Here is a small research done into finding suitabe broadband for a small arts organisation in Dublin 13

1. Broadband Researching Broadband Internet Services Available to SMEs in Ireland 2011

2. Introduction Broadband was first introduced in radio signalling but became popularized in 1996 when “Media One” used it as part of a marketing campaign to advertise their high speed access Broadband can transmit a wide range of signals, including audio and video. Broadband networks are especially useful in the Networked World, as they can carry many signals at once, resulting in faster data transmission. It made it easier to send and receive complex audio and video files

3. Types of broadband DSL – Digital Subscriber Line – A technology that delivers broadband over a phone line, ideal for home or office ADSL – Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line – Similar to DSL but a broadband that can download at faster speeds than it can upload, ideal for home or office SDSL – Symmetric Digital Subscriber Line – Similar to ADSL but can download at the same speed to which it uploads. It does however need an extra phoneline. Ideal for businesses that send and receive large volumes of information.

4. TYPES OF BROADBAND CABLE BROADBAND – Broadband provided by companies through cable. These companies also provide telephone and television packages. This type of broadband can only be gotten if your street was cabled WIRELESS BROADBAND – the signal sent through the air via an antenna to a wireless router in the home. It can also be be used to describe mobile broadband where consumers can by a PC card or USB device from a service provider that can connect smartphones and laptops to broadband via mobile phone masts. It needs to be in a location where there is a relatively strong phone signal. SATELLITE BROADBAND – provided through a Satellite dish. Two Types. “One Way” downloads information via the satellite dish and uploads it via a telephone line. “Two Way” uploads and downloads information via the satellite dish. Can be quite expensive to run

5. Types of broadband Fibre Optic Broadband – This can transmit information from one place to another by sending pulses of light through an optical fibre. This is the newest and fastest broadband developed to date

7. It is measured in bits per second

8. The signal strength of the service that is usually displayed as megabytes per second or MBS

10. The higher the contention ratio the more demand on the bandwidth and the less effect the bandwidth can offer

12. What to choose for a small business in the arts? The following for options are most easily available to small business in the arts in Dublin 13 Imagine Wimax 02 Mobile Vodafone UPC Research on the most suitable form will now follow

14. 512kb upload speed

15. Unlimited usage

16. Free phone line

19. 2MB upload speed

20. 15GB allowance

21. Up to date computer software required

22. Can only be used on one device at a time

25. 1MB upload speed

26. Unlimited usage

27. Calls package also included

28. Requires modem

29. Contention Ratio 48:1

32. Unspecified upload speed

33. 10GB allowance

36. 1MB upload speed

37. No telephone line required

38. 120GB allowance

39. Up to date software required

40. Cable required

43. 1 MB upload

44. Wireless broadband transmitted to your home form a mast to a modem located in you house

45. No need for phone lineAppropriateness for a small business – Provides wireless broadband with very little requirements Cost €39.99 p/m NO BUSINESS RATES AVAILABLE

46. Which one to choose? For a small business there are several factors to consider. These are needs, affordability, reliabiltity to name but a few. With this in mind a conclusion has been met with the Vodafone mobile package. It does have a high contention ratio but it also has the adaptability of being a mobile or static modem that can facilitate up to five other devices. It is also very affordable based on the service and what similar providers are offering. UPC would be the second choice but missed out on being selected due to it’s widely known reputation for poor customer service