An overview of the importance of broadband speeds at home and on your day to day
With the rollout of 4G for mobile phones finally taking hold in the mass market, many people are experiencing that ‘how did I manage before?’ feeling; something which always comes hand in hand with a step up in platform technology.
Being able to seamlessly stream media on a handheld device while away from home, finally free of buffering and break-ups, is something that many of us have been looking for since we became familiar with faster domestic speeds and it’s great to see the development finally taking hold.
Of course, when you are out and about the only thing you can really do to make sure you get fast speeds is to choose a 4G provider carefully or have a good source of free Wi-Fi hotspots at hand. At home, there is far more that you can do to make sure you are getting the best of the Internet but just how does your broadband speed manage to influence every aspect of your life?
The faster the better
Only ‘those of a certain age’ will remember dial up connections and the frequent frustrations that came with super slow internet speeds. Simple tasks took forever, even if users did experience the novelty of being at the cutting edge of a revolutionary technology when it was still in its infancy.
Today, things couldn’t be more different. Your grandparents probably Skype you on their tablet while on a globe-trotting holiday and very soon your fridge will be sending you an email asking you to bring some milk home when you’re running low.
Superfast connections made possible by fibre optic broadband such as BT’s Infinity mean that your internet can give you streaming speeds up to 76Mb at home. This not only means that effortless connections can be made and maintained but also that several different devices can be used at the same time without any effect on performance.
Speed isn’t quite everything
Of course, there is more to it than just ‘how fast can you go?’ Those doddery old dial-uppers will also remember having to plug their computer into a phone socket to get a connection but nowadays this had been almost completely banished as wireless routers allow you to connect your PCs, phones and tablets to your internet connection without the need for a pass of wires and cables.
More than just speed, you need a convenient and reliable connection that won’t trail a jungle of cables through your home and that is what broadband provides.
In this way, it is revolutionising our lives and dictating almost everything we do. Don’t believe us? Just check out these top home tasks that have been made easier thanks to the Internet and, more specifically, broadband:
- Shopping: whether it’s a Smart Fridge telling you what you need or an online grocery store arranging a time to drop of your groceries, today’s weekly shop involves far less hassle for the shoppers
- Communication: email, Skype or social media – it’s all at the touch of a button and update instantaneously so you’re never left behind
- News: online newspapers, news bulletins and websites mean that the digestion of information has never been quicker – or more streamlined
- Entertainment: with a TV that can connect to the internet, countless subscription services and the ability to watch shows on catch-up, entertainment no longer runs on its own schedule but can be adapted to our own specific preferences and lifestyles
- Research: gone are the days when research involved countless phone calls, books and trips! Thanks to search engines, everything you need is just a mouse-click away – whether that’s the answer to a question you just can’t shake or the details of a nearby mechanic who can help you out of a bind
- Travel: from holidays to hotels, it can all be booked online through superfast broadband with information on visas, insurance and travel recommendations also available for you to read in the comfort of your own home.