Whenever new broadband technology arrives, it normally means months and months of roads being dug up thus causing inconvenience for everyone. However, this is all set to change with the new plans to plant the cables into Britain's sewers.

The new method of laying the cables saves time and money. The normal method of digging roads up usually takes around 12 months to wire a 2km run, however the new method allows the teams to cover the same distance in 4 hours. This is an amazing revelation and would save a considerable amount of taxpayer's money and with the staggering cost of traffic disturbance from digging up roads at £4.5bn and if a company can avoid adding to it then they must be commended.

For broadband users, there are many good points to come from this. As well as having a brand new, faster broadband available, they will not have the inconvenience of roads being blocked due to road works. Due to rise in popularity of watching TV shows and programmes via the internet, the new broadband will allow people to watch the shows as if they were watching them on a television.

The broadband speed test will be as important as ever because you will need to make sure you can receive it before you get caught up in the excitement of the new and improved broadband. With many improvements set to follow this could be the broadband everyone has been waiting for; home security and controlling everything from your heating to lights can all be achieved using the high speed broadband.

For the best deals on cheap broadband shop online and find the ideal package for you. The possibilities are endless with broadband so get out there and experience them.

What do you think of when you hear the words proxy server? If you're like me, the first thing it makes you think of is something like "Night at the Roxbury". It is just the "x" that gets me I guess. Kind of silly isn't it? However, the truth is that it is nothing like that. How much do you know about proxy servers? Here we will briefly go over what exactly a proxy server is and some of the benefits you will enjoy while using one.

A proxy server actually does a few things you may not be aware of. It lets you surf the web without anyone knowing it was you! Does that sound absurd? It isn't. There are many reasons and occasions when people do not want to be detected while viewing certain websites.

Some of these instances to use a proxy server would be if you are at school. It's likely that the computers at your school prohibit you from accessing certain websites, or certain types of websites. Your internet surfing behavior is often monitored. Maybe you have tried to visit something during a break only to find you were unable to. This is probably because it was blocked.

The same is true of many workplaces today. You will be unable to visit websites that they have already blocked on their computers.

However, by using proxy servers you will normally be able to unblock and access these pages. Many people use proxy servers to be able to surf the internet, and websites of their choice anonymously.

Anonymous surfing is not the only use for proxy servers though. They can also increase the speed and effectiveness of your internet connection in some cases. Whenever it is
used on a network of computers, it will automatically save information, files, and web pages that are commonly accessed. This saves time from retrieving the information individually each time someone new tries to access it.

This is called a "cache." When someone requests a web page for example, by trying to view it, the proxy server will check the cache first to see if it is there. If it is, the information will be provided quicker than if it isn't.

Lastly, proxy servers are an effective tool in hiding your IP address. When you go on the internet and visit a website, you can be leaving behind traces of your identity like you IP address. Hackers can get this information and even gain access to your personal computer and hard drive. Therefore, it can be very important to hide information like this from others.

Overall, by using a proxy server you can help ensure that you are safe. There are many places that enable you to use a proxy server via their websites. By doing this you will be keeping your information private, safe, and out of dangerous hands. You are also able to surf to websites of your choice anonymously, even if they are normally "blocked" on the computer that you are using.

Mobile network O2 brought their own brand broadband deals to the market last year, they have three packages: £12.50 per month for the standard up to 8 meg package, £15 a month for the up to 16 meg package or £20 a month for up to 20 meg. All of the three broadband packages have no connection charge, a free wireless router, unlimited download limits and free 24/7 UK based customer services.

Now previously o2 have offered their own contract customers a discount off the usual prices - they will give you a discount of £5 per month off the usual prices if you have an o2 contract, the discount will last as long as you are an o2 customer. This means that the costs of the packages are: £7.50, £10 and £15 - making them very competitive deals.

However as of this week o2 have extended the existing customer discount to their Pay & Go customers - meaning that all those of you with o2 PAYG mobiles can also get a nice £5 off each months broadband rental.

All that the Pay & Go customers need to do it keep their mobile account active by topping up a minimum of £10 every three months - which is a pretty good deal!

So if anyone has the o2 broadband already and is paying full price, it is well worth getting hold of an o2 sim card and making sure you top up £10 every three months to get a tidy little £5 off a month. If you are an existing customer just get in touch with o2 and get your discount now!

A year ago, Ofcom released a new law that would make switching providers considerably easier and eliminate the fuss and hassle of switching. One of the main problems in the past was the companies were withholding a customers MAC code (Media Access Control) which they need when switching. However, all this has changed thanks to new laws.

There has been a vast reduction in complaints to Ofcom about switching, with figures dropping from 825 in March to 517 January 2008. All this means the chances of customers finding cheap broadband increases as competition within the sector is rife. Customers can now freely choose who they want their provider to be and this opens the door to better deals as companies know how important it is to keep hold of their existing customers.

Despite the decrease in complaints, the governing bodies still want it to reduce further. This is great news for customers as finding the ideal broadband package is easier than ever. The law permitting the companies to release a customers MAC code was to end soon but due to research carried out, the decision has been taken to extend the programme for another 6 months.

When looking for broadband deals, be sure to check the speed you should be getting. The broadband speed test allows you do exactly this and will help you when looking for your ideal package. With new laws allowing customers to switch their supplier quicker, easier and with minimal disruption to the service now may be the best time to start looking around for a better deal. Search online and you may find you can save yourself money simply by switching providers

The right information and access to the same has become very important in the present day world. People need to remain in the knowledge of the multitude of news, views, opinions and developments to stay ahead in their respective areas of work. The importance of the internet can be understood in this context. As a matter of fact, the world wide web together with internet connectivity has brought in a revolution of sorts in way we are 'networking' with others - here and now.

The point is that for some time now, the internet has been the facilitating medium wherein users can connect, socialise, chat and keep in touch with people and events. The availability of "broadband" internet has accelerated this entire process. Users are now connecting with others at speeds that were unimaginable even a couple of years ago.

These connections are better than dial-up ones. This is because the speed at which the internet can be accessed is significantly higher. As a matter of fact, the speed of data transmission is more than 200,000 bits per second in one direction. This is possible due to the incorporation of the latest transmission technologies. The text, images and sound are converted into digital bits before being transmitted.

High speed internet connections are quite invaluable for both professional as well as casual users. One can attach personal computers to these connections and make the most of some very unique services. It is possible, for instance, to use the high speed broadband connections to make long distance calls at very economical rates. Broadband users can also go for online shopping and web surfing and be assured of a completely trouble-free experience. Moreover, unlike dial-up connections, the phone lines are free and can be used for making calls.

They have several merits to their credit. It is very easy to transfer and upload important files and documents, for instance. There is also an element of cost efficiency, wherein users can do without printing all the information that is required in specific instances.