Waiting for a dial- up service to connect to the internet is like watching paint dry. However, a landline is not a prerequisite for an online connection anymore. Welcome to the world of mobile broadband. Originally aimed at laptop-friendly business users who move around a lot, the latest communication service can be yours for only £10 a month and is designed to be fast, cheap and convenient. Wireless, portable and charged by the imaginatively named 'dongle', mobile broadband is yet another way to keep in touch, wherever you may be.

Sound too good to be true? Well, it all depends on where you live and how you use the internet. A 3G phone signal is essential for accessing mobile broadband however, despite the fact that this signal is available to 90% of the population, the more remote one's location, the more difficult it is to get a strong signal.

Other considerations include how often and how much you download from the internet. Those who like to download regularly may find landline broadband a cheaper option until mobile broadband downloading prices fall. As it is, most providers offer around 3GB a month for a one off payment, charging more if you exceed this limit. However, if you're not a heavy downloader, mobile broadband could definitely offer you more for less.

And this is only the beginning. Giant service providers such as 3 and T-Mobile hope to provide mobile broadband to 98% of the UK by 2010. In addition, their proposals to double speeds make for a very attractive package, leaving landline and dial-up connections in the shade.

One thing's for sure, if you can't live without the internet and you're always on the go, mobile broadband will revolutionise your working relations and you won't miss a breath.

SDSL Broadband or Symmetric Digital Subscriber Line is a high-speed Internet access service with matching upstream and downstream data transfer rates. SDSL Broadband is the ideal choice for very heavy bandwidth use. For example, as a medium for streaming technology, Voice Over IP, or server hosting, SDSL Broadband is the appropriate service. Also with contention not being a problem, even at the worst of times, the connection will still be better than other DSL connections.

This broadband will utilise a digital frequency travelling across existing copper telephones lines to send and receive data. When using the telephone line for this service, phone and fax services on that line must be suspended. Therefore a dedicated second, or additional, line is then needed for an SDSL service. This differs from ADSL, which leaves room for both standard analogue telephone equipment and the digital signal, so that one can talk on the phone or use a fax machine while online.

Using a copper pair running from the local phone company to the dedicated modem will provide internet bandwidth at a lower cost than T1 service. SDSL Broadband is used to provide internet access, but it is not a replacement for communications based on protocols other than TCP/IP. It allows the same data transfer speed in both directions, it is "Symmetrical". Sometimes a few lines have impairments that prevent having a suitable all copper connection and prevent some from benefiting from an SDSL connection.

It is not available in all areas and speeds might vary depending upon physical distance from the local hubs. The fastest speed obtainable depends on the distance between the providers building, usually the phone company, called the Central Office or C/O, and the installed modem. The distance is the length of the copper pair, which is probably more than the direct "in a straight line" distance. The phone company's central office is usually located in highly populated areas or in the business district of a community. If the circuit is too long, the phone company may consider putting in a remote central office also called a Remote DSLAM. An SDSL Broadband is generally available in speeds from 512kb to 2Mb per second - roughly 10 to 100 times the speed of a dialup phone line.

Since this type of broadband operates on its own dedicated line, no Microfilter (A small device that plugs into a normal telephone socket and splits the line into both a standard telephone socket and a DSL broadband socket) is needed because SDSL Broadband operates on a dedicated line; there is no need to provide a filter that is designed to facilitate other services. As such SDSL completely takes over while running and no other service can concurrently run.

It will utilise the full availability of the phone line bandwidth and thus allows for the maximum connection available. Although some draw backs exist to this equipment, the benefits surpass any such drawbacks and allow SDSL Broadband users the best DSL connection depending on their needs.

SDSL or Symmetric Digital Subscriber Line is a DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) variant. SDSL Broadband provides a high-speed internet access service, with matching upstream and downstream data rates ranging from several speeds from 512K to 2MB. With SDSL Broadband, data can be sent to the internet from the client machine or received from the Internet with equal bandwidth availability in both directions, hence its name Symmetric.

In most often cases, the DSL service is asymmetrical (ADSL), with the bulk of the bandwidth reserved for receiving data, not sending it because of the limited uploading known by users. However, unlike ADSL, it cannot co-exist with a conventional voice service on the same pair as it takes over the entire bandwidth. So using your phone line and the SDSL simultaneously is impossible. This broadband also runs at a contention ratio of 10:1 at the exchange compared to 20:1 or 50:1 for ADSL. This means that in a worst case scenario instead of sharing your connection with 19 or up to 49 other users, you'd only share it with 10.

Although SDSL is not available in all areas, speeds might vary depending upon your physical distance from local hubs and your provider. This broadband service is also a little more expensive from the other services, but well worth the difference for those with demanding upstream needs like small businesses. It typically falls in price between ADSL and T-1, and it is mainly targeted at small and medium businesses who may host a server on site, and want to use DSL, but don't need the higher performance of a leased line.

Also apart from small businesses, SDSL Broadband can also serve individuals that require high upload speeds. Network sharing, for example, has become very popular and with it the need for uploading programs and files - often extremely large files. SDSL is a good choice for heavy network sharing, as long as the user has a second telephone line to dedicate to the service or chooses to suspend telephone services while online. This broadband is also especially useful for home-workers needing faster upload speeds, or who host a server on site (such as a Virtual Private Network or Terminal Server).

SDSL Broadband service is an "always on" service, meaning that the computer is actively connected to the Internet whenever powered up. If the computer always remains on, the Internet connection will be continuously active. An Internet service provider offering SDSL may offer different grades for varying prices. Generally the faster the data rate, the more expensive the service. Usually, long-term contracts are required for SDSL service regardless of the grade chosen.

You will find that they provide voice-quality, business-grade access without port blocking or proxy servers. The speed of service can improve efficiency and productivity of usage. In the end this broadband is an excellent choice for users who need its improved upload speed and its benefits to small business are colossal. For those who do need SDSL Broadband, it is really the best choice because of its practicality and affordability.

Wireless networks are being used by companies and basic consumers every day. Now, what do you need to setup a wireless network? We will assume we have two computers without any wireless equipment.

Now, in order to setup a wireless network you need the following:

· broadband internet (dial up will not work!) or ADSL internet

· one modem that we can connect to our wireless router

· one wireless router

· one wireless network adapter per computer

· cables and all the equipment that come with our modem and our router

· and patience of course

The equipment shown above should be enough to setup a wireless network. For each additional computer, you will just need an extra wireless network adapter.

Follow your manufacturer's guidelines to configure your wireless router on your computer. This is step number one - configuring your wireless router.

Step 2 is to connect your wireless router to your broadband and or ADSL modem. Internet lights and power lights should be alight on both your modem and your router. If they're not, perform the setup again until they come on.

Step 3 is to connect each adapter to individual computer and then install drivers for both adapters. After that, restart your computer and here you go, you should now be able to connect to the Internet wirelessly.

If problems occur, make sure in Internet Explorer settings you choose Detect Settings Automatically. If however, you are using your ISP's IP address, then type in that address or your router's IP address (it will look something like 192.68.1.1 or similar).

If you encounter some really complicated issues, at times, they are not even complicated, just follow the instructions and you will find the whole process as easy as installing Windows.

Optical carriers are connections that transmit voice and other data via fiber optic phone lines which also serve Internet. Optical carriers are much faster and have much greater bandwidth than traditional telephone carriers.

These "OCs" are used by large corporations, particularly those with global offices operating worldwide. Optical carriers can handle data exchange that includes multimedia file transfer, audio and video downloads, and voice.

Data can be exchanged via wireless servers at multiple locations. There are many types of OCs. Beginning with OC1 and working up to OC192, the varying optical carriers can handle increasing amounts of data. This article will focus on OC48 in the telecommunications industry.

T-carriers were developed in the 1960s and have been improved upon continuously as the Internet has grown in popularity. Private companies began to create their own "Intranets" that required private connections rather than less secure Internet connections.

T1 and T3 lines were used by growing businesses with 5-30 or more than 50 employees, respectively. T-carrier lines could handle the increasing demand for data transfer as employees began using email, audio and video file transfer, and multimedia exchanges on a regular basis.

Businesses continued to grow, and though optical carriers had also been around for some time, they have only recently become popular. T1 and T3 lines are inefficient for large corporations. They simply cannot handle information and data exchange between hundreds of employees whether in the same state, between states or between countries.

Optical carriers can handle various types of communication in a large geographic range. They have superseded T-carriers in many areas of the corporate world.

OC48 in the Telecom Industry

OC48 is in the mid-range for speed and price in the realm of optical carriers. It can handle 2.488 gigabytes of information per second. This type of connection can cost $300,000-$500,000 just to start out. The high price is worthwhile to global corporations who require a fast and efficient data transmission connection. T-carriers are approximately $10,000 in starting costs by comparison with optical carriers.

OC48 requires a strong Internet Service Provider to provide a backbone for its many connections. Businesses should carefully research OC48 and other optical carriers to make sure they are purchasing the right carrier, at an affordable price, from a reputable Internet Service Provider.

Finding information about optical carriers on line is daunting so a great deal of time and effort may need to be spent to gather necessary information. It will be worthwhile to get your business connected worldwide.

When most of us think of an internet connection, many a tangled wire springs to mind. Cable upon cable at the back of our machines, linked to socket after socket in an attempt to connect ourselves to the World Wide Web.

However, over recent years the use of cables has been pretty much eradicated through use of wireless routers - allowing us to establish broadband internet connections without tangling the back of our machines up.

Most of us now make use of dongles in order to connect. Dongles are portable modems, which over the years have been scaled down to smaller sizes in order to save space.

These handy little units plug into USB sockets on your computer, and give users the chance to connect to a broadband connection through use of wireless technology, with a large number of providers now making use of these devices in order to offer internet services of their own.

Indeed, many mobile phone companies are now offering their own services for people on the move - with deals on dongles driving sales as consumers strive for fast and cheap broadband connections.

However, the system itself is still relatively new, and with talk of upgrading phone networks to cope with the influx of ultra-fast broadband connections, many are choosing to go wireless when it comes to connections.
When searching for an internet package that provides connection through a dongle - whether you're looking to have a net connection or to replace your phone with VoIP technology - there are a few aspects you should bear in mind when searching for a deal:


* Connection speeds and what can be achieved on the deal you're interested in

* Bandwidth limits - what is the allowance and is there a charge for exceeding your limit?

* Contract length - this varies with each plan, so it's best to determine how long you're likely to need wireless service for before committing to any contracts

* Additional costs - these can include the price of the dongle itself

Nearly every home in the UK has access to the internet, and most of those now have a broadband connection. But for the uninitiated, what exactly is broadband all about?

In a nutshell, broadband is a faster connection to the internet. Instead of the 'dial-up' method, where you get a speed of around 56 kilobits per second, an average broadband connection is potentially 16 megabits per second (one megabit is 1024 kilobits). Another advantage of broadband is the separate connection from your phone; a broadband modem comes with a splitter box which divides your landline between your modem and the phone so you can talk while surfing the net.

There are two main types of broadband connection: ADSL and Cable. ADSL simply uses your existing phone line and, via a special modem, converts it to a high-speed connection. Cable is delivered via a special cable which can also transmit your telephone and digital TV, if you wish. Not all areas have cable access, so for some the ADSL connection may be the only option.

Some of the main benefits of having a broadband connection are:

Speed - Practically everything you can do on the internet - web applications, online games, watching videos - will be faster with broadband.

Constant connection - Most broadband accounts are constantly connected to the internet, meaning you don't have to worry about your connection dropping when you're in the middle of downloading PC updates etc.

Flat monthly rate - Rather than watching the clock or only going online in the evening - the busiest time - with a broadband connection you just pay a flat fee every month and you can use the internet any time for as long as you like.

More to do - With broadband you can do so much more than with a dial-up connection. You can use your PC as a television, play games online against other real-life players (World of Warcraft is an example), and even use it to call others in the world for free. The latter uses a program called Skype, and calls between two Skype users are free regardless of distance.

When comparing broadband packages for the first time, there are things you need to be aware of. Signing up with a broadband provider is a contract like any other, so make sure you know what you're getting yourself into.

Price - the price you see advertised may not always be the price you pay. Often a new user will be offered an introductory rate of £6.49 per month, but after three months this could rise to £12.99 per month. Ensure you will be able to afford the higher rate for the full term.

Contract - the contract length should be taken into account, as well as any fees payable for cancelling early. Most broadband contracts are 12 months, but some can be as long as 18 months; the monthly fees on these tend to be lower but the cancellation fees higher. There are some providers who offer 1 month contracts, but you would still have to pay a penalty fee if you cancel your service within 12 months.

Speed - One of the most frequent complaints consumers have about their broadband is that the speed they get doesn't match the speed they pay for. Sadly, around 96% of broadband users get considerably less than the advertised speed. For example; if someone had an 'up to' 8mb connection, in reality they may only get speeds of 2 or 3mb. This is due in part to your distance from the broadband exchange, but can be caused by the time of day you go on, or a number of other things. Most providers will now test your line to give you a reasonable idea of the speed you can expect.

Usage caps - You may have seen broadband packages advertised with '2GB download limit' or some such offer. This means that you can download up to 2GB of data in one month. It sounds a lot but remember, every webpage you look at counts as a download - if you're a die-hard web surfer or you like watching online movies etc, you may be more suited to a higher limit or unlimited usage.

Availability - Not all broadband providers cover all of the UK. You may find that the provider with the cheapest deal doesn't have an exchange near you; in this case you would have to find one who does. If you have a phone line with Telewest or NTL you may be limited to broadband with that company. Those with BT lines tend to have more choice.

Bundles - Some providers offer a media bundle - phone, broadband and sometimes digital TV for a single monthly rate. Often you can get a good deal with one of these bundles, but only if you genuinely need all the services. If you only need broadband, then look for a stand-alone package.

Customer reviews - if you're on a dial-up connection this may take a while, but it's always worth looking at reviews by existing or past customers of broadband providers to give you an idea of what to expect. There have been reports of shoddy customer service from some, which of course you wouldn't be aware of until it happened to you! Save yourself the stress by doing your research.

When looking for an answer to your business voice network requirements don't get caught in a "sky is falling" panic. You have plenty of options that will do what you need without breaking the bank. One oft overlooked or forgotten option... T1 PRI.

Plus keep this in mind .... T1 still exists for PRI usage with VoIP developers.

PRI or Primary Rate Interface provides 23 (on T1) or 30 (on E1) channels for "transmission of voice calls". I won't go deep into details, but thanks to Fibre, VDSL2 and other long stretch forms of bandwidth delivery is theoretically obsolete for the purpose of data transmission.

If you're in need of a modern T1 equivilent, I strongly recommend SHDSL which can be multiplexed either on a cell level (ideal) or on a Multilink PPP level for increased bandwidth.

SHDSL provides up to 2Mbit symmetrical bandwidth which exceeds T1 and in a business line circumstance costs far less, even for guaranteed bandwidth. It's cheaper and easier to configure and maintain as well. Using a relatively low cost Cisco or Juniper device, it's even easy to hook up 32 of
these lines together.

I have also heard that most phone carriers are looking for test sites for VDSL2 technology which would be ideal for any organization that is actually considering the use of T1.

If a T1 PRI is the right fit for your business voice network .... then I suggest saving yourself time, effort, and money by having the independent advisors at DS3-Bandwidth.com do the leg work for you (at no cost to you too).