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Internet Service Provider (ISP):
The technology required to connect you to the Internet is very expensive. The cheapest way to access it is via an aggregator or ISP who spread the cost across a number of users – their customers. The different ISPs compete for customers by offering different users plans and running special offers. Even mobile phone companies such as Vodaphone and Virgin are offering broadband services these days.Dial-up:
For country people dial-up is often the only option. It’s now considered old technology and users pay a flag fall fee per connection as well as monthly plan costs. The service arrives via your telephone lines (so you can’t use the phone to make calls while you are on the Net). The monthly dial-up plans tend to be much cheaper than broadband ADSL plans but the flag fall costs can add up – especially if your connection is unstable and the line keeps dropping out. Pages can take a long time to load as well as the data is delivered much more slowly.Asymetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL):
In very simple terms it’s a way to deliver data to your computer using copper wires, with the benefit of being able to “spilt” at the receiving end – so you can access the Internet and still make and receive phone calls. Data arrives much more quickly than dial-up and ADSL2+ is even quicker still. The further your computer is from the exchange though the slower your data delivery will be. This is a bit of a catch. Advertised speeds and the actual user experience can be quite different.Cable Internet:
Can you get Foxtel cable television in your area? Well, you might also be able to access cable Internet, another type of broadband service. Packaged deals (called “bundled” packages) for digital TV, home phone and other services can be good value. Cable is probably the fastest way to connect to the Internet – think about it: if you can watch movies without drop-outs then your Internet data downloads are also going to be super smooth. Why? Because the technology allows a much faster transmission. It uses fibre optics to deliver data to your computer. Where other types of broadband slow down the further you go from the exchange (“last mile” technology), with fibre optics there is very little decrease in delivery over even 200kms. Because the cable has to first be laid in your area (a very very expensive business) cable Internet is not available in all areas.Modem:
This is a magical little box that transforms the impulses you have “called” from the Internet site you are visiting, via your ISP, into a form that your computer can display. You need a different type of modem for the different types of Internet service.Speed:
This relates to the time it takes for data to reach your computer or for you to send data. Download speed is the time it takes for data to reach you (pages, videos, mp3s); upload speed is the time it takes for you to send data (files, word documents, photos).Australian Broadband Guarantee:
Country folk can get help from the Government when seeking access to the Internet. People in very isolated areas may be eligible for the Australian Broadband Guarantee, and satellite Internet. If you are eligible, the Government will contribute to the costs of having a satellite dish installed on your property and the purchase of the dish. The Australian Government website has further information about this.Which broadband provider?
If you really are new to the Internet business then there’s something else you’ll need to know: where to start when you are looking for a broadband provider. The bigger name providers kind of set the standard for speeds and data limits and so forth but their small to medium-sized competitors can sometimes offer a much better price and service. In Australia there are hundreds of ISPs offering broadband, dial-up, cable or satellite Internet services. Here’s a short list of the big name ISPs.
Major Internet Providers:
Following are some (but not all) of the more familiar named companies who offer Internet services.- AAPT
- Adam Internet
- Dodo
- iiNet
- Internode
- Netspace
- Optus (OptusNet)
- Primus
- Soul Broadband
- Telstra / Bigpond
- 3 (Three)
- TPG
- Unwired
- Virgin Broadband
- World Without Wires
