The way broadband speed is advertised and what you should expect is often confusing – and perhaps even deliberately so.

Your Internet Service Provider (ISP) delivers your broadband through your phone line, on a separate service to voice telephone calls. This is called ADSL (Asymmetric or Asynchronous Digital Subscriber Line), because upload and download speeds are different. You normally need a DSL filter if using a phone line rather than a cable service.

There are a number of things which affect your Internet broadband speed:

• Subscription Package with your ISP
• Contention ratio (how many people allowed to share the service at the same time)
• Telephone line or cable connection
• Physical length of the connection to your premises from the Exchange
• Age, quality and material of the connection (copper, aluminium, fibre)

CityFibre UK Attempts to Debunk Copper Based Superfast …

The most common network technology used to connect users to the internet is good old fashioned copper wire. The use of copper wire means that Nielsen's law … Copper wires as used to deliver broadband services tend to be very long and very thin, and while these were fine for delivering low bandwidth (or low frequency) analog voice, they are less well suited to deliver high speed (or high frequency) bandwidth." None of this is new and many of our readers will …

How to boost rural broadband speeds | News | TechRadar

Rural areas are often overlooked by broadband providers, but there are ways to improve connectivity. Amazing though it sounds, 4000 homes in the UK are classed as 'not spots', meaning they have no internet access at all. … This funding is only to help 90 per cent of the people who don't have 'high speed' internet, leaving the remaining 10 per cent still off the grid. What's more, it's down to the communities themselves to alert their local MPs so they …

Average UK broadband speed passes 7Mb

Average UK broadband speeds have passed 7Mb for the first time, latest speed test results have shown.

Will broadband improvements cost too much? | All About Fiber Optics

As the UK looks to improve broadband speeds available, customers are urged to take the broadband speed test to see what speeds they are entitled to. The best way to find the best deals is to compare broadband offers …

How to test your phone broadband speed

For several years, we've found this handy little broadband test to do just what we need http://speedtest.net/

Compare the result with your ISP broadband phone package and what it includes.

How to make your Internet broadband speed faster

The first thing to do is report a slow broadband speed to your ISP – it's quite possible they can reset or even replace your cable modem or router, or reprogram the network to restore the performance you're paying for.

Related articles

• UK broadband providers warned over speed, bandwidth throttling transparency (zdnet.com)
• Ofcom: Broadband speeds 'should be clearer' (telegraph.co.uk)
• UK households have an average of 4.6 devices connected to WiFi (thenextweb.com)
• Broadband advertising proposals 'a green light to mislead customers' (telegraph.co.uk)
• Broadband speed claims face new guidelines (guardian.co.uk)
• Slow broadband problematic for business insurance holders? (premierlinedirect.co.uk)
• UK 'lags on high-speed broadband' (bbc.co.uk)

The following is an overview of what this site will contain:

• Suppliers
• Mobiles
  • Contract Mobiles
  • Mobile Broadband and Internet
  • Selling Mobiles
  • Mobile Coverage
  • Mobile Tracking
• Business Telecoms
  • Phone Systems
  • Landlines
  • T1 and Leased Lines
  • ISDN
  • ADSL
  • Business broadband
  • VPN
• Broadband
  • Broadband speed and testing
  • Wireless broadband
  • Broadband Dongles
  • Broadband Routers
  • Broadband Coverage
  • Unlimited Broadband
• Internet
  • Protection and Security
• Home Phones and Accessories
• VoIP Voice Over IP
• Making Cheap Calls from Landlines and Mobiles
• and more …

• Business Telephone Systems, Switchboards and PABX
  • BT Meridien
  • Lucent Definity
  • Alcatel
• Octel Voicemail systems
• LCR (least cost routing)
• ISDN circuits and Leased Lines
• Internet connections and Broadband
• TCPIP LAN Local Area Networks
• Frame Relay WAN Wide Area Networks
• Contract Mobiles
• Supplier Management
  • BT
  • MCI Worldcom
  • Deutsche Telecom
  • France Telecom
  • O2
  • Vodafone
  • Orange

During that time, he had many interesting experiences and war stories that will be shared on this website for your interest, education and entertainment!

A recent Ofcom report shows the UK leading the world in its use of digital communications, yet trailing behind in 21st position out of 30 for Broadband speeds.
News – UK prime in most digital areas but not broadband

The UK is one of the world’s most advanced countries in terms of digital communications, an Ofcom report says. The telecoms regulator said people in the UK watched more TV and sent more texts than people in many other countries, …

UK broadband must try harder | Latest Industry News | News …

The state of the UK’s broadband industry has received mixed reactions in Ofcom’s latest report. The regulator’s annual International Communications Market report looks at the entire £548 billion communications market in 12 major …

Related Broadband News

• UK consumers ‘in digital elite’ (news.bbc.co.uk)

Broadband Speeds in the UK

Ofcom recently released a report which represents the most thorough examination of broadband speeds ever performed within the UK.

The data they collected was taken from over 60 million speed test results accumulated by 1600 broadband customers and it paints a relatively bleak picture of the UK broadband market as it stands today.

The findings basically revealed what many people already knew to be true, that broadband speeds vary wildly depending on a number of factors and in the most part the actual speed attainable by any one customer will be significantly lower than the speed that the broadband providers claim they will be able to attain.

As a result of these tests ofcom has demanded and indeed received a pledge from 37 of the main broadband providers to offer more clarity to customers when it comes to advertising their speeds and while in the most part this new found honesty will be a good thing, avoiding deception of the customer, it still doesn`t solve the problem of why our broadband speeds are so low.

The average speed for a UK customer is just a hair over 4Mbps, which is at odds with the common claim that ADSL broadband will run at `up to` 8Mbps. But what`s the cause of the huge discrepancy between the promised speeds and the ones we receive from day to day?

Well, the main cause of slower average speeds is because of the limitations of ADSL broadband, which is the most common type in the UK as it uses existing BT copper landlines.

Because of the nature of copper wire, over long distances the broadband signal deteriorates and so the speed slows. This means people who live in rural areas who are far away from their local telephone exchange experience comparatively slow speeds compared to urban dwellers.

However, in urban areas there`s another problem which affects broadband speeds: congestion. Because during the peak evening periods of the day so many people are trying to use their broadband connection, customers can expect to see their speeds reduced by around 25% compared to their average speed during other times of the day.

This is all down to the number of other people who are using broadband via your local telephone exchange and it seems like this is always going to be a problem, like rush hour.

So what`s going to be the solution to our slow broadband blues here in the UK?

Well, the Ofcom report ultimately revealed that though ADSL customers are receiving the short straw in terms of speed, Cable broadband customers have much higher speeds which more closely reflect the speed that their service is advertised at.

If you already live in a cabled area you`ll be able to access the more consistent broadband on offer today.

If you`re still stuck with ADSL, don`t worry as BT are upgrading their exchanges nationwide in order to offer 20Mbps services.

For now using a broadband speed test will help you choose a new provider.

Back to Broadband Telecom home

Rolling contracts allow BT to automatically renew your contract with them for a further 12 months *without* your explicit consent.

Their normal contract, however, allows you to leave when the 12 months is up.

Which one did you sign up to?

Because If you miss the annual reminder and try to leave BT for a cheaper alternative phone call supplier, you are stuck unless you pay for the privilege to leave!

This is damaging to competition in the deregulated telecoms industry, and so far, OFCOM as the regulator has failed to take firm action.

BT is clever to encourage you into these deals with incentives like free evening calls – but don’t be fooled into thinking this is good value.

Recent research shows that the average cost of Broadband has fallen by almost 40% over the past three years, and by switching suppliers regularly (which rolling contracts are designed to prevent) can result in large savings.

Switching Broadband supplier can also get you a faster service, since the average Broadband speed has increased by 700 percent in the past three years.

Deregulation of the telecoms industry has worked well until now, by delivering greater choice and falling prices.

But rolling contracts threaten this and should be urgently addressed by OFCOM.

VoIP – Voice over Internet Protocol is a new tool allowing telephone calls to be made across the internet, rather than through a phone line.

For those doing this from home, a computer is usually required for connection. However, simple specialist hardware that resembles an ordinary handset is available for commercial users.

VoIP telephone calls are not restricted to other VoIP phones – calls can be made to any type of line. As a result, its is beginning to establish itself as a substitution for a standard telephone line entirely.

Because the information is transmitted over existing broadband networks, the running costs for VoIP operators are significantly less than for traditional line owners, such as BT, who have to incur the cost of maintaining a physical network to government regulation.

This lower cost of operation is transferred to the costs of usage, and can be astonishingly different for international and national costs.

There are also reduced costs associated with VoIP services for customers in terms of internal network management.

An engineer is not required to carry out a number or line change for joining employees, and existing workers can move the VoIP phone to another broadband connection easily, while keeping the same phone number.

Because of this, VoIP offers the benefit of making an internal network completely flexible, offering features that are not possible or practical using a standard line.

The service can be used at home or if travelling as long as there is access to an Internet connection. This means that customers and staff can still contact you via the ordinary land line number, and also means you don`t have to rely on a mobile or public phone to make contact.

Even though a computer isn`t necessary, a VoIP system can be connected to a PC to simplify multi tasking, allowing, for example, you to be connected while using an internet café.

There are VoIP providers that offer the capability of forwarding voice mail and fax to an email address, allowing easier archiving.

Some of these services also allow you to save time with a `spoken aloud` service for such emails, where these are read out upon receipt of a new message.

Benefits also exist for customers. A `virtual` telephone number can be set up, meaning it can be one chosen by you. This includes different area codes to your own normal one.

If it set to a customer`s area code, they will be charged their regular rate for local calls. If you`re not available when somebody calls, the VoIP service can be set to divert to a mobile phone, meaning customers can contact you if you`re away.

A good way of making sure of this is arming all of your team with cheap phones, and linking these to their VoIP service, maximising the effectiveness of the network

Essential Business Telecom Services

Introduction

Telecommunications technology – in all forms, and certainly not least in business – continues to advance at an alarming rate.

Business people, today, are faced with a plethora of existing, convergent or entirely new technologies, and must make important, informed decisions to safeguard the future of their businesses.

New telecommunications technologies, products and services must be suitable for conveying important business information, in the first instance, but must also offer immediate payback in terms of efficiency, flexible working and customer service.

Business Telecom Products & Services

A standard, fixed line, or "landline", telephony is still the mainstay of many modern businesses, and, despite deregulation, British Telecom (BT) is still the largest network provider.

This does not mean, however, that you cannot choose a different service provider to carry calls – indeed, may discounted rate business deals are available elsewhere – even if the telephone line, itself, belongs to BT.

Mobile phones, on the other hand, tend to be supplied as a package, which includes the phone, itself, access to a network – Orange, Vodafone, etc. – and an inclusive number of call minutes, for which you pay a monthly rental fee.

The cost of individual phones is heavily subsidised – indeed, some are supplied free of charge – and a business package may include free calls to other mobile, or landline, numbers registered to the same company.

The Internet is another important telecommunications medium for modern businesses, allowing electronic mail, or other data, to be distributed globally.

Most businesses require a fast, "always on", Internet connection, and may choose from ISDN ("), ASDL, etc. to suit their own, individual requirements.

Many ISPs ("Internet Service Providers") also provide a web hosting service, so it may be possible to have a company website hosted, and obtain cost reductions as a result.

One of the most recent innovations, of course, is 3G ("3rd Generation") – or, strictly speaking, 3.5G, if HSDPA ("High Speed Downlink Packet Access") is included – mobile broadband.

This technology offers a broadband Internet connection, not through a landline, but through a small, lightweight broadband modem – a.k.a. a "dongle" – which sends and receives data to and from mobile phone networks.

The dongle plugs directly into a USB ("Universal Serial Bus") port on, say, a laptop, and provides Internet access anywhere where there is adequate 3G coverage. 3G coverage currently extends to 90%, or more, of the UK population.

Orange mobile broadband, for example, is a recent addition to existing offerings from 3, T-Mobile and Vodafone; the Orange deal offers a download speed of 1.8MB, and a monthly download limit of 3GB, making it suitable for everyday Internet browsing and email, and also includes a free USB broadband modem as part of the package.

The "Web `n` Walk" package, from T-Mobile, on the other hand, offers a download speed of 4.5MB, together with a free modem, but is subject to a 24-month contract, while Vodafone mobile broadband offers a download speed of 7.2MB, 14 times faster than standard 3G.

Do remember, however, that even the fastest download speeds, and most generous download limits, mean little if 3G coverage in your area is poor; all of the 3G providers have coverage maps, and the facility to check coverage by postcode, on their websites

The Local Loop connects your telephone socket or switchboard to the telephone exchange.

In the past, this has always been owned by BT.

Since telecom deregulation was introduced to break the BT monopoly and create free market competiton and a "level playing field", call traffic between telephone exchanges was allowed to pass over alternative networks.

This is known as LCR or LEAST COST ROUTING.

But historically BT always owned the last part of the connection and charge line rental for the privilege, having lost the call revenue.

Now, thanks to LLU, you can transfer both your calls, and your line rental, to a new provider, for both lower call charges and reduced line rental.

Your computer could be attacked the moment you connect it to Broadband

Make sure you have a Firewall

• Remember – the Internet is a Public Place
• All PC's have open "ports" by default
• Malicious programs lurk online looking for these
• Make sure that you have a firewall installed and activated
• Windows XP machines and more recent have a built-in firewall which is adequate
• If in doubt, go to Control Panel on your PC and check the security settings
• To strengthen your firewall, download the FREE ZoneAlarm software here

Virus protection with Broadband

• Even with a firewall, viruses can still be a threat
• New viruses appear all the time and this problem is never going to go away
• Not only can they damage your computer, they can steal personal information and cause "Identity Theft" ("phishing")
• Viruses usually sneak into your computer when you open an infected email or surf a malicious website
• Make sure you *never* open an email or run an executable program unless you trust the source
• Make sure you have anti-virus protection, and that you update it frequently (daily is best) and regularly scan your PC for viruses
• You don't need to buy anti-virus software, there's an excellent FREE program at the AVG website

Other dangers to your computer include:

• Spyware
• Malware
• We recommend Spybot Search and Destroy, and Ad-Aware to protect against these, and they are both FREE

CAUTION! You will find many offers on the Internet to scan your coputer for free. Frequently these "free" resources are malicious sites which actually install harmful software on your PC. Only use them if you can trust them (perhaps from a personal referal).

More information will be available at a new website coming soon from our IT and Telecoms Manager.

You can contact us directly for more advice on any of these issues.