Broadband Explained
Broadband is simply a better way to access the Internet and you don't have to re-connect each time, as you do with a dial-up connection.
You can choose between- Broadband at home, which uses the phone line to your house without interfering with your telephone conversations. We call it Telecom Broadband
- Mobile Broadband, which works the way a mobile phone does, for people on the move using a laptop
Why Broadband?
For loads of reasons!
- It keeps your phone line free, so you can surf the Internet and talk on the phone at the same time. There's no need for a second line
- It's always on - there's no wait to get online as there is no dialling up
- It's a whole new online experience - you can shop and bank online easily, buy music and games, email large attachments, watch music and film clips from your computer and much more
Why Telecom Broadband?
There are loads of reasons to get Telecom Broadband; it's free and easy to set yourself up, our helpdesk is open 24/7, we often run special deals (check out our Hot Offers), plus Telecom Broadband and Dial-Up customers can get free and exclusive access to Premium Services and other tools designed to help you get much more out of the Internet. Learn More
How is broadband different to dial-up?
- The term broadband usage, (when you're referring to the monthly allowance of a Telecom Internet plan), is measured in the amount of data that you use (how many megabytes (MB) you download and upload). In comparison, dial-up usage is measured in the time you spend on the Internet (how many minutes you are connected)
- Your broadband data allowance can only be used on your own broadband connection. This means that you cannot use your Xtra Username and Password on someone else's broadband connection to use your broadband data allowance. On the other hand, you can do this with the dial-up time you have allocated on your dial-up plan
- If you go over your broadband monthly data allowance you will either be charged for every additional MB you use or the speed that you access the Internet may be slowed down to close to dial-up speed, depending on which Broadband plan you have. If you use up all of the time allocated for your dial-up connection you will be charged an additional $2.50 for every hour you go over your monthly time allowance
- With broadband, Internet pages will generally load quicker and is great for watching video and listening to audio online. A dial-up connection is generally too slow to watch video or listen to audio online
- With dial-up you need to dial-in every time you want to connect to the Internet whereas with broadband there is no need to dial-in when you want to connect
- With broadband you can use the Internet and talk on your landline phone at the same time. With dial-up you can either use the Internet or talk on the phone but you cannot do both at the same time
- With a wireless broadband modem from Telecom, up to four computers can connect to the Internet at the same time.
Speed and Data
Video and sound contain more electronic information (data) than a small picture or an online page of writing. The speed of broadband is measured by how much data is transferred in a second. Broadband pricing plans are based on the data cap of each plan. Learn More
Modems and Equipment
For broadband at home you need a small piece of equipment called a broadband modem. It plugs into a phone jack and you connect your computer to it. The modem changes your computer's Internet and email information to and from the broadband format. When you order a modem - it comes with a self-install kit that guides you through installation.
For mobile broadband you'll need a data device (modem or data card) that plugs into your laptop, so your laptop can send and receive information as a mobile phone does. Learn More
Set-up Options
For broadband at home we connect you at the exchange. If you need changes to your wiring, a service technician can visit if necessary. For broadband out and about it's a very simple process. Learn More
