Broadband guide Choosing the right broadband deal is easy with firsthelpline.com.  We can help you find the right one, and applying can be done online in minutes.  If you’re not sure of something or you’re confused by the jargon, there’s plenty of help and information on the website to make sure you’re fully informed before you apply.

What is broadband?

In the past, getting your computer connected to the internet was done through a dial-up connection.  You had to connect each time, downloading was pretty slow, and it tied up your phone line.  Now, broadband internet allows you to have a much faster connection, and this lets you do so much more than just surf the web.

Broadband is the term used to describe a high speed internet connection.  Unlike dial-up, broadband is always connected.  For most home users, there will be two main types of broadband to choose from:

•    ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) – provides high speed internet over your existing BT line.  However, you don’t need to be billed by BT or use BT as your phone company to get broadband through this line
•    Cable – broadband delivered through the cable network provided into your home by Virgin Media

The technology behind broadband is different from dial-up because you don’t need to have a separate phone line.  In the past, you’d have to choose which one to use, or have separate phone lines.  However, with broadband you can use the internet and chat on the phone both at the same time.  And because of this, broadband can be ‘always on’.

Because a standard broadband connection is at least 10 times faster than dial-up, there are lots of things that can now be done which could only be imagined before.  Faster connections will let you do things like download music and videos to playing online games or watching TV.  Even simple web browsing or sending and receiving emails is done much more quickly.

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