Overview

Broadband is a general term for high speed Internet access (the opposite of narrowband ie. Modem access over a telephone line), which can be implemented by a number of different technologies:

• Broadband ADSL telephone connection
• Broadband xDSL LLU telephone connection
• Wireless (radio) Broadband
• Satellite Broadband (either one way or bi-directional)
• Cable (typically cable TV companies)

Broadband ADSL telephone connection

ADSL is a technology which allows a standard telephone line to support both normal voice calls and high speed connections to the Internet, at speeds up to 40 times a standard analogue modem. The technology allows the telephone to be used at the same time as the connection to the Internet, so no more missed telephone calls while surfing the net. The Internet connection is provided at a fixed monthly rate, with prices starting at a little over £20 per month, and the Internet connection can be available 24 hours per day.

British Telecom have upgraded over 1000 telephone exchanges in the UK, primarily in the South East, but also locally at Kidderminster and Stourport. BT have implemented a pre-registration scheme for another 1000+ large exchanges such that if the number of registrations reaches a pre-set target, BT will undertake to upgrade the exchange to support ADSL.

Broadband xDSL LLU telephone connection

Local Loop Unbundling (LLU) has allowed companies other than BT to use the Local Loop cables (ie. your telephone connection to the Bewdley exchange) to provide ADSL broadband. So far very few exchanges have been upgraded to allow LLU, but a number of companies may be able to supply a solution to Bewdley using LLU. If sufficient interest can be shown to one of these companies such that it is commercially viable then this may provide an alternative to BT.

Wireless (radio) Broadband

Wireless broadband offers great potential for rural areas, where the population is located to far away from telephone exchanges for ADSL or ISDN to be implemented. Wireless could offer a solution to Bewdley if one of the suppliers will install a base station locally.

Satellite Broadband (either one way or bi-directional)

Satellite Broadband is available from a couple of suppliers, but has a number of issues which limit its use, which include high initial cost, large(ish) satellite dish which may require planning permission and high latency on the link (technically pings in excess of 200ms)

Cable (typically cable TV companies)

Cable TV has not been installed in Bewdley, and with the current financial situation for cable TV companies is unlikely to occur in the foreseeable future.