The Future Of Broadband - What's Next? | The Communication Blog

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

The Future Of Broadband - What's Next?

By Mark Walters

Over the last 10 years, broadband internet access speeds have increased so dramatically that it is hard to believe that it used to take a few minutes to open simple web pages. In some countries, like Japan and France, internet access speeds of over 50 Megabits per second are the average. A few years ago, in Sweden, the fastest internet connection speed was recorded at an astonishing 40 Gigabits per second. With these speeds it is difficult to imagine a time with only dial-up connections available.

Although broadband connections speeds are always increasing; the limiting factor to the attainable speeds is a country's telecommunications infrastructure. By using copper cables installed for telephone use, broadband initially was able to offer connection speeds massively increased from dial-up connections, though what is needed now is an optical cable system that can transfer data at rates far higher than any copper connection can achieve.

One direction that internet broadband access may be utilizing in the future is via overhead or underground electricity cables. Although it is technically possible as broadband data and electricity flow on different frequencies, recent research has shown that when data is transmitted through overhead, under-insulated cables it can interfere with some radio wave bands. However, if a solution is found to this problem that does not require the replacement of electrical power cables, then people in the future may be able to enjoy broadband access speeds of up to 200 Megabits per second just by plugging into an electrical outlet.

One of the most hotly anticipated technological advances in broadband access is WIMAX, also called 4G. WIMAX could potentially offer users a maximum data transfer rate of 70 Megabits per second, a vast improvement from 3G standards. and something that could eventually instigate the demise of plug-in broadband.

The last possibility for the future of broadband access is satellite systems. Satellite internet connections are potentially able to offer users broadband internet connection speeds of up to 3 Gbps, or 3000Mbps. Many people around the world already receive data via a satellite in the form of satellite television, though the costs involved in setting up internet access can range up to $3000 including installation. Also another problem facing satellite connections is weather patterns, which can occasionally disrupt signal transfer as current satellite television users known well.

To sum up, don't worry if you are still finding that your broadband connection is not quick enough for your needs, the future holds some impressive advances in technology that will mean the end of blank white screens and video buffering.

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