Broadband Jargon Buster

Broadband is fast becoming a must-have service in the home, as more and more is done online. At firsthelpline.com, we want to help you find the best broadband deal. That’s why we’ve put together the broadband jargon buster, so you don’t get bowled over by the confusing terms and acronyms.

If you’ve got any more suggestions for the jargon buster, let us know.

A – C | D – G | H – L | M – S | T – Z

ADSL

Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) is the technology that lets you receive broadband over your standard telephone line. It lets you talk while you surf the internet, on the same line and at the same time by splitting the signal on your telephone line in two.

Anti-Virus Software

Anti-virus software is a program that searches your hard drive for any known or potential viruses. It alerts the user if anything is found, and can remove the virus to a safe area (quarantine) until it can be disabled and safely removed.

Bandwidth

Bandwidth is the term for the amount of data and the speed that it can be transferred over an internet connection. The amount of data is measured in bits, and bandwidth is usually measured in bits per second (bps).

Blog

A blog is the short term for a Web Log, and refers to the growing trend of writing a journal online.

Broadband

Broadband is the term for a high speed internet connection that is always connected, so that you don’t need to constantly re-connect to the internet. A cable or wire is used to carry large volumes of data at high speed. DSL broadband is the most common form in the UK and uses existing copper telephone wires, while other forms of broadband internet are available through a cable TV connection or even via satellite.

Bundle

Many providers now offer customers a bundled package of several services, including two or more of broadband, home phone, mobile phone and digital TV. The offers are usually priced competitively and come with the convenience of receiving a single bill and a single point of contact for customer service. However, many have long contract lengths and can therefore be difficult to cancel.

Cable Broadband

Cable broadband offers an alternative way to connect to the internet via a fibre optic cable connection. Cable broadband is provided by Virgin Media (formerly NTL and Telewest), and getting broadband this way is dependent on cable being available in your area.

Chatroom

Chatrooms are online areas on the internet where two or more people can ‘chat’ by typing messages to each other.

Contract

The contract is the agreement you sign up to with a broadband provider to take their service for a minimum period of time. Most contracts require you to sign up for a minimum 12 months, although some offer broadband by only signing up for a minimum of one month, although usually at a higher price. Some of the newer bundled offers require customers to sign up for a minimum 18 months. Once your contract length has expired, you will still receive broadband from your provider, but are free to switch to another if you want.

Convergence

Convergence is the term given to the trend in the industry where traditional telecoms companies like BT and traditional media companies like Sky are moving into the same areas of business, by using broadband as a hook to offer services such as home phone and digital TV.

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