Internet Speed Evolution
Dial-Up Internet Access
Shared use of phone and modem for dial-up access service
As the speed of internet access increases, so does the technology. We can expect online communication and video streaming to become the preferred communication medium as a low-cost and quality alternative to traditional telephone lines and television broadcasting.
Already, we can see the popularity and quality of voice/video calls and video streaming increasing as a direct result of faster internet access speeds. Websites such as skype.com and youtube.com are now household names among internet users. With our Fibre “Triple Play” network we will start to see specially designed phone handsets and LCD TV’s capable of connecting directly to our Fibre Network, so you no longer have to multi-task using your computer as a one-stop-shop.
Ultra-fast broadband delivered via our Fibre Optic network is capable of supporting fully symmetric upload and download speeds of up to 1000Mb/s (Megabits per second). This means the speed of the connection is determined by the contract between you and your service provider as opposed to external factors. Our Fibre Optic Network is also capable of “Triple Play” i.e. Voice, Data and High Definition Video capability on a single Fibre Optic link.
Traditional Broadband Access
Simultaneous use of phone and DSL service
In comparison, traditional broadband using ADSL technology on copper networks is only capable of reaching a maximum speed of 7.68Mb/s. However, the actual speed you receive can be affected by the distance you are located from the exchange or roadside cabinet, the condition of your phone line and your internal house wiring, and the capability of your modem.
Also, the contract you hold with your internet provider will specify the maximum upload and download speeds you will receive. Generally, if you require a faster internet connection, you will have to pay more, provided your line is capable of higher speeds. Sometimes, you will find internet access is particularly slow at peak times, this is called oversubscription. It is when an internet provider has more users online at one time, than the broadband link can support.
Whereas, Northpower’s Fibre to the Premise technology (FTTP) guarantees performance of up to 1000Mb/s to all customers connected out to twenty kilometres from our “cabinets”.
As with all things, technology is superseded to take advantage of the latest advancements in online browsing and communication. Not so long ago dialup internet using phone lines had its use, in introducing the majority to the internet. Dial-up internet access had a maximum speed of 0.056Mb/s (or 56kb/s) and required the full use of the telephone line. It was good initially, but as the popularity of the internet increased we soon demanded faster browsing and the ability to use our phone line at the same time.
Ultra-fast Broadband Internet Access
Simultaneous use of all services (Triple Play)
