Broadband - Looking To The Future

With such a range of broadband providers currently available to us - all of whom vying to secure our services with promises of fast connections for low prices. But with possibilities of fibre technology being discussed both in media and in parliament, what kind of services can we expect from providers in the future?

The majority of our broadband is streamed down copper wires - known as DSL - with the majority of cheap broadband providers operating their own equipment out of BT telephone exchanges using a technique known as Local Loop Unbundling (LLU)

But what other broadband technology options could be available to us in future?

Cable

Cable broadband technology is made up of three parts:

• Modem at end user - connected to the customer's PC


• TV network - which the signal flows through


• Router at end user - which transfers the signal from the network to the connection at the end user

Unlike ADSL, connection by cable is not affected by distance from the exchange. The connection uses a mixture of copper and fibre technology and the system is always operational, giving end users the opportunity to receive the same speeds.

Fibre optic line

Fibre line technology - as the name suggests - utilises cables which contain tiny fibres in order to transmit digital information in the form of light signals. Unlike electrical signals - which are prone to signal interference from other nearby cables - light signals utilised in fibre optics can be sent at a higher frequency than the voltage down a copper line. Fibre lines are also unaffected by outside elements - so are not subject to the noise issues that plague copper wire technology. As fibre technology is expensive to manufacture and operate, cost could be seen as being the biggest problem with the idea of broadband by fibre technology, with estimates for implementation across the UK at up to 15 billion.

VDSL (Very High Speed Digital Subscriber Line)

VDSL utilises both copper and fibre technology in the circuit, with the connection between the exchange and the street cabinet using fibre optics in a process known as FTTC (or Fibre to the Cabinet) with the main connection from the cabinet deployed using copper wiring.

VDSL is capable of supporting a number of services over a single connection - including HDTV and VoIP technologies, as well a broadband connection. However, like current ADSL lines, connection speed is still distance dependent - with those closest to the exchange likely to get the fastest speeds.

ADSL2+

ADSL2+ is an extension of current ADSL lines, allowing for data rates to be doubled allowing for a faster broadband connection. The technology is closely linked to BT work on their core network; however the performance of such a service is dependent on distance and the age of internal wiring systems in older houses.

Wimax (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access)

A wireless technology that utilises antenna in order to send and receive signals linking broadband providers to the customer. This technology is used as the dominant infrastructure for broadband access in developing countries and remote areas, however landscape such as forests and mountains can also have an effect upon the signal.

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