broadband, definition

E

edc

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http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/pos...oadband-isnt-broadband-unless-its-2-mbps.html
http://politics.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=07/05/18/155231
"According to House Democrats, broadband isn't broadband unless its at least 2Mbps. The view of the House Subcommittee on Telecommunications is that the FCC's data collection standards are hopelessly outdated, and is proposing a number of updates to their criteria. For one, they want 'broadband' reclassified to at least 2mbs, up from 200kbps. Another requirement will change the FCC's outlook on broadband availability. Just because one household in a zip code has broadband access, that will not longer mean everyone in the zip code does. 'The plan went over well with the consumer advocates who appeared before the subcommittee. Larry Cohen, president of the Communication Workers of America, said that the US is "stuck with a twentieth century Internet" and that he would support increasing the "broadband" definition to 2Mbps. Ben Scott of Free Press echoed that sentiment, suggesting that the definition needs to be an evolving standard that increases over time, which is in contrast to the current FCC definition; it has not changed in nine years. "We have always been limited by the FCC's inadequate and flawed data," he said.'"
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Unfortunatley, as SA is 150 years behind the rest of the planet, we'll remain on 200kbps broadband.

Actaully, can anyone dig up what our regulations say about broadband speed.
 
Boodles said:
Unfortunatley, as SA is 150 years behind the rest of the planet, we'll remain on 200kbps broadband.

Actaully, can anyone dig up what our regulations say about broadband speed.
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From the ICASA ADSL Regulations - http://mydrive.co.za/uploads/icasa_adsl_regulations.pdf
"Broadband" means an always-on data connection that is able to support various interactive services, and has the ability of a minimum download speed of 256 Kilo bits per second
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and
4.2 – Any services provided with speeds lower than those defined as broadband [minimum download speeds of 256Kbps] shall not be advertised as broadband services.
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I would be correct in saying that it is called DSL if it is under 256kbps?
 
No, only if its faster than 256kbps.

Can't we rub the American 2Mbs minimum into ICASA's face and start lobbying for them to update it aswell ???
 
Then what is the difference between dsl and adsl?
 
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DSL at 192K is no longer on offer, right? DSL starts at 384K. DSL in SA is broadband by SA's definition. It may be archaic but it's consistent!

And by the same definition EDGE (also 384K or thereabouts) is broadband too.
Correction: EDGE is 236K and just misses the 256K definition. I get the feeling the definition is cooked just right to match current SA conditions.
 
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Boodles said:
Then what is the difference between dsl and adsl?
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The difference is in the 'A' which stands for 'asymmetric' meaning the flow of data is greater in one direction than the other. All ADSL is DSL but not all DSL is ADSL :)
 
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