Mar 13, 2009

Wireless Broadband Versus Mobile Broadband

If you are among the millions of professionals around the work at home, either on a full-time or part-time basis - then it is a must for you to have a high-speed connection at home.

Fortunately, there are a lot of Internet connectivity options that you can take advantage of today.  Previously, using dial-up modem to connect to the Internet did not have a lot to offer in terms of speed. Also, if you are already using the phone line to connect to the Internet, you will not be able to use your landline phone unless you have a dedicated line.

Now, as the demand for high-speed Internet connection has increased, more and more types of broadband Internet connection are being introduced to subscribers.

A Brief Definition of Broadband and Its Advantages

Before making the distinction between the different types of broadband, let us first take a look at what broadband is all about.

In layman's term, broadband refers to any type of high-speed Internet connection which should be about 10 times faster than the traditional dial-up modem speed.  One of the primary advantages of having broadband connection is that you are connected on a 24/7 basis - unlike with dial-up Internet connections.

Another benefit of choosing broadband over dial-up Internet access is that the former allows you to have an optimal browsing experience. From the loading of the pages, to sending instant messages to sharing, downloading or uploading of files - they will all be performed in a more efficient and speedy manner.

Now that you have an idea about broadband Internet connection, here is a quick list of the types of broadband connections that you can have:

- Cable

- Wireless

- Satellite

- Mobile

- ADSL or Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line

- SDSL or Symmetric Digital Subscriber Line

- LLU or Local Loop Unbundling

Here, we will focus on two of the most common types of broadband Internet connection: wireless and broadband.

All about Wireless Broadband

This type of broadband Internet connection is used in rural areas in the UK where other forms of broadband connection are not available.

If you have a wireless broadband connection , a small antenna will be installed outside of your home. The Internet connection works in a way which is similar to how your television set receives signals from the TV station.

No telephone lines are required - and the broadband antenna is connected to your computer.

How about Mobile Broadband?

On the other hand, mobile broadband can be simply defined as Internet access on the go. Much like checking your e-mail using your mobile phone, mobile broadband allows you to connect to the Internet using your laptop computer.

As long as you have a laptop computer and a network-activated broadband dongle - you can get connected even while you are on the go.