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.

If you wish to contact Broadband Guide you can do so by clicking here to e-mail us
 

Thank you & best regards,

The Broadband Guide Team

Search, compare, and find the best Broadband Internet Plans right here within seconds!  Using Broadband Guide’s Search & Comparison Tools can be a very fast, efficient and informative avenue of finding a Broadband Plan thats right for you. Furthermore, once you’ve found a Broadband Product that you like, you then have the option of joining up to that plan right there and then! Searching for Broadband has never been easier.

Search & Comparison Features
The Broadband Guide site has been developed to help prevent the complexities involved with searching for plans and facilitating the process of making an informed choice. Below are some of the features you can use to find a plan thats right for you.

Quick Search - Search by ISP, Type, Speed & Limit. A simple yet fast and efficient feature for those who have a rough idea of what they want from a Broadband Plan.

Refine Search - After using the Quick Search function, users are then able to ‘refine’ their search returns by making a selection from the added criteria available – Contract Length, Bundle Options and Pricing.

Search Plans – This advanced method of search enables users to make customized selections by using a Dynamic Display Interface thats simple and enjoyable to use. Here you can choose from Region, Type, Provider, Speed, Download Limit, Contract Length and Price Range.

# Note - A Comparison feature can be used in conjunction with any Search function. Simply check the boxes that appear on the left hand side of each plan in the search results, then either scroll up or down to the ‘Compare Selected Plans’ button, then simply ‘click’. A new window will  then display a comparison of all the associated plans you selected. You can choose 2, 3, or more plans at one time to compare.

Browse Plans
Alternatively, for those seeking further information on Plans, our ‘Browse Plans’ section has an array of various components that lets users browse Connection Types, Popular Plan Types, Australia’s Broadband Internet Service Providers & Broadband Regions along with a Help Centre full of Resources.

Plan Finder Wizard
Another excellent plan search tool that we provide thats simple and fun to use. With its dynamic features and comprehensive information on Broadband, an informed choice is only steps away. Highly Recommend!

Tips
Broadband Guide Forums – Not sure about which plan to join, or perhaps you want some advice? Ask and answer questions, or add comments and concerns in our Broadband Forum. Joining is easy and instant. Also Highly Recommend!

Broadband Help Centre - Choose from a smorgusboard of topics. Technical; Services & Uses; Conversion Tables and much much more.

Which Plan? - If you’re not exactly sure about which plan to join? When in doubt consider starting on plan that has a smaller usage limit and slower speed. It’s usually ‘free’ to upgrade but not to downgrade.

Terms & Conditions - Its a must to read over, or inquire about a respective Internet Service Provider’s, or Individual Plan’s Terms & Conditions. There are quite often user guidelines or specific conditions that can be overlooked or interpreted incorrectly. A quick example is excess usage conditions (responsible usage and charged or speed limited usage conditions) and contract lengths (moving house, changing providers, early termination fees). Don’t get caught out!

Research - Ask friends or colleagues and surf the Internet for handy advice and feedback that could help you out. Using keywords in search engines can be very useful for finding out relevent information.
 

Good Luck!

Broadband Guide
 

Did you know that Internet Service Providers (ISP) are also known as Internet Access Providers (IAP) and that they usually equip their customers with other services consisting of email mailboxes, back up dial up accounts, email anti virus and spam filters? Some even grant you access to an online virtual tool box of that consists of handy features like an account usage gauge (which lets you keep track of your monthly quota as you go) and access to limited web space for hosting websites, pages and files. Below are just some features that you may want to consider when contemplating Internet Service Providers.

ISP Services 

Account & Current Usage Information

Change Password & Plan Abilities

Pay Accounts Online

Web Space (Hosting Sites & Files)

Email Mailboxes (Multiple Email Accounts eg. yourname@yourisp.com.au)

Spam & Email Virus Filtering

Free Traffic/Usage (On limited Websites, Game Servers, Files etc…)

General Statistics

Free Help Desk/Technical Support & Tools

Bundling Services

Back up Dial Up Account

Free Transfers (Typically limited to Special Offers)

Free Connection (Typically limited to Special Offers)

Free Modem & Router Hardware (Typically limited to Special Offers or Contract Length) 

The Broadband Guide ISP list shown below has one or more of the following Broadband Services - Wireless (Mobile Wireless); ADSL – ADSL2/2+; Cable & Satellite:

Australian Internet Service Providers list:

BigPond

Optus

Internode

AAPT

Primus

Westnet

People Telecom

Dodo

Eftel

Netspace

TPG

If you wish to search and compare Broadband Plans from any of these providers, simply click on the respective link and you will be transferred directly to their associated section. If you would like further elaboration, or perhaps you have some questions that you want answered, try joining up to our friendly Broadband Forum and make some enquiries there.

Regards,

Broadband Guide

Here’s are a few simple pointers that we hope will assist you when choosing a plan thats right for you.

Budget
How much are you prepared to pay per month? Try compare it to your home phone & mobile bills, or reach a figure that reflects the amount of time you intend on using Broadband Internet. * Remember, it can pay to start on a lower priced plan as it usually doesn’t cost anything to upgrade, but it can cost you to downgrade! Also keep in mind the length of your contract and what it means (or costs) to break it if necessary.

Usage
Perhaps one of the hardest choices to make when it comes to choosing a Broadband Plan revolves around the download usage limit. Again, how frequently are you intending on using the Internet and what for? Budget/New – Light Use: New, occasional, and light frequent users who intend on using the Internet for surfing, chatting, banking, paying bills and emailing will use a small amount of data. Popular/Light – Medium Use: Those intending on constantly using the Internet and to download files such as music and pictures will start pushing the limit a little further. Medium – Heavy Use: Then we have the heavy users, those that are always online and constantly download huge files such as Movies, Major Software Applications and regularly Stream Video.

Types
Availability aside, most ISP’s offer quality products and reliable services. ADSL is by far the most common choice of Broadband among Australians, as its infrastructure is already in place and can be installed quickly. Cable is next in line but is generally limited to metro/major regional areas. Cable is currently on par with ADSL2/2+ Speeds, however its robust nature also allows other services such as Pay TV to run parallel on the same line. After these types comes Wireless Broadband Internet. Its nowhere near as fast and robust as ADSL & Cable, yet its technology and coverage is rapidly growing and can be very appealing for its mobile flexibility.

Bundling
Bundling services like Mobile Phone & Home Phone accounts with your Broadband Internet can save you more than a few dollars every month. Reduced monthly Broadband fees and or other special entitlements can make bundling your Internet service attractive. Bundling is displayed on Broadband Guide products where applicable, so keep an eye out for these options.

Broadband Guide highly recommends that you visit the following sections. These guides plus heaps more Tips and Faq’s on Broadband related information can be found in our Broadband Help Centre.

Broadband Speed Comparisons - Find out about, and compare Broadband Speeds
Download Usage Guide – Facts, Figures and Measurements on Downloading

Good Luck!

Regards,

Broadband Guide

Are you working from home? Perhaps you may own and operate a small business. Did you know that Broadband Guide can assist you to find a suitable plan primarily for your business as well as your home? 

We’ve actually created a search feature designed specifically for Professionals, Network Share and SOHO (Small Office Home Office) type businesses. Based on research and feedback, we’ve compiled a list of popular products thats especially suited for these purposes. Simply click on this link or on the Small Business link found on our front page. It’s that easy.

With ADSL2+ Products constantly being deployed throughout Australia, more and more exchanges are being enabled with the latest Broadband technology. Taking the continual ADSL2+ Roll out into account, I’d like to point out that availability for these products in some areas will be limited. So if you’re considering joining or switching to an ADSL2+ Plan, it’s advised that you contact your prospective Provider to enquire about the availability in your area….. Keeping in mind that if you already have ADSL enabled in your area, it doesn’t necessarily mean that ADSL2+ will be currently available.

You can view Westnet and Netspace products by clicking here and using our search feature tool.

Regards,

Broadband Guide

We have been working hard over the past few months to bring you the new Broadband Guide website, broadband blog and a new forum to help you with all things broadband.  The new site will help you make an informed choice when looking for Internet Access as it has many tools to make the buying process easier. You can compare broadband plans from multiple broadband providers side by side. We have rebuilt the Plan Finder Wizard and have a new Advanced Search Tool. We also have a new Broadband Help Center with many tools and resources dedicated to Broadband.

Cheers

BBG