Broadband includes several high-speed transmission technologies such as:
Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) Cable Modem Fiber Wireless Satellite Broadband over o!er lines (BL) "he broadband technolog# #ou choose !ill depend on a number o$ $actors% "hese ma# include !hether #ou are located in an urban or rural area& ho! broadband 'nternet access is pac(aged !ith other services (such as voice telephone and home entertainment)& price& and availabilit#% Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) DSL is a !ireline transmission technolog# that transmits data $aster over traditional copper telephone lines alread# installed to homes and businesses% DSL-based broadband provides transmission speeds ranging $rom several hundred )bps to millions o$ bits per second (Mbps)% "he availabilit# and speed o$ #our DSL service ma# depend on the distance $rom #our home or business to the closest telephone compan# $acilit#% The following are types of DSL transmission technologies: *s#mmetrical Digital Subscriber Line (*DSL) + ,sed primaril# b# residential customers& such as 'nternet sur$ers& !ho receive a lot o$ data but do not send much% *DSL t#picall# provides $aster speed in the do!nstream direction than the upstream direction% *DSL allo!s $aster do!nstream data transmission over the same line used to provide voice service& !ithout disrupting regular telephone calls on that line% S#mmetrical Digital Subscriber Line (SDSL) + ,sed t#picall# b# businesses $or services such as video con$erencing& !hich need signi$icant band!idth both upstream and do!nstream% Faster $orms o$ DSL t#picall# available to businesses include: -igh data rate Digital Subscriber Line (-DSL). and /er# -igh data rate Digital Subscriber Line (/DSL)% Cable Modem Cable modem service enables cable operators to provide broadband using the same coa0ial cables that deliver pictures and sound to #our "/ set% Most cable modems are e0ternal devices that have t!o connections: one to the cable !all outlet& the other to a computer% "he# provide transmission speeds o$ 1%2 Mbps or more% Subscribers can access their cable modem service b# simpl# turning on their computers& !ithout dialing-up an 'S% 3ou can still !atch cable "/ !hile using it% "ransmission speeds var# depending on the t#pe o$ cable modem& cable net!or(& and tra$$ic load% Speeds are comparable to DSL% Fiber Fiber optic technolog# converts electrical signals carr#ing data to light and sends the light through transparent glass $ibers about the diameter o$ a human hair% Fiber transmits data at speeds $ar e0ceeding current DSL or cable modem speeds& t#picall# b# tens or even hundreds o$ Mbps% "he actual speed #ou e0perience !ill var# depending on a variet# o$ $actors& such as ho! close to #our computer the service provider brings the $iber and ho! the service provider con$igures the service& including the amount o$ band!idth used% "he same $iber providing #our broadband can also simultaneousl# deliver voice (/o') and video services& including video-on-demand% "elecommunications providers sometimes o$$er $iber broadband in limited areas and have announced plans to e0pand their $iber net!or(s and o$$er bundled voice& 'nternet access& and video services% /ariations o$ the technolog# run the $iber all the !a# to the customer4s home or business& to the curb outside& or to a location some!here bet!een the provider4s $acilities and the customer% ireless Wireless broadband connects a home or business to the 'nternet using a radio lin( bet!een the customer4s location and the service provider4s $acilit#% Wireless broadband can be mobile or $i0ed% Wireless technologies using longer-range directional e5uipment provide broadband service in remote or sparsel# populated areas !here DSL or cable modem service !ould be costl# to provide% Speeds are generall# comparable to DSL and cable modem% *n e0ternal antenna is usuall# re5uired% Wireless broadband 'nternet access services o$$ered over $i0ed net!or(s allo! consumers to access the 'nternet $rom a $i0ed point !hile stationar# and o$ten re5uire a direct line-o$-sight bet!een the !ireless transmitter and receiver% "hese services have been o$$ered using both licensed spectrum and unlicensed devices% For e0ample& thousands o$ small Wireless 'nternet Services roviders (W'Ss) provide such !ireless broadband at speeds o$ around one Mbps using unlicensed devices& o$ten in rural areas not served b# cable or !ireline broadband net!or(s% Wireless Local *rea 6et!or(s (WL*6s) provide !ireless broadband access over shorter distances and are o$ten used to e0tend the reach o$ a 7last-mile7 !ireline or $i0ed !ireless broadband connection !ithin a home& building& or campus environment% Wi-Fi net!or(s use unlicensed devices and can be designed $or private access !ithin a home or business& or be used $or public 'nternet access at 7hot spots7 such as restaurants& co$$ee shops& hotels& airports& convention centers& and cit# par(s% Mobile !ireless broadband services are also becoming available $rom mobile telephone service providers and others% "hese services are generall# appropriate $or highl#-mobile customers and re5uire a special C card !ith a built in antenna that plugs into a user4s laptop computer% 8enerall#& the# provide lo!er speeds& in the range o$ several hundred )bps% Satellite 9ust as satellites orbiting the earth provide necessar# lin(s $or telephone and television service& the# can also provide lin(s $or broadband% Satellite broadband is another $orm o$ !ireless broadband& and is also use$ul $or serving remote or sparsel# populated areas% Do!nstream and upstream speeds $or satellite broadband depend on several $actors& including the provider and service pac(age purchased& the consumer4s line o$ sight to the orbiting satellite& and the !eather% "#picall# a consumer can e0pect to receive (do!nload) at a speed o$ about 2:: )bps and send (upload) at a speed o$ about ;: )bps% "hese speeds ma# be slo!er than DSL and cable modem& but the# are about 1: times $aster than the do!nload speed !ith dial-up 'nternet access% Service can be disrupted in e0treme !eather conditions% Broadband over o!erline (BL) BL is the deliver# o$ broadband over the e0isting lo!- and medium-voltage electric po!er distribution net!or(% BL speeds are comparable to DSL and cable modem speeds% BL can be provided to homes using e0isting electrical connections and outlets% BL is an emerging technolog# that is available in ver# limited areas% 't has signi$icant potential because po!er lines are installed virtuall# ever#!here& alleviating the need to build ne! broadband $acilities $or ever# customer%