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Cybertelecom Federal Internet Law & Policy An Educational Project |
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Comparison of Broadband Rates | |
| Broadband | Computer III | Wireless | Glossary of Terms |Telephony | Broadband Applications | Tiers and Data Caps |
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| POTS
(DS0) |
< 56 kbps
Symetric |
Point to Point
Circuit Switched Service. |
Plain old telephone service. FCC does not require minimum bandwidth; service providers are not obligated to provide a minimum level of bandwidth over POTS. Some state PUCs may require a minimum level of service. Analog service that requires analog modems. See ISPs; [Profprofs] [Daycom] [CSGNetworks] |
| ISDN | 64-128 kbps
Symetric |
Point to Point
2 B channels used for transmission - 64 kbps 1 D channel for control 16 kbps Circuit switched service. |
Digital
Requires ISDN modems or terminal adapters. May be available where DSL is not. Has greater range than DSL. [Profprofs (almost obsolete)] [Lara] [Daycom] [Wikipedia] [CSGNetworks] |
| Satellite | Asymetric |
Upload may be via alternative path such as dial up or it may be via satellite (more expensive) at rates such as 150 kbps. Generally requires line of site to satellite. [Daycom (6 mbps)] [Wildblue 12 Mbps down)] [ThinkBroadband] | |
| xDSL | Various 256 kbps to 15 Mbps |
Point to Point over copper
pair
Packet Switched Service |
Carriers traffic between user and central office. Requires DSL modem on user end and DSLAM at the Central Office to split voice and packet data - voice goes to PTN and packets go to packet network. From the DSLAM, traffic might go to an ATM cloud or it might go to point. Service is available within a limited range (ie., one mile, 1800 feet) of the Central Office. Utilizes frequencies over copper wires above voice service. Offered by ILECs and CLECs; multiple services possible in single market. SDSL = synchronous speed up / down; ADSL = asynchronous speeds; IDSL = works up to 30,000 feet. [Profprofs][Daycom (128 kbps to 8 mbps)] [Wikipedia] |
| aDSL | 8 - 52 Mbps Asymetric |
[Wikipedia] | |
| T1/DS1 | 1.544 Mbps | Point to Point
Copper or fiber |
Typically business line service [Profprofs] [Lara] [Daycom] |
| ISDN PRI | 1.544 Mbps | ||
| E-1 | 2.05 Mbps | ||
| aDSL | 6.1 Mbps Down 640 Kbps Up |
FTTC | TDM, ITU G.992, with TWP subloop |
| T2 | 6.312 Mbps | [Profprofs] | |
| WiFi 802.11b | 11 Mbps | [About.com] | |
| Cable (DOCSIS) | Various
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Coax Cable shared network to headend | See Open Access Debate. [Profprofs] [Daycom (512 kbps to 20 mbps)] [Wikipedia (discussing throughput of Docsis 3)] |
| T3 DS3 | 45 Mbps | Point to Point
Fiber |
Short distance over coax. [Profprofs] [Daycom (44.736 Mbps)] [CSGNetworks] |
| OC1 | 52 Mbps | [Profprofs] [Daycom (51.58 Mbps)] [Wikipedia (sonet)] [FiberOptic Marketplace] [CSGNetworks] | |
| WiFi 802.11a & g | 54 Mbps | [About.com] | |
| vDSL | 55 Mbps Down 640 Kbps Up |
FTTC | TDM, ITU G.992, with TWP subloop TDM, ITU G. 992, with TWP and Coax Subloop (1.5 Mbps up) |
| BPON | 100 Mbps down 3 Mbps up |
FTTH | ATM ITU G.983 |
| OC3 | 155 Mbps | [Daycom (155.52 Mbps Optical fiber)] [Wikipedia (sonet)] [FiberOptic Marketplace] [CSGNetworks] | |
| ATM | 155 - 600 Mbps | backbone service. [Profprofs] [Lara] | |
| WiFi 802.11n | 300 Mbps | [About.com] | |
| OC12 | 622 Mbps | [Wikipedia (sonet)] [FiberOptic Marketplace] [CSGNetworks] | |
| APON |
622 Mbps down |
FTTH | ATM, Standard ITU G.983 |
| EPON | 1 Gbps down 622 Mbps Up |
FTTH | Ethernet, IEEE 803.3ah |
| aDSL | 1 Ghz down 6.1 Mbps Up |
FTTC | With TWP and Coax Subloop, TDM, G.992 |
| OC24 | 1244 Mbps | [Wikipedia (sonet)] [FiberOptic Marketplace] [CSGNetworks] | |
| OC48 | 2488 Mbps | [Wikipedia (sonet)] [FiberOptic Marketplace] [CSGNetworks] | |
| GPON | 2.5 Gbps Down 622 Mbps Up |
FTTH | Ethernet, IEEE 802.3ah |
| OC192 | 10 Gbps | [Wikipedia (sonet)] [FiberOptic Marketplace] [CSGNetworks] |
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| OC768 | 40 Gbps | [Wikipedia (sonet)] [FiberOptic Marketplace] |
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| Frame Relay | 56 kbps - 44 Mbps | Point to Multi Point
Packet Switched Service |
Transport of traffic between pop and pop. Access to the pop must otherwise be provisioned. Access multiple locations via single interface. . |
| ATM Cell Relay | 1.5 Mbps - 155 Mbps | Point to Multi Point
Packet Switched Service |
Transport of traffic between pop and pop. Access to the pop must otherwise be provisioned. Access multiple services |
| Sonet | Packet Switched Service | ||
| VPOP/DAS | Combination of frame relay and circuit switched service. Designed for ISPs. Traffic aggregated at frame relay POP, then connects to ISP. | ||
| OC3072 | 159 Gbps | [FiberOptic Marketplace] |
How much bandwidth do I need?
The bandwidth required for specific applications is a great way to understand what applications are currently feasible and what applications need more bandwidth.
| Application | Required Bandwitdh |
| Electronic Banking | Minimum: 40Kbs Ideal: 400Kbs* |
| Telegaming | Minimum: 40Kbs Ideal: 600 Kbs* |
| Home Shopping | Minimum: 40Kbs Ideal: 1.5Mbs to 7Mbs* |
| Electronic Newspapers | Minimum: 40Kbs Ideal: 2Mbs* |
| Low Quality Audio | 56 kbps *** |
| Video Telephony | Minimum: 70Kbs Ideal: 200Kbs* |
| VoIP | 90 kbps *** VoIP: Per Call Bandwidth Consumption, BosCom Voice Over IP - Per Call Bandwidth Consumption, CISCO Calculating VoIP Bandwidth Consumption, Network Observations (May 20, 2008) |
| Audio on Demand | Minimum: 110Kbs Ideal: 700 Kbs * |
Low Videoconferencing |
0.384 Mbps MPEG-4** |
| Teleworking | Minimum: 110Kbs Ideal: 1.5Mbs to 7Mbs* ~ |
| Tele or E-Learning | Minimum: 110Kbs Ideal: 1.5Mbs to 7Mbs* |
| TeleMedicine | Minimum: 110Kbs Ideal: 1.5Mbs to 7Mbs* ~ |
| FCC Definition of Broadband | 200 kbps [Sec. 706] |
| Near Video on Demand | Minimum: 1Mbs Ideal: 1.5Mbs to 7Mbs * |
| Video in Window (YouTube) | 1.5 mbps MPEG-1[** ] [***] |
| Movies on Demand | Minimum: 1Mbs Ideal: 1.5Mbs to 7Mbs* |
| Digital Television | Minimum: 1Mbs Ideal: 7Mbs (Canada Broadband Task Force) |
| VHS Quality Full Screen | 1 to 2 mbps MPEG-2 ** |
| Broadcast NTSC | 2 to 3 mbps MPEG-2 ** |
| Broadcast PAL | 4 to 6 mbps MPEG-2 ** |
| Professional PAL | 8 to 10 mbps MPEG-2 ** |
| Broadcast HDTV | 12 to 20 mbps MPEG-2 [**] [***] |
| DVB Satellite Multiplex | 28 to 40 mbps MPEG-2 Transport ** |
| Professional HDTV | 32 to 40 mbps MPEG-2 ** |
| Contribution TV | 34 to 50 mbps MPEG-2-I ** |
| Contribution HDTV | 140 mbps MPEG-2-I ** |
| Raw NTSC | 168 mbps uncompressed ** |
| Raw PAL | 216 mbps uncompressed ** |
| Raw Contribution PAL | 270 mbps uncompressed ** |
| Raw HDTV | 1000 to 1500 mbps uncompressed ** |
*Source: TechNet Broadband Primer Jan 2002
** Source: http://erg.abdn.ac.uk/research/future-net/digital-video/mpeg2.html
*** "High-Speed Services for Internet Access as of June 30, 2006," Industry Analysis and Technology Division, Wireline Competition Bureau, Federal Communications Commission