All 34 exchanges in Shetland have been enabled for Broadband as at the 31st December 2005.
On this page we have provided a brief description of broadband, benefits of broadband and a short glossary. For further information and guides please follow the related link on the right of this page.
What is broadband and why is it so important?
Broadband is the most important communications revolution to happen for years. It ranks in importance along with the introduction of electricity, the telephone and television in how it will influence our lives and those of our children and grandchildren. Broadband is the name given to a range of high-speed internet connections that, like your electricity or water supply are normally always available - broadband means an always on connection to the internet.
So what benefits will broadband give?
- It provides a permanent connection to the resources of the internet and the World Wide Web. This means that if your computer is switched on, you are connected to the 'net - instant access to information, with no waiting to log on.
- If your broadband connection is provided by BT's ADSL service, it shares your telephone line, but you can still use your telephone to make and receive voice calls even while accessing the 'net.
- Broadband is fast - offering download speeds between 10 and 40 times faster than a standard dial-up internet connection.
A fast connection means that is becomes possible to transfer large quantities of information, such as documents, photographs, video clips, music tracks, etc.
- Broadband enables greatly improved access to learning and educational opportunities for both schoolchildren and adults. Many adults for example will be able to take part in training courses on-line which can be studied in their own time and at their own pace.
- Much improved access to leisure facilities for the individual and family. It will soon be possible to download whole movies for personal viewing.
- Broadband can bring far-flung families closer together through video-conferencing which allows family 'get-togethers' across thousands of miles and different countries.
- Business relies on a fast and accurate flow of information, to enable enquiries and orders to be efficiently received from customers. Broadband means that emailed orders are received more quickly and can be responded to faster, thus improving customer satisfaction and increasing the likelyhood of repeat business.
- Broadband enables businesses to search for information on the web more speedily and will improve productivity.
- Broadband capabilities can allow businesses to share information with suppliers and key clients, thus strengthening business relationships and improving customer service and profitability.
- Broadband video conferencing can help remove the barriers we face as a remote community by allowing our companies to make business presentations to key clients without the need for time consuming, expensive and tiring travel.
- Business can save money on staff training as staff can receive training materials and tuition at the desk.
- Broadband offers the possibility for some staff to work from home, thus opening up opportunities to many people currently unable to fully participate in the job market.
Broadband Glossary:
ADSL (Asymmetric Data Subscriber Line)
ADSL is provided by British Telecom on an individual telephone exchange basis. Internet access will be available from a variety of different competing ISP (Internet Service Provider) suppliers. ADSL can be up to 40 times faster than a standard dial-up connection - it ranges from 500Kbits per second to 2Mbits per second download speeds, although the upload speeds are typically only half or even a quarter of the download speeds. The Asymmetric element of the name refers to the act that the service speeds are faster in downloading than uploading. ADSL is distance limited and those subscribers who are more than 5 Km line distance from their exchange are unlikely to be able to receive an ADSL service.
ADSL uses an existing telephone line and you can simultaneously access the internet and make and receive voice and fax calls.
Exchange Activate
This uses the same technology as ADSL, but is limited to the slower speed of 512Kbs - which is still up to 1o times faster than a dial-up conection. This service can be made available to the smaller telephone exchange which cannot support full ADSL.
Community Wireless Broadband
This technology offers internet access which is completely independent from your telephone line. You connect to the 'net via a small outdoor antenna to a network of community based radio repeater stations. Speeds vary as with ADSL and the service may conect back to the internet from the master radio station by either satellite or land-line. Wireless broadband may be an option for those subscribers who for commercial or technical reasons are unable to receive ADSL or Exchange Activate broadband services.
Satellite
Various suppliers offer a broadband service using a dish antenna to conect via an orbiting geo-synchronous satellite to the internet. Satellite broadband can be used practically anywhere there is a clear line of sight to the South. Satellite broadband speeds are similar to ADSL, however due to the the considerable distance of the satellite from Earth, there is a time delay (latency) in signal transmission which can restrict certain applications such as voice, video conferencing and any applicaton requiring real-time interaction. Two-way satellite services send and receive data to and from the internet via the satellite dish. One-way satellite only receives the downloads from the internet and requires a simultaneous voice or ISDN landline connection. |