Recent statistics suggest that High Speed Broadband Internet is rapidly increasing in popularity. But how fast is fast enough, what are we using it for now, and perhaps more to the point, what will Broadband be used for in tomorrow’s future?
Quality
Freeing up your time is of the highest importance now days and very fast Broadband Internet equates to very fast data transfers which can save you time. If time is money from a business point of view, then very fast data transmissions could save or make business lots of $$. How about from a residential point of view then? The convenience of Broadband Internet makes everyday tasks like Internet Banking, Emailing, Downloading, Online Shopping & Web Browsing operations much faster, thus more accessible. This is not too mention the advantages that high speed Broadband has with Triple Play (Internet, TV & Telephone) services. Very Fast Broadband has also witnessed the emergence and popularity of streaming video and music content. This type of Internet activity usually involves large files, and in order to achieve maximum resolution and clarity, file sizes are reflected by the quality of such. Generally speaking, high quality content will take longer to download as file sizes will be much larger. Streaming various types of media may not be accessible for those who are using slower Dial-up or Broadband connections.
Speed
In regards to Broadband Speed, Australia is lagging behind other over seas developed countries who can obtain speeds in excess of 4 or 5 times our highest limit. Currently the maximum achievable speeds available in Australia to most metro households is about 20Mbps. To effectively catch up with the rest of the world, speeds of 50Mbps or possibly 100Mbps plus would need to be achieved. Now hang on a minute you might say, why do we need speeds that are so fast? Firstly, Investing in high speed Broadband Network infrastructure is far from cheap, try 5 Billion plus dollars for a fibre to the node (FTTN) network. Some experts suggest that a faster fibre to the home / premises (FTTH or FTTP) network may cost 20+ billion dollars. It’s not cheap, therefore it’s something you want to get right first time around and it’s also something that could be upgraded down the track - opposed to replaced. Secondly, We can guess, but we don’t exactly know what the future will hold with high speed Broadband. What we do know is that new products and services are constantly becoming available with faster Broadband speeds, therefore why not roll out a network that has the fastest Broadband technology available.
Let’s take a look at some of the current advantages of fast Broadband.
Time Efficiency & Convenience
Internet Banking accessibility
Download Larger Files faster
Faster Web Page Browsing & Page loading times
Stream high quality Video & Music content
Access Emails & Email Attachments faster
Browse and purchase Shopping online more efficiently
Enhance Communication (Discussion Boards, Forums, Chat Rooms, Voice Chat & Video Conferencing)
Online Gaming & Entertainment accessibility
Future Advantages
Whether it’s Cable, ADSL, Wireless, Satellite or another form of Broadband Technology; At work, home or play; Broadband has, and will continue to revolutionize the world we live in by combining existing and emerging technologies together. Here are some probable examples of how high speed Broadband may shape our future.
Communication & Entertainment – High Quality Video & Voice services will require robust Broadband connectivity in order to deliver high definition/quality Video on Demand, Internet Protocol TV & Voice services across the Internet.
Health, Education & Consultations – Video Calls from your Home to a GP, Institution or Financial service in which diagnosis, tuition, advice, transactions and monitoring can be performed. Ideal services for remote and densely populated areas along with high risk patients.
Tele-Working/Community – Using Telecommunications to work from home could also alleviate travel congestion and reduce pollution. – Consider the positive impact on the environment – Savings on emissions and energy efficiency.
Automated Home Services & ‘Smart Appliances’ – Lighting, Climate, Video Intercom/Phone, Home Entertainment, Alarm Systems, Fridges, Ovens plus much much more all operating through Broadband Technology.
There’s no doubt that Broadband technology is re-inventing the wheel and proof of this impact is already emerging in many various shapes and forms. The question is, when and will some of these new products and services become reality and readily available, and what exactly will they be? If the current delay of Broadband development in Australia continues to be slowed by bureaucratic processes and hesitation shown by the current liberal government, well the wait might be sometime yet.
