About Broadband Internet

Broadband is a term to describe not just high-speed Internet access, but rather multi-channel Internet. This is analogous to having a 10-lane superhighway versus a single lane. While there is no formal definition of broadband, the practical definition is the ability to simultaneously transmit and receive data at a very high-speed.

• The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) defines broadband Internet access as Internet access that is 256 kilobits per second or faster.


• The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) defines broadband as Internet service rated at a minimum of 4 megabits per second.


• The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) defines broadband Internet by speeds of 1.5 megabits per second or faster.


• A key element in broadband Internet technology is full duplex technology. This means that data is transmitted (uploaded) through one set of channels and received (downloaded) through another.


• Broadband can come in many forms. Customers may receive it by means of a Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) service, through a cable modem or even through a wireless Internet provider.


• Broadband Internet service can be transmitted several media. The fastest form of broadband is transmitted through fiber optics cables, but it can also be served through copper wires or wireless transmissions.