Benefits to Individuals

Broadband internet access provides significantly faster speeds compared to normal dial-up access. But what does this really mean to the personal user? What other real benefits does it provide? Here are some suggestions:

Cost
Swapping from a dial-up access to broadband will involve some initial expense for the new modem and software required. The monthly cost will also generally be higher than for dial-up. This doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s more expensive overall though. Even light users of internet access can find that broadband works out to be cheaper. As broadband is always “on”, there is no phone call required to access it. The resultant savings can make the monthly cost of broadband packages comparable or even cheaper than normal dial-up access.

Entertainment
The much faster speeds can open up numerous entertainment possibilities. Playing games on-line is a very popular pastime with people of all ages. This can also extend to gambling and other similar activities. Broadband also provides access to various forms of streaming media including radio and live concerts. Watching and downloading videos and music files also becomes more feasible. Other possibilities include taking virtual tours offered by sites such as those run by real estate agents.

Employment
Working from home, either for yourself or for an employer, is becoming a more viable and popular option for many people in the Hunter. Broadband can facilitate this scenario as it provides significant efficiencies as well as allowing constant contact with anyone/anywhere.

Surfing
Broadband dramatically improves the web-surfing experience. Even more complex web pages will download very quickly. This obviously saves significant periods of time for the average user. It also makes it more feasible to have multiple windows open at anytime to view various sites simultaneously. The time to download files is also reduced significantly. This makes things like music, videos, and software more accessible. Even with the slowest broadband package, it could be expected that download speeds would be at least 8 to 10 times faster. Broadband also offers increased reliability and stability compared to dial-up.

At Home
A big advantage of broadband is the ability to setup a home network. Several computers can be linked to the internet using the same access connection. Also, as broadband does not affect your normal phone line, you are able to make or receive phone calls when you’re on-line.

Email
Apart from much quicker downloading of emails, the high speed available with broadband also allows you to send and/or receive large files and attachments. Sending photographs between family members for example, is becoming more popular all the time.

Bonus
Most of the major ISP’s offer additional benefits as part of their broadband packages. These benefits can include free content, free gaming, additional web space, additional email storage, and free downloading in non-peak periods.

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