There are many inventions that ended up changing the course of history, and Internet is undeniably one of them. Today, Internet is an unavoidable system, and a fast connection to Internet is more of a necessity than luxury. Broadband Internet is the most used form of Internet access all across the world. The reason for this is that it is far faster to use than a telephone and modem and information can be relayed and downloaded faster than ever. Broadband involves lots of information being carried to your computer at high speeds. Whether making use of broadband at home or the office, it has lots of useful features, but its main draw card is being able to download websites, videos and music quickly.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has recently voted to change the way broadband is seen and defined. They claim that the current broadband speeds are archaic and inadequate for a modern world. They want it seen as ‘Internet which is actually fast enough to use’. Companies who make use of broadband will have to guarantee download speeds of at least 25 megabits per second or faster as well as upload speeds of 3 Mbps or faster.
The Latest Definition of Broadband
The Federal Communications Commission has changed the definition of broadband by raising the minimum download speeds needed from 4Mbps to 25Mbps. The minimum upload speeds have been changed from 1Mbps to 3Mbps. If you use the FCC’s latest definition of broadband, which excludes most DSL and other slow ISPs that used to be regarded as broadband, then millions of US households that once qualified as having access to broadband no longer qualify.
It means that if a company isn’t able to call its service broadband, it is safe to say that it has slow Internet. If speeds don’t reach the threshold, connection ‘broadband’ doesn’t apply. Under the new standard, this means that a fifth of Americans won’t have access to high-speed Internet – they are no longer regarded as broadband subscribers.
The Increasing Need for Speed
The FCC says that the world’s demand for high-speed service is going to increase further, and that increasing the definition helps prepare Internet users for the future. The change in definition also means that DSL is no longer a broadband service, as DSL speeds are much lower than 25 Mbps. It simply means that millions of subscribers on DSL services won’t qualify as broadband users. There are many DSL-based operations that are finding themselves in a similar situation.
Simply put, it is going to be faster Internet speeds for everyone, which is a good thing. Providers aren’t being forced to provide broadband services, and they are still able to offer slower speed packages, but people are going to know that they are slower and inferior. More consumers are expected to demand faster packages.
This year is a turning point for the future of the digital economy. The FCC redefinition is adamant that these new plans needs to be accelerated and achieved, and that services of no less than 100Mbps must become reality in the next few years.