEG downloads from anywhere, making it very appealing if the price is right.

The investing companies intend to wholesale this new service under their own brand. For the cable companies this instantly extends their capability across all of their current markets. Comcast wants you as a customer when you are home or out and about, and this could make this possible incredibly fast.

The deal makes sense for the cable firms, but why is Intel involved? WiMAX wireless devices. Intel didn't invest over $100 million dollars in Clearwire because it had a catchy name. The sooner this 4G network is available, the sooner Intel can offer a completely new chipset for upcoming hand held devices.

Broadband - Voting by Clicking

2008-09-05T08:12:00.001-07:00

Let's face it; getting young people to take an interest in politics these days can be very difficult. With voter apathy present in general elections, many more young people are more prepared to vote in reality television shows and online polls rather than to elect a new candidate or Prime Minister.

However, groups such as Rock The Vote are helping to raise awareness of politics amongst youngsters by targeting one of their most common interests - the wide world of internet gaming - in time for the upcoming US presidential elections. And if the pilot scheme is successful, soon we could see politicians making use of social networking sites, video sharing sites and online gaming communities in order to reach out to apathetic voters.

We live in a digital age, with a wide variety of broadband providers vying for our business, and the world of online gaming has seen a rise in interest as a result. MMORPGs have become worldwide successes. Console gaming has seen a resurgence in popularity, with many consoles giving gamers access to a multitude of services - including the opportunity to play against opponents from around the world and communicate with each other.

And now, it seems that the world of politics could soon be moving into the world of broadband gaming in an attempt to garner the interest of many who would normally shy away from the subject. By utilising online polls on the subjects that matter through the services they play on, opinion can be gathered, analysed and then put into place in future.

Some politicians have already made use of video sharing websites - with Conservative leader David Cameron making use of video blogs in order to reach out to voters who are more comfortable in front of a computer than a voting booth. Indeed, with an increase in digital participation - through broadband and television - the opportunity to reach voters and allow them to cast a vote with a click of their mouse or a press of their red button could allow the chance to increase participation in general elections by giving voters another outlet through which to make their voices heard.

With millions of broadband users around the world, the idea of voting using a click of your mouse or a press of a key on your game controller may sound far-fetched at first, but could prove to be vital for government figures. By gathering ideas and opinion through the medium of broadband participation, politicians have the opportunity to find out the views and opinions of many 'hidden voters' and help to reduce voter apathy.

How Do IP Addresses Work?

2008-09-05T08:10:00.004-07:00

If you spend any time online, you have your favorite web sites. You may only check email, but that is a web site or service as well. You type in the web address as you know it, and you are taken to that page. How fast you go depends on your Internet connection speed, but most go quickly these days. What you may not know is that www.myfavoritesite.com is really just a cover for an IP address.

Each site has its own IP address. This is a string of numbers broken up into four sections, with each section having one, two, and three numbers. Sometimes, there are four. It can look something like this: 11.111.11.1111. Because these numbers are very hard to remember, web addresses are used to aid in ease of use. That address, however, is always connected with one IP address to let the computer network know what you want and where to get it.

Each computer has its own IP address as well. That means when you send out something, your unique IP address is attached to it. That means something if you are getting emails from someone who will not say who they are. You can use that IP address found in the header of the email to do an IP trace. You may not get a name, but you can get an area and/or town, and even a service provider.

Some Internet providers have more protection in the way of IP addresses than they used to have. Some, like AOL, have a pool of numbers that they use. Their subscribers get these numbers randomly, meaning it can be harder to trace them. However, if they are getting into trouble, they can be traced by AOL.

Obtain Low Cost Internet From Pay As You Go Broadband Providers

2008-09-05T08:10:00.003-07:00

While looking for a new connection for connecting to the internet, there are various options that you come across. The connections like dial up and cable connections are considered to be a thing of the past. Since there are better technological advancements available like broadband, it is better to choose this option for being net-savvy. The right deals and offers can be obtained from pay as you go broadband providers to opt for a low cost option to connect to the net.

Pay as you go broadband 0 helps the users in a dual manner. The quality of the service that is provided is unmatched and the speed of downloading is great. Also, the data transfer is very quick which saves the time and the cost for the user. There is a freedom to choose the speed that you want to enjoy depending upon your requirement and you are charged accordingly. The speed can vary from 256kbps to even 8 Mbps depending upon your requirement.

Also, the users now have complete control of the expenditure that they make on internet access. Also, since they have to pay just for the usage that is done, this is an added benefit for them if they use the internet carefully. The option of capping the expenditure is also present for the users if they are afraid they will exceed the limit of expenditure they have defined for themselves.

All leading providers nowadays offer pay as you go broadband deals. These include Homecall Broadband, Virgin Broadband, AOL broadband, BT Broadband etc. deals are available from these broadband providers and you can opt for the pay as you go offers easily keeping your requirements in mind. A comparison of the deals offered by these providers can help the users in getting the most suitable offer for the lowest cost internet usage without compromising on the quality of the services.

With pay as you go broadband providers now offering great deals, it is easier to connect to the net and also limit your expenses at the same time and without any limitation.

Broadband - UK Trends

2008-09-05T08:10:00.002-07:00

Nowadays, most of us have access to the internet in one form or another, whether it is on your mobile phone or home computer. And according to figures released by the Office of National Statistics, there are now around 16.5 million households that have internet access in the UK.

Broadband use in the UK has increased in recent years, with many providers making use of television and magazine advertising in order to let potential customers know of fast and reliable connections. Coupled with the ongoing upgrade to fibre-optic technology, interest in broadband internet use is predicted to rise in future due to the development of services such as internet television and the expansion of online gaming.

According to the ONS, broadband use in the UK has increased since 2007, with an estimated 1.2 million extra households now having access to the internet - taking the total percentage of connected households to around two thirds of total households in the UK. When it comes to location, homes in the South East are most likely to have an internet connection, with the North East of England the least connected location - according to the survey.

However, the survey also identified that there was still a problem area with regards to the age range of broadband users in the UK. Statistics released by Help the Aged showed that there are nearly 7 million over 65's who haven't used the internet. Many councils have made facilities available - such as adult learner courses at local libraries - in order to raise awareness of the Internet amongst a wider age range, but there are some who are calling for more to be done to allow people to access information and to help further their knowledge of computers.

Broadband providers are also looking to mobile phones in order to extend their customer base. Internet browsers on mobile devices are becoming more compatible with applications such as Java and video players, and with providers offering a range of affordable deals on internet access we could soon have access to better applications - such as internet television - in the palms of our hands.

Advancement of Broadband Technology

2008-09-05T08:10:00.001-07:00

The meaning of the term "Broadband" is contextual. It refers to the information carrying capacity. If the broadband is wide, it increases the information carrying capacity. In a Radio, a very narrow broadband can carry only the Morse code, a slightly broader band carries speech. Music with all its audio frequencies intact requires a broadband with more width. A TV antenna with normal broadband will carry some channels. A broadband with more capacity will carry more. In data communication, a modem can transmit a bandwidth of 56 kilo bits per second over a telephone line. A bandwidth of several megabits can be handled by ADSL.This is known as Broadband.

Data communications when handled by a fibre optic cable can be described as Broadband. The term is, however used in a technical sense. Sometimes multiple pieces of data are sent simultaneously to increase the effective transmission rate. This is also called as Broadband Internet. In video, the term refers to video files that possess bitrates high enough require the Broadband Internet to view them. Its speed is defined in terms of maximum download. The ADSL technology is also "asymmetric" because it supports slower maximum uploads. The reach of Broadband today, is considered as an economic indicator of an area's connectivity.

The technology employed in many areas is the DSL and cable modems. Broadband has been made easily accessible. Fibre optics has played a crucial role in this by making transmission more cost effective than the traditional copper wire technology. In areas not served by ADSL, local governments have stepped in and installed Wi-Fi networks. WIMAX is the latest technology being deployed for mobile and stationary Broadband access. There are also Multi-Linking Modems which double up the dial-up capacity. Two modems, two telephone lines and two dial-up accounts are needed. ISP support is needed for multi-linking.

ISDN: This is the Integrated Service Digital Network. It is the oldest high-speed method of digital access for consumers and businessmen to connect to the Internet. It was used extensively in the USA before DSC and cable modem technology. Using ISDN terminal adapters, it is possible to bond together two or more separate ISDN-BRI lines to reach speeds of 256kbits/second.Faster and cheaper alternatives are beginning to replace ISDN offerings.

Wired Ethernet: This method of broadband communication to the internet makes access to the later very fast. It would be wrong to imagine that the full 10,000 or 1000 megabits/second can be utilized. This speed would be available at a POP or a data centre, and not to a residence. Ethernet has a low latency. No special software is necessary.

Providing broadband access to farmers and ranchers in rural and far-flung areas is the next challenge. If this can be accomplished, connectivity will improve greatly. Making rural broadband cost effective is only a matter of time.

Satellite Internet: This makes use of a satellite in geo-stationary orbit to relay data from the satellite to the customer. This has proved to be expensive. It has a high latency problem as signals take a longer time to travel. Sun spot activity, inclement weather and travel increase the drop outs.

Cellular Broadband: Cellular phone towers are widespread and can provide broadband access to the internet with the help of a cell-phone, card bus, Express card or the US.

There Are Plenty of Broadband Providers Out Now - But Which Are the Best?

2008-08-26T08:25:00.001-07:00

There are many types of broadband providers out there, I know because I've used quite a few personally at home and in work. In the next few pages I will give you my personal opinion of each and give you the pros and cons on each of them.

These first few are the ones I've used, Tiscali, BT, Sky, AOL and currently Eclipse. I own a computer repair shop and spend a lot of my time repairing computers or doing call-outs to people who can't get online with their provider. A lot of this is down to simple setting up of the equipment but there have been a few instances of faulty equipment, more often than not the filter they provide.

There are some good deals out now, Tiscali spring to mind where for £15 at the moment you get broadband plus your line rental is included in this price. Where I live line rental is over £10, so really you are paying less than £5 for broadband. Included in this are free evening and weekend calls for local numbers. I will go into more detail on the Tiscali page.

I will also be going over some of the other providers I haven't used but have seen working through work and things I've picked up from some of my customers.

I now want to explain quickly a few differences that some of my customers get confused about regarding types of Internet usage. The main problem is the difference in mobile and wireless. Somebody came into the shop the other day, bought everything I told him he needed to go wireless as his friend had suggested then brought it back, everything opened, telling me it wouldn't work.

After calling to his house I found the problem quite quickly, he didn't have a land line. I explained he needed mobile and took everything back and then had to try and re-sell the equipment after the boxes had been opened.

Broadband Safety

2008-08-26T08:24:00.000-07:00

You may be one of the thousands of people that upgraded their broadband connection to wireless which lets you access the web anywhere in the home, but are you leaving yourself open to fraud? Around 5m households now have wireless - or "Wi-Fi" - internet access. However, about half of these have not protected their connection.

Neighbours could easily log in and piggy-back on your internet access leaving them bill free; this is a very common case if you live in an apartment block or flat. Hackers can also access files and spy on the websites you have used. More worryingly they can work out when you are on your holiday if you have booked online, leaving your home and your possessions at risk. A hacker with the right software and know-how can access your online bank account and potentially uncover your password, cleaning you out of all your funds.

Once they have stolen your identity there is no saying what they will do. As if it's not enough to have emptied your bank accounts, they can also apply for credit cards plummeting you into debt and sometimes blacklisting you. Fraudsters have been known to purchase things as large as plasma TVs, game consoles and luxury holidays.

It's alarmingly simple for fraudsters to hack into your life and steal your identity as they can purchase software that identifies homes with unprotected wireless connections. They no longer have to trawl streets at random with their equipment to find vulnerable homes. Surprisingly, it is not difficult to protect your internet connection. Most broadband providers, including Orange, BT, AOL and Sky, issue wireless modems that are already secured or "locked".

The problem often occurs when a wireless router is bought from a manufacturer or a retailer; because you have to secure it manually, you can easily miss out a step in the process. The easy option is to go for the modem from your broadband provider, although they are not all free with broadband deals.

What is Multi-Protocol Label Switching, MPLS?

2008-08-26T08:23:00.000-07:00

In order to understand MPLS (Multiprotocol Label Switching), you first need to know it's not a service, but a technique. This technique is used for sending such services as IP VPNs, Metro Ethernet and optical services. While carriers design MPLS network backbones, the actual services businesses purchase are not called MPLS, instead go by the names IP VPN, Metro Ethernet or any other name the industry decides to label it at the time.

Labeling packets are the main concept behind MPLS. Standard routed IP networks consist of each router independently deciding where to send the packet each time the packet arrives at the router. This decision is based entirely on the packet's network-layer header.

When a packet arrives in the network, it gets matched up with a specific forwarding equivalence class (FEC) that attaches a short bit sequence (label) to the packet. Tables for each router in the network are then used for identifying how packets of a specific FEC type are to be handled. Header analysis is no longer necessary once the packet enters the network. Instead, a new FEC is made each time the label is used by the routers to index into a table.

Tables allow an MPLS network to consistently sort packets based on their individual characteristics (i.e., packets coming from certain ports or packets carrying data for certain applications). While a challenging task, packets carrying real-time traffic (i.e., voice and video) can be given priority over other applications by assigning them to low-latency routes within the network. The important thing to remember is labels are used for "attaching" more infomation to each packet than what the routers originally had.

The Impatient Downloader's Guide to Fast Broadband

2008-08-26T08:22:00.002-07:00

With the wide choice of fast broadband deals now available, there is no longer any need to struggle along at a snail's pace, regardless of what you are trying to download. You'll be absolutely amazed at the opportunities opening up for you around the internet.

Why is it worth taking a fast broadband package?

Fast broadband speed allows data to be transferred at a breathtaking speed, meaning no more frustrating waiting around for downloads or annoyingly missing out on game patches.

You should seriously think about faster speeds if you are a frequent downloader of movies or music, or even large files.

Online gamers stand to gain the most as the latency and ping times experienced are vital milliseconds lower, giving one that extra advantage over your opponent.

How fast is fast?

A 512kb connection was considered fast broadband a few years ago, but the newer fastest broadband packages are regarded as those above the average 'up to' 8Mb ADSL connection and use either fibre optic cable or ADSL2+ technology.

The highest download speed available on your broadband connection is measured in Megabits per second (Mbps), with latest technologies capable of providing broadband connections of 'up to' 24Mb per second.

It has been estimated that before the end of this year speeds of 50Mb will be reached, or up to as much as 200Mb employing the same technology.

How does one choose fast broadband?

It's important to remember that the ideal fast broadband provider is one which allows you unlimited download with no restrictive fair use policy to trip you up.

Here, you will find Be Broadband particularly lenient regarding peak time usage. Virgin Media has a traffic management policy, which means that you need to watch your peak time usage carefully.

If you exceed your allowance, Virgin Media will temporarily slow down your fast broadband connection and that would just be infuriating.

Another option worth thinking about is ADSL2+ providers, with their higher upload speeds of around 256Kb.

Be Broadband and O2 Broadband are two providers which offer even faster upload speeds up to about 1.3Mb.

While upload speeds are not of much use to the average web user, gamers, home office workers and file sharers will appreciate the added oomph of a faster upload speed.

A site that allows you to compare broadband deals by speed, will help make your choice for broadband speeds much easier.

Is Technical Support Eating Into Your Broadband Budget?

2008-08-26T08:22:00.001-07:00

It is astonishing that so few broadband providers realise how intensely irritated their customers have become by having to fork out £15 an hour for broadband technical support just to keep their £6 a month broadband working.

Since the beginning of April this year, BT broadband has been offering completely free telephone support with no charge at all for using their six most favourite chargeable numbers - that's now 99% of numbers instead of 92%.

BT's managing director, Gavin Patterson, estimates that broadband customers have been losing out as much as £70 million a year, quite a staggering amount.

In addition to BT, other innovative providers in the field are Be, O2, Virgin Media, TalkTalk and Fasthosts Broadband, since they all provide totally free customer and technical support.

Do some homework before you buy

It seems unlikely, however, that many other broadband providers will follow BT's lead and perhaps from one point of view that isn't such a bad thing.

Freephone technical support raises prices of broadband packages so why pay for something that you might never use?

Then again, you do pay to have access to the Internet and quite rightly don't expect to have to pay extra for what often turns out to be your broadband provider's mistakes.

So how much are you actually paying your broadband provider for technical support?

The short answer is that it's best to first do some careful research before you buy, taking care to check the small print, or clicking on the 'contact us' page of your broadband providers' website and navigating around until you find the often-hidden telephone numbers page.

When free is not always free

Be cautious of some broadband providers who advertise free support.

That always sounds wonderful until you find it is only the customer support line which is free and that premium rates are charged for the essential technical support.

If you can afford to wait, a much cheaper option to deal with your problem is to make use of an email or phone call, or - if things are going really badly with no result - even a letter (you know, the one that goes in an envelope).

Broadband Usage

2008-08-17T00:18:00.000-07:00

Whether you are looking for a broadband deal for the first time, or you already have broadband but think there may be a better deal on offer, it can be a bit of a jungle out there.

With things like wireless, dongle, internet security and speed to think about it's no wonder that there is confusion amongst people. Obviously you want to get the best deal and with every broadband advert promising that they can offer a better faster connection what is a person to do?

Before deciding on which broadband deal is best for you it's a good idea to think about how often you use it and what for? If for example you only use it for the occasional browse and the odd download there is no point in paying for the biggest and fastest deal. Equally if you are more likely to use it to do a lot of downloading a 2Mb deal will not be adequate.

If you regularly download or watch TV online, the minimum speed you will need is 8Mb. A smaller speed won't offer a very good viewing experience or download time. However, you only use the internet for is browsing and emailing, a 2Mbps connection will be sufficient. To save disappointment online gamers and heavy downloaders should look to get the fastest speed they can.

When searching for broadband there are a number of companies and comparison sites that will compare the market for you, showing you all the best deals available. They will not only check which is the cheapest, inform you of the fasts in your area, but some can also offer a star rating. They can also save you a lot of stress and hopefully money.

Mobile Satellite Internet Solutions For the Roaming Businessman

2008-08-17T00:17:00.000-07:00

Satellite internet services can get you set up with high speed internet access via satellite to both land locations and sea locations. Satellite network access is a must-have for those who are in locations where terrestrial internet access is not feasible (such as at sea) or simply not possible. For those who move frequently, satellite communications may be a good solution. Internet satellite and mobile satellite internet services are available all around the world, so no matter where you're situated, a solution for connecting to the world wide web will be available to you.

Commercial satellite internet has a complex system built up to make it work, but each aspect of its configuration ensures that communication is constant, and that the satellite signals are strong. Satellite internet access is a reliable method of accessing the internet on demand. Unlike dial-up and cable internet, satellite network access works by using a satellite dish for two-way (upload and download) data transfer. Download speeds are around 500kbps, and upload speeds are around 10kbps. Don't let the numbers fool you; the average satellite communication satellite is at least ten times faster than your average modem.

In order to have satellite internet access, you'll need a two foot by three foot satellite dish, two modems for uplinking and downlinking, and coaxial cables to connect the modems to the dish. In addition, you'll need a clear view to the south, since that is where the signals are transferred to and from ( satellite dishes orbit around the equator). Also, take into account mother nature, as heavy rains, white out blizzards and tall trees can interfere with your signal strength and reception.

As mentioned earlier in this article, there are a great many companies that can meet many of your data needs. One of these companies is IP Access International. Their experienced customer service representatives are available to help you learn more about and set up services for satellite internet access, mobile satellite, worldwide network communications and more. They are one of the leading satellite internet providers, with service available all over the world. If you or your company are involved with mining and other land-related activities, travel, energy, oil and gas, on large farms or even in the forests of the world, then internet access via satellite internet services may be a good choice for you.