Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. WHAT IS BROADBAND?

Broadband is the common term for a high bandwidth internet connection – one that can send or download information many times faster than with a standard telephone and modem. You can do everything you want to do online more quickly and more easily with broadband:

• Your internet access is always on, like electricity or tap water
• You don't have the trouble of dialling-up and logging-on each time you want to do something online
• You're always in touch with your customers and suppliers, friends and family are only a click away with email or instant messaging
• There are no surprise costs or restrictions on accessing the internet
• With ADSL, you can still make and take normal telephone calls while on the internet
• Download complex and graphic-rich websites virtually instantly
• Download music, animations and video clips faster than ever
• Play interactive games at top speed against gamers around the world
• Receive internet radio and other real time services without interruption
• Run your business more efficiently and effectively
• Work from home with high speed access to corporate networks and symmetric broadband services

2. WHAT IS ADSL BROADBAND?

Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) is the generic name for a technology that allows large amounts of digital information to be sent over an ordinary copper telephone line. DSL increases the bandwidth possible over the line, enabling broadband services to be offered and received in the home or at work.

ADSL can only offer broadband data speeds where the telephone line between the home or office and the telephone exchange is a maximum of 5.5km - just over three miles - long. From late Summer 2003, we plan to extend the reach of ADSL broadband. This means that around 97 per cent of houses on enabled exchanges will be able to receive services. The proposed launch will be confirmed in September, subject to a pilot that is running throughout July and August. BT sells wholesale DSL-based broadband to a wide range of service providers who in turn market and sell broadband services to businesses and individuals. To see a list of current top service providers, click here

ADSL - Asymmetric DSL - is so called because it allows information to be downloaded to the home or office more quickly than information is uploaded. This makes it particularly suitable for internet surfing and for downloading files, music, movie and sports clips. In other words, ADSL is ideal for home and business use.

Broadband Symmetric, BT Wholesale's portfolio of symmetric broadband services allows information to be both uploaded and downloaded at a range of broadband speeds. Symmetric DSL services are designed to be particularly suited to businesses that regularly need to send and receive large amounts of data.

15. WHAT IS SDSL BROADBAND?

Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) is the generic name for a technology that allows large amounts of digital information to be sent over an ordinary copper telephone line. DSL increases the bandwidth possible over the line, enabling broadband services to be offered and received in the home or at work.

BT offers Broadband Symmetric DSL services, so called because they allow information to be both sent and received from the home or office at the same broadband speeds. This makes them particularly suitable for businesses that regularly need to transfer and receive large files or volumes of information between offices and with people working from home. Broadband Symmetric services are based on Single pair High bit rate DSL (SHDSL) broadband technology.

The current top 5

To view the best value Broadband deals in the UK today view our current top 5 providers