2.

Connecting to the Internet

Understanding Terminology
 Always on: a feature of Internet connection in which the connection is ready to use
immediately as long as the computer has power.

 Analog signals: continuously changing natural signal like human voice. The same
technology used to record sounds onto an audiotape.

 Bandwidth: the amount of data that can be transmitted across a network or cable;
usually measured in bits per second (bps) for Internet access. For example, a modem
may connect at 28.8 Kbps, which means it can nominally send and receive 28,800 bits of
information per second.

 Broadband: a high-speed Internet access that offers an always-on connection, which

is called in contrast to a dial-up connection using analog modem.

 Digital signals: the signals for the performance of computer by turning on and off a
series of electronic switches represented by the numerical digits of 0 (the code for off)
and 1(the code for on). The combinations of these digital codes represent computer text,
commands and graphics.

 Internet service provider (ISP): a company that provides access to the Internet. For a
monthly fee, the service provider gives a software package, username, password and
access phone number. In addition to serving individuals, this also serves companies,
providing a direct connection from the company’s networks to the Internet.

PREREQUISITES

There are five requirements for connecting to the Internet.

1. Service provider
You will normally have to subscribe to a company that will provide you with access to the
Internet through their servers.

2. Software
Your computer must have the correct type of software to let it transmit and receive data across
the Internet. You will need (at least) a browser to view web pages and e-mail software to send
and receive e-mails. There are two main types of this software that we commonly use.

 A browser.
This is a program which lets you view web pages. Most browsers also have file transfer
capabilities, as well as letting you use chat services. Examples of browsers include
Internet Explorer, Netscape Navigator and Safari.
  An e-mail client.
This is a program which sends and receives e-mail, and gives users access to newsgroups.
E-mail software also allows the user to organize messages into folders, store commonly
used e-mail addresses, send and receive attachments and send e-mails to groups.
Examples of e-mail clients include Eudora, Mail and Outlook Express. Most ISPs also
allow users to view e-mail directly using a browser (e.g. hotmail).

 Mobile Apps

3. Hardware
The specification of the computer must be sufficient to run the software – in particular, it will
need a fast enough processor and enough RAM. Typical minimum hardware requirements are as
follows:

4. Connection
You need to have a telecommunications connection – either a phone line, a cable or satellite
connection or a WAP phone. Businesses may also have high speed leased lines to allow multiple
users fast access to Internet services.

5. Modem
You need a suitable device to connect your computer to the telephone line, or cable or satellite.
Normally, this will be some type of modem.

Types of Connections Available Today

A. Cabled Connections
i) Dial-up Internet Access
This is an internet access service that enables one to access the internet using the normal
telephone line and a modem. This service is very useful to people who travel a lot and want a
service that is easily available, cost effective so as to access the internet to transmit light data.
Once the Consumer is using the service, the telephone line is not available to receive or to make
calls.

Typical Dial-up connection speeds are 56 Kbps.

A. Affordable
D. Slow
ii) DSL – Digital Subscriber Line
Frequently referred to as an always on connection. It uses existing 2-wire copper telephone line
connected to the premise so service is delivered simultaneously with wired telephone service --
it will not tie up your phone line as an analog dial-up connection does.
The two main categories of DSL for home subscribers are called ADSL and SDSL.
1. ADSL - Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line
ADSL is the most commonly deployed types of DSL. Short for asymmetric digital
subscriber line ADSL supports data rates of from 1.5 to 9 Mbps when receiving data
(known as the downstream rate) and from 16 to 640 Kbps when sending data (known as
the upstream rate). ADSL requires a special ADSL modem.
Connection speeds – Sending data 16 - 640 Kbps
Connection speeds – Receiving data 1.5 – 9 Mbps

2. ADSL+2 - ADSL Extension

An extension to ADSL broadband technology that provides subscribers with
significantly faster download speeds when compared to traditional ADSL connections.
ADSL+2 works in the same fashion as ADSL a special filter is installed on a
subscriber's telephone line to split existing copper telephone lines (POTS) between
regular telephone (voice) and ADSL+2. ADSL2+ service is most commonly offered in
highly-populated metropolitan areas and subscribers must be in close geographical
locations to the provider's central office to receive ADSL2+ service.
3. SDSL - Symmetric Digital Subscriber Line
Short for symmetric digital subscriber line, SDSL is a technology that allows more data
to be sent over existing copper telephone lines (POTS). SDSL supports data rates up to 3
Mbps. SDSL works by sending digital pulses in the high-frequency area of telephone
wires and cannot operate simultaneously with voice connections over the same wires.
SDSL requires a special SDSL modem. SDSL is called symmetric because it supports
the same data rates for upstream and downstream traffic.
Connection speeds – upto 3 Mbps
4. VDSL - Very High DSL
Very High DSL (VDSL) is a DSL technology that offers fast data rates over relatively
short distances — the shorter the distance, the faster the connection rate.
iii) Cable - Broadband Internet Connection
Broadband Internet connection is designed to operate over cable TV lines. Cable Internet works
by using TV channel space for data transmission, with certain channels used for downstream
transmission, and other channels for upstream transmission. Because the coaxial cable used by
cable TV provides much greater bandwidth than telephone lines, a cable modem can be used to
achieve extremely fast access. Cable providers typically implement a cap to limit capacity and
accommodate more customers. Cable speeds range from 512 Kbps to 20 Mbps.
B. Mobile Internet services

i) GPRS
GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) is rapidly becoming a global standard for sending and
receiving high-speed data across the GSM network. Under GPRS one is billed by the amount of
data sent and received, in contrast to rather than conventional Circuit Switched Data services
which are billed by the connection time.

The advantages of GPRS technology is that it allows users to stay connected to the Internet under
fast download speeds as no time is spent attempting to access a dial-up connection. It allows one
to stay permanently connected to the mobile Internet without running up a huge phone bill. This
is because with GPRS, you are only charged for the amount of information you send and receive,
not the length of time you use your phone.

This means that once one switches on their GPRS phone and connect to the mobile Internet, you
can stay on all day. Similarly when one receives a call while browsing with the GPRS service,
you can simply pause your browsing session, take the call, and then carry on reading the page
you were on already.

ii) EDGE
EDGE (Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution) technology represents a step between GPRS
and 3G mobile systems.
EDGE allows the delivery of advanced mobile services such as the downloading of video and
music clips, full multimedia messaging, high-speed colour Internet access and e-mail.
However the speed depends upon the signal quality, number of users as well as the type of
mobile phone in use. EDGE offers the following benefits:
• faster Internet access and browsing,
• faster MMS,
• faster email transfer,
• audio contents transfer,
• video contents transfer,
• games,
• as well as all other application with the same price of data transmission as with the
’classic’ GPRS.

iii) CDMA
Short for Code-Division Multiple Access, a digital cellular technology that uses spread spectrum
techniques where a signal is spread across multiple radio frequencies resulting in a signal with a
wider bandwidth increasing its resistance to interference. Unlike competing systems, such as
GSM, that use TDMA, CDMA does not assign a specific frequency to each user. Instead, every
channel uses the full available spectrum. Individual conversations are encoded with a special
coding scheme (where each transmitter is assigned a code) to allow many users to share a
communication medium for data and telephone communication. CDMA consistently provides
better capacity for voice and data communications than other commercial mobile technologies,
allowing more subscribers to connect at any given time, and it is the common platform on which
3G technologies are built.

iv) HSDPA
HSDPA, short for High-Speed Downlink Packet Access, is a new protocol for mobile telephone
data transmission. It is known as a 3.5G (G stands for generation) technology.
Essentially, the standard provides download speeds on a mobile phone equivalent to an ADSL
(Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) line in a home, removing any limitations placed on the use
of your phone by a slow connection. It is an evolution and improvement on W-CDMA, or
Wideband Code Division Multiple Access, a 3G protocol.
HSDPA improves the data transfer rate by a factor of at least five over W-CDMA.
HSDPA can achieve theoretical data transmission speeds of 8-10 Mbps (megabits per second).
Though any data can be transmitted, applications with high data demands such as video and
streaming music are the focus of HSDPA.

v) 3G
3G or Third-Generation Mobile networks are an ITU specification for the third generation of
mobile communications technology. It refers to broadband digital wireless mobile telephone
networks that offer increased voice capacity and provide higher data Internet Services
Options rates than 2G networks. 3G can support the new range of digital services available for
mobile devices, such as internet access, multimedia applications, and support for global roaming.
3G is capable of a bandwidth of up to 384 Kbps when a device is stationary or moving at
pedestrian speed, 128 Kbps in a car, and 2 Mbps in fixed applications. 3G will work over
wireless air interfaces such as GSM, TDMA, and CDMA.

vi) 4G

4G is the fourth generation of mobile phone mobile communication technology standards. It is a

successor to 3G standard expected to address the deficiencies of 3G in terms of speed and
quality.
4G removes all barriers of speed and bandwidth and rewards every user with high stream data.

4G puts peak speed requirements at 100 Mbps for high mobility communication (such as from
trains and cars) and 1 Gbps for low mobility communication (such as pedestrians and stationary
users).
C. Wireless Internet Services

i) iBurst

iBurst is a mobile broadband wireless access system and can provide high performance, high
speed, secure, mobile wireless access for business, home and office applications.

iBurst offers the following benefits:

• Up to 1 Mbps data connectivity
• Wide area wireless access means that larger cell sizes can be accommodated.
• Always on connectivity
• The service is fully compatible with existing laptops, PDAs and desktop computers -
no upgrades or new devices required.
• Many characteristics of the iBurst service combine to make it more secure than
existing wireless delivery modes including the directionality of the signal as well as
extensive encryption of the data transferred.

ii) Wi-Fi

This is a wireless networking technology that uses radio waves to provide wireless highspeed
Internet and network connections. Wi-Fi works with no physical wired connection between
sender and receiver by using radio frequency (RF), a frequency within the electromagnetic
spectrum associated with radio wave propagation. When an RF current is supplied to an antenna,
an electromagnetic field is created that then is able to propagate through space. The basis of any
WiFi wireless network is the access point (AP). The primary job of an access point is to
broadcast a wireless signal that computers can detect and "tune" into. In order to connect to an
access point and join a wireless network, computers and devices must be equipped with wireless
network adapters. Usually deployed in airports, universities, bookstores, coffee shops, office
campuses and private residences.

iii) WiMAX

WiMAX can be used for wireless networking in much the same way as WiFi. It is a second-
generation protocol that allows for more efficient bandwidth use, interference avoidance, and is
intended to allow higher data rates over longer distances.
The bandwidth and reach of WiMAX make it suitable for the following potential applications:
• Connecting Wi-Fi hotspots with each other and to other parts of the Internet.
• Providing a wireless alternative to cable and Digital Subscriber line (DSL) for last
mile (last km) broadband access.
• Providing high-speed mobile data and telecommunications services.
• Providing a diverse source of Internet connectivity as part of a business continuity
plan. That is, if a business has a fixed and a wireless internet connection, Internet
Services Options especially from unrelated providers, they are unlikely to be affected
by the same service outage.
Shared vs dedicated bandwidth
Broadband connections can be divided into two major categories: shared and dedicated.
Shared Internet connections include DSL and Cable broadband connections. Dedicated
connections are provided by leased lines such as E1, T1.

Dedicated bandwidth
Dedicated bandwidth means that the bandwidth speed that you subscribed for is committed for
your exclusive use. You are guaranteed that the Bandwidth (or speed) that you signed up can
always be achieved 24 hours a day regardless of total network utilization at any given time. That
means if you signed up for dedicated bandwidth of 512/512kbps, you will always be able to
receive downloads up to 512kbps if your network requires it.

Shared bandwidth
Shared bandwidth means that the bandwidth speed that you signed up for is used collectively
between yourself and other users on that service plan. Your ISP will endeavour to achieve the
minimum set speed on the service level agreement but maximum speeds are only possible when
other users in your service plan are not active. This has great advantages of having the ability to
have higher speeds during non peak times and when the network is underutilized, without having
to purchase dedicated bandwidth.

Questions about the Internet

1. What is an ISP?
2. Name 4 ISPs.
3. What services do most ISPs provide?
4. What software is required to view web pages?
5. Describe 2 methods of viewing e-mail messages.
6. What is meant by the term ‘dial-up’ Internet access?
7. Describe 3 types of broadband access.

Practical task
1. Research the websites of 2 different Internet Service Providers (ISPs). For each one, compare
the costs of
(a) dial-up access
(b) ADSL broadband access

2. Write a brief report for an older neighbour who does not have a computer, and is considering
setting up Internet access. Identify the hardware and software required.

3. Recommend an ISP and outline the advantages and disadvantages of dial-up and broadband
access.