The Berkshire village of Woolhampton has been chosen by Virgin Media broadband to trial their pioneering new service which will be delivered using telephone poles. By connecting the village’s homes directly to their fibre optic network, Virgin Media will be increasing broadband speeds to the rural community ten times faster than the previously relied upon copper network. Alongside this ultrafast broadband, the villagers of Woolhampton will also be offered the Virgin Media cable TV service which includes 5,000 hours of catch up TV and on demand content alongside the usual popular channels.

The trial is scheduled to run for six months and is part of Virgin Media’s plan to bring next generation services to people who live beyond the reach of their fibre optic network. Virgin Media is also planning to extend it’s network to more than 1million more homes through the deployment of their award winning service via the new telegraph pole system.

Chief executive officer of Virgin Media, Neil Berkett, said -

This unique trial will allow us to understand the possibilities of aerial deployment and may provide an exciting new way to extend next generation broadband services. With everything from BBC iPlayer to YouTube increasingly demanding reliable ultrafast broadband speeds, we’re keen to ensure that all communities, in towns, cities and villages right across the UK, stand to benefit.

With Virgin Media’s extensive network already reaching 12.6 million homes in the UK, this old school method of data transfer could be the perfect transport system to reach those parts that the fibre optic cable cannot. Thanks to years of telecommunications via telephone poles across the country, this is a fantastic way to ensure that more homes across the UK are given the opportunity to enjoy Virgin Media’s ultra fast service, and not just those who live in built up towns and cities. The trial will start this month and if successful could see up to one million extra homes benefiting from speeds of up to 100Mb.

> > Click here to order Virgin Media broadband

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You may have the fastest internet connection in the world, but you should also be aware of what your download limit is. Now in some countries, this is explicit. That is to say that when you sign up for internet services, the ISP will give you a data transfer allowance.

That means that only a certain amount of data can be downloaded for the monthly fee you pay to your ISP, beyond that, the ISP will charge for every megabyte downloaded..

In the UK Fixed line ISP’s generally have no explicit data transfer limits, but do monitor usage, and for those who download a lot of data or are hogging bandwidth, their speeds tend to get choked by the ISP. If you are accessing the internet from a mobile device, then it is more than likely that your provider will have some data transfer limits.

So what speed do you need? well that really depends on the kind of internet usage you expect to engage in, below is a rough guide to speeds and what certain speeds would be most suitable for.

512 kbit/s

Most ISP’s will have a 512 kilobit per second service. This may be fairly slow, and some people may wonder what is the point. If you rarely use the internet and just check emails occasionally, then this type of connection is more than adequate.

If you want to do more than that, for example listen to music or watch video, you will need a faster connection.

More importantly it is really cheap, and I personally have a spare 512 kilobit per second connection from another ISP as backup,  just in case my main internet connection ever goes down (which happens more often than I would like unfortunately)

One to Two Megabits/s

This speed is common in many homes and small businesses; however the average speed of connection to the internet is getting faster by the day.

An internet connection of this speed is pretty much good enough to do most things on the internet, from just general surfing, to posting on Facebook, reading the news, and streaming music or video.

At its fastest it takes about 40 seconds to download a 5 minute long song.

Eight to Twenty Four Megabit/s +

Many would argue that a lightning fast connection will mean that loading web pages, even the most content heavy ones will be instantaneous, as will downloading audio and video.

The truth is and I speak from experience, you cannot really tell there is that much difference between a one or 2 Mbps connection, because no matter how fast you can download, you are still at the mercy of the speed of the source that you are downloading from.

If for example you download a video from a site, that only uploads a single file at 2 Mbps, then that is the fastest download you are going to get for that file, no matter how fast your internet connection is.

To make full use of your bandwidth you will need to download multiple files, and only then will you utilize the speeds you have available.

So if you are doing a ton of file sharing, are heavy on the game play, or heaven forbid, download torrents, this is the type of connection for you.

3G – Third Generation: wireless mobile services and applications offering users very fast access to the internet either through their mobile phone or through their computer wirelessly.

ADSL – Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line: DSL service with a larger portion of the capacity devoted to downstream communications, less to upstream. Typically thought of as a residential service using copper cables to deliver the internet to the premises.

Bandwidth – The amount of data transmitted in a given amount of time; usually measured in bits per second, kilobits per second, and megabits per second.

Bit – A single unit of data, either a one or a zero. In the world of broadband, bits are used to refer to the amount of transmitted data. A kilobit (Kb) is approximately 1,000 bits. A megabit (Mb) is approximately 1,000,000 bits.

BPL – Broadband Over Powerline: A technology that allows broadband services to be delivered using existing electrical power supply lines and is now being rolled out in the developing world.

Broadband – A descriptive term for digital technologies that provides consumers with integrated access to voice, high-speed data service, video-demand services, and interactive delivery services

Coaxial Cable – A type of cable that can carry large amounts of data over very long distances. Cable TV and cable modem service both utilize this technology.

Dial-Up – A technology that provides customers with access to the Internet over an existing telephone line.

Downstream or Download – Data that flows from the Internet to the computer e.g. when a user surfs the internet, checks E-mail, that type of dataflow is downstream and the user is downloading.

DSL – Digital Subscriber Line: The use of a copper telephone line to deliver “always on” broadband Internet service.

FTTN – Fiber To The Neighborhood: A hybrid network architecture involving optical fiber from the carrier network, terminating in a neighborhood cabinet with converts the signal from optical to electrical.

FTTP – Fiber To The Premise (Or FTTB – Fiber To The Building): A fiber optic system that connects directly from the carrier network to the user premises.

GSM – Global System for Mobile Communications: This is the current radio/telephone standard in Europe and many other countries except Japan and the United States.

IP-VPN – Internet Protocol -Virtual Private Network: A software-defined network offering the appearance, functionality and usefulness of a dedicated private network

ISDN – Integrated Services Digital Network: An alternative method to simultaneously carry voice, data and other traffic, using the switched telephone network.

ISP – Internet Service Provider: A company providing Internet access to consumers and businesses, acting as a bridge between customer (end-user) and infrastructure owners for dial-up, cable modem and DSL services.

Kbps – Kilobits per second: 1,000 bits per second. A measure of how fast data can be transmitted.

LAN – Local Area Network: A geographically localized network consisting of both hardware and software. The network can link workstations within a building or multiple computers with a single wireless Internet connection.

Mbps – Megabits per second: 1,000,000 bits per second. A measure of how fast data can be transmitted.

Streaming – Streaming video is content sent in compressed form over the Internet and displayed by the viewer in real time. With streaming video or streaming media, a Web user does not have to wait to download a file to play it. Instead, the media is sent in a continuous stream of data and is played as it arrives.

Upstream or Upload – Data flowing from your computer to the Internet (sending E-mail, uploading a file).

Video On Demand – A service that allows users to remotely choose a movie from a digital library and be able to pause, fast-forward, or even rewind their selection.

Majority source: California Public Utilities Commission

O2 broadband are offering their mobile phone customers an amazing deal this Spring (yes, I’m officially declaring Spring!). For a limited time only, those O2 mobile customers who sign up for the O2 Premium or O2 Pro Home broadband packages will receive a FREE £50 credit into their mobile phone bill. This offer is available to -

• Pay monthly customers
• Pay as you go customers
• Mobile Broadband customers.

Plus, if you are not already signed up with O2 mobile you can still take advantage of this offer by simply buying a mobile product within 30 days of purchasing O2 Broadband.

So if you’re already an O2 customer, or not, now is the perfect time to not only pick up one of the best and cost effective broadband providers around, but also save yourself a packet on your mobile phone bill.

> > Click here to order O2 broadband today

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Virgin Media broadband has announced plans to release a 100Mb service, 24 times quicker than average speeds. The service, planned to be up and running by the end of 2010, is the UK’s biggest jump in speed capability ever, and will open up a whole new dimension of internet usage.

The new 100Mb service means users will be able to download -

• music album in as little as 5 seconds
• hour long TV show in 31 seconds
• HD movie in 7 minutes 25 seconds

The new speed tier will provide Virgin Media customers with the fastest internet on the planet, perfect for tech-savvy users. Virgin Media already lead the market in broadband services, and have already increased their top tier broadband from 20Mb to 100Mb in less than two years. That’s some fast work in more ways than one!

Thanks to it’s fibre optic cable network, Virgin Media has been providing next generation internet speeds to over 12 million homes throughout the UK. Plus with their cable networking, Virgin Media are one of the few companies who can actually deliver close to their advertised speeds.

Virgin Media’s chief executive officer, Neil Berkett, said -

There is nothing we can’t do with our fibre optic cable network, and the upcoming launch of our flagship 100Mb service will give our customers the ultimate broadband experience. Just as we led the way by launching the UK’s first ever next generation service, we want to keep giving our customers the very best broadband available, by investing in technological innovation and transforming the experience they have when they are online. The launch of Virgin Media’s 100Mb service will be a historic moment and will mean the UK will be comparable to other leading broadband nations.

Virgin Media will also be looking to recruit hundreds of customers to test their pilot 200Mb service in Coventry, which began work in Kent last year. The pilot system will be focusing on future technologies such as home teleconferencing and downloading HD programmes on-demand. All of these programmes will demand super high speeds, but it appears that Virgin Media have all this in hand!

> > Click here to order Virgin Media broadband

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Talk Talk broadband has extended it’s free connection offer on their Essential and Pro tariffs. This great deal will save you a tasty £29.99, and with package prices starting at just £6.99 a month with up to 24Meg download speeds, now is a great time to choose Talk Talk as your service provider.

The £6.99 Talk Talk Essentials Package features -

• up to 8Meg
• 40GB download allowance
• Evening & weekend calls to UK landlines
• Unlimited local calls, anytime
• Free technical & customer support
• Free wireless ‘G’ router

Whilst the £14.99 Talk Talk Pro Package features -

• Up to 24Meg
• Unlimited download allowance
• Anytime calls to UK landlines
• Calls to UK mobiles for 7p/min flat rate + call connection
• Free technical & customer support
• Free wider range wireless ‘N’ router

Both of these great deals are available on 18 month contracts when ordered with a Talk Talk phone line for £11.49 per month. So why not order online today and pick up one of the cheapest packages on the market and save yourself an extra £29.99?

> > Click here to order online with Talk Talk broadband

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If you are relatively unsophisticated as far as computers go, that is, you can turn your computer on, check your email, browse a few sites, but do very little more than that, then choosing the right internet plan can be a little confusing. Hell it can be a little confusing for even the sophisticated amongst us! There are many things one needs to consider when choosing a broadband plan and we have noted the key ones below.

What kind of broadband package suits you

There are a number of types of package available and determining the type of user you are is the most critical element in determining which package is most suitable for you.

• Beginner’s Broadband
  If you don’t happen to be a heavy internet user, or you have finally stumped up and bought a computer, then chances are you want a package that is fairly easy to get set up, and offers healthy customer support.
• Heavy-Usage Broadband
  So you download tons of music, watch a helluva lot of youtube, engage in file-sharing (heaven forbid) or  play multiplayer online games, then ideally you would be looking for the kind of package that supports that kind of usage, and doesn’t cost a fortune.
• Business Broadband
  If you want to get an office connected, with multiple users, then really you would be best off looking for a package which differs from a general consumer connection. You might want static IP addresses, you may need routers, and the ISP to help manage some of your security issues, and business broadband connections offer the kind of mix one would expect or require.
• Mobile Broadband
  If you log on to the internet from a laptop or you would like to use your mobile phone, then clearly mobile broadband is an option you need to consider. Signing up for this type of connection from a mobile phone service provider, will allow you to access the internet wherever there is mobile phone coverage through a dongle, which is connected to your laptop through a USB device.

What broadband is available in your area?

Most people who live in urban areas will have no problems being able to avail the packages that have been discussed. If you find yourself living in a more rural area, then you will have to check what internet service provider offers services in your area, and that can be found out by using our postcode checker.

Do you want fast broadband?

Bigger usually means better, and in the world of broadband that means faster. Fast internet connections are technically speaking nice to have, but they are like a Ferrari. Ferrari’s are great if you have a track you can race it on. If you need a car to get you from point A to point B on regular roads where there is traffic, then there is only so fast you can go. In fact many of the speeds offered by ISP’s like 20Mbps are not achievable in a single download, in order to use all the bandwidth you have at your disposal, you would need to be doing a lot of things simultaneously.

In actual fact to do most things on the internet you don’t actually need an internet connection speed faster than 2Mbps. If however you know you are going to be downloading a lot, or playing a load of online multiplayer games, then obviously having a faster internet connection is better.

What hardware do you need to get broadband?

All you need is a computer to access the internet, most ISP’s will provide modems, and in this day and age many are even throwing in modems and wireless routers. This is especially useful if you use multiple devices to access the internet, particularly if you use a desktop a laptop and have a gaming console, all of which can be connected through the router to the internet using a single connection. Some providers are even pushing the envelope and are offering free laptops or games consoles to new subscribers, though those type of deals are very limited and few and far between.

Do you need free phone calls with your broadband package?

Bundling your telephone package with your internet subscription is a great way to save money, and more importantly it saves time, and you should check out the packages some of the national ISP’s have.

Do you need digital TV with your broadband?

It is not completely necessary to include a television package with your internet connection, but honestly speaking, the sheer number of channels it gives you access to, can make it really worth your while. If you are bored with a limited selection of channels, bundling digital television with your internet connection is something you should definitely consider and you can also get your broadband for cheaper when bundling.

What software do you need to get broadband?

Once you connect to the internet the biggest single concern is the threat of viruses. There is no real software per say, you need a browser obviously for surfing, but you should invest in some decent antivirus software to ensure that your computer is protected. Some broadband providers even go as far as to provide free antivirus software with their service and that is definitely worth checking into, before you sign up to a package.

What is Broadband

Broadband is a term that refers to high speed internet access, or to be specific a fast data transmission. Technically speaking any customer who has an internet connection of 256 kbps is a broadband customer. Previously consumers who wanted to access the internet used to use a modem with a dial-up connection, so we would add a little caveat that a broadband connection also means that you are always connected to the internet, and the need for dial up is unnecessary.

Though how the internet is accessed varies from country to country and the last definition should be treated loosely.

What Is DSL Internet Connection?

Simply put a DSL connection uses copper wire for data transmission to the last mile. In fact DSL is often referred to as “last mile technology”. This is because the DSL connection occurs from the telephone switching station to the consumer, whether that is in the home or office.

DSL connections are also “always on” unlike previous dial up connections, the DSL utilizes dual copper wires for connection to the telephone exchange, which means the customer can use their internet connection or their telephone without worrying about tying up the line. The need for dialing up the ISP does not exist because DSL is always on.

There are two main types of DSL connections

1. ADSL
   ADSL is the most common type of DSL connection and for the train spotters amongst us stands for asymmetric digital subscriber line. ADSL supports fairly fast download speed (also know as downstream speed) of between 1.5 Mbps to 24 Mbps, the upload (or upstream speed) however is not as fast and supports speeds of between 16 to 640 Kbps. ADSL connections require special modems.
2. SDSL
   Whilst ADSL is common in the UK, SDSL is still far more prevalent throughout Europe and stands for symmetric digital subscriber line. SDSL is slower than its counterpart and supports speeds of up to 3 Mbps, but as its name suggests supports symmetric upload and download speeds. Unlike ADSL however the user cannot use the internet at the same time as they use the phone.

What Is a Cable Internet Connection?

Cable internet means using television cabling to connect to the internet, Using a special cable modem, broadband internet access can be obtained using cable television lines. Cable internet works by using space on the line designed for television channels for data transmission instead. Certain channels are allocated for downloading, whilst other channels are used for uploading.

• Cable television uses coaxial cable as the last mile which allows faster data transmission or much greater bandwidth compared to wire used in telephone lines.
• Coaxial cable is a type of wire that consists of a centre wire surrounded by insulation and then a grounded shield of braided wire. The shield minimizes electrical and radio frequency interference.
• Cable modems can be used to obtain very fast internet access, and given that in places like America, many homes are already connected, is a service that cable television companies are very keen to offer.

In countries like the UK, where cable television was less prevalent than in America, companies such as Virgin Media have laid cable using the latest fibre optic technology, and at the time of writing fibre optic technology allows information to be transmitted at speeds of up to 50Meg!

Cable vs. DSL: The Speeds

The argument over which offers faster speeds is a hotly debated topic, it is hard to declare an outright winner, for a couple of reasons.

Technically speaking Cable internet access is much faster than regular ADSL connection, in fact cable download speeds are often twice as fast as ADSL. In that regard cable is the clear winner, but before we let cable do a jig, it must be said that cable internet access is usually shared bandwidth, so depending on where you are, and how many people are connected at the same time, speeds can vary drastically.

In the UK, companies like Virgin Media are aware, and now use increasingly better technology to share their bandwidth amongst their customers, and in fact the UK government has begun legislating that broadband companies advertising speeds must now deliver achievable speeds, rather than the theoretical top speeds.

The other major advantage with Cable apart from pure speed is that deals that include telephone and television packages are also bundled along with internet access, often making them far more compelling than regular ADSL, which simply cannot compete.

Buying a broadband service can be quite confusing, internet service providers (ISP) offer a whole range of services from internet access through to digital television, telephone, and sometimes the jargon is can be a little confusing.
This guide is aimed at distilling some of the relevant information :

Broadband Price :

The first thing you need to consider when shopping for a broadband package is of course what your budget is. Broadband packages can range from anywhere as cheap as £8 to as much as £50 a month if you are bundling television and digital TV in your package.

A lot of broadband providers are also providing offers where the first two months subscription are completely free, so it is worth comparing broadband deals and seeing what’s on offer in your area.

Broadband Usage :

The next thing you need to consider is what your usage is likely to be. If all you are doing is posting on Facebook, checking emails and doing some browsing, then really you do not need the fastest internet connection around. In fact an internet connection of just 2 Mbps is more than adequate for that.

If however you know you download tons of media, everything from music to video, and perhaps do some file sharing, then you may want to consider a faster connection.

Broadband Availability :

So you have chosen a package, you now need to know whether the ISP is able to connect to your location. Use our broadband postcode checker, that will let you know who provides services to your area, simply by entering your post code. Really if you live in an urban area, then it is not to much of a concern. If however you live in a more rural or remote area, then it will definitely need to be something you think about.

Broadband Equipment :

Most people have multiple devices that they use to connect to the internet, these days its not uncommon, for people to have a phone, a laptop and a desktop, all of which they would like to connect to the internet from a single access point.If you are looking to do that, then you will need a wireless router. Many ISP’s now bundle these devices with the connection, and it is worth checking into whether the package you are looking at also offers this as an added bonus. If not then it is advisable that you buy one, because they really are simple to set up, and once they are up and running, you can connect all your devices to the internet.

Contract Duration :

Most ISP’s require that you sign up for a minimum 12 month contract, and like with mobile telephones, the longer you sign up for, the cheaper your monthly cost gets. If you want to cancel the contract, the ISP will hit you with a fee, so if you are not sure whether you are going to be at the same address, then it is worth signing up to a contract that is as flexible as you can get.

Some ISPs specialise in providing smaller, more manageable contracts of 3 months which are proving popular with students, people living in rented accommodation and anyone who may not be living at one address for more than a year.

When it comes to selecting a broadband service it is extremely important that consumers know what type of services are available, and which is best suited for them. This guide is designed to help you tell the difference between types of broadband services available in the UK, and allow you to make an informed choice.

DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) Services

Simply put, a DSL internet service uses telecommunications lines that already exist to deliver internet services to the home or the office. There are two types of DSL broadband services

1. Asymmetrical Digital Subscriber Line ADSL
   This type of broadband is very fast, and delivers internet access over the same line you use for your home telephone. It also allows you to use the internet at the same time as making a telephone call, and is very useful for people who do a lot of downloading, but very little uploading. The download speeds obtainable are a lot faster than the obtainable upload speeds. This is what most people think of when they think of internet access or broadband.
2. Symmetrical Digital Subscriber Line SDSL
   SDSL is very similar to ADSL, but rather than using the same telephone line to deliver internet access, a separate telephone line is used. This means that the user can achieve both fast download and upload speeds, and is probably extremely suitable for businesses that need fast two way speeds.

Cable Broadband

These days cable broadband is proving to be very popular, and is the delivery of internet services using the same cable used to deliver television. This means that cable companies like Virgin Media broadband are bundling internet, television channels and even phones as a single package that provides consumers a lot of convenience, as well as a wider choice of television programming.

The ISP provides a modem with two outputs, one for the TV, and the other for the computer, and the only thing you need to do to access the internet is turn your computer on.

The other advantage is it offers pretty good two way speeds.

Wireless / Mobile Broadband

For those who use a laptop or want to be able to browse the internet using their phone, then a wireless broadband plan may the best choice. Simply put if you sign up to a plan with a telephone carrier, then you will be able to access the internet wherever there is mobile phone coverage.

The phone company will provide a mobile modem also know as a dongle, which plugs into your computer or laptop through the USB slot (where you plug in your flash drive). Once you have connected the modem, you can pretty much use the internet wherever there is a signal from your mobile phone company, which these days is pretty much everywhere.

The only disadvantage is that these plans are not designed for heavy downloading, so if you use the internet for checking the news, emailing and social networking, mobile broadband is more than fine, but if you watch a lot of youtube video, download music, then it would be more cost effective to do that from a wired connection.

Broadband Through Satellite

Just as it became possible to receive television or telephone calls through a satellite; the internet is also now being delivered through the use of a satellite dish. This is extremely useful for the more remote or less populated parts of the UK that are not connected to a network.

There are two types of satellite internet services, one which allows the consumer to only download information, in the same way a television set does. If the user wants to upload or send information, then they must again rely on the use of some kind of wired network, like a telephone line.

The other type of satellite internet service allows for two way data transfer however it must be said that satellite internet service is far more expensive, than DSL or cable, it also performs poorly when the weather is bad, and perhaps the worst thing about the service is, it is not reliable for real time data transfer, though of late there has been significant improvement in the technology.