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Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Broadband - Unsure Future for the UK

Stephen Timms, the UK's minister for competitiveness, warned last year that the UK risks falling behind in the race to providing super-fast broadband networks, claiming the situation to be "21st century's equivalent of the great arms race".

Timms drew up comparisons between our current broadband networks to those used in Japan and Korea, the world's leaders in broadband speeds, questioning why the UK should be allowed to fall behind.

The average advertised speed in Japan was 93Mbps in 2007, and South Korea's 43Mbps. Compare this to the average advertised speed of 10Mbps in the UK, with actual download speeds in the region of 4.5Mbps its easy to see where Timms is coming from.

The answer, it would seem, to stepping up our broadband networks is easy enough - a nationwide roll-out of fibre optic networks. The practicability and cost factors involved with such a roll out however, are where businesses and government officials start to stumble.

With an estimated cost of 7 to 15Bn, Ofcom, the UK's telecommunications regulatory body is having a hard time trying to convince any one company to invest.

It's been raised that what Timms didn't take into consideration is the concentration of residence in Japan and South Korea, where network speeds are at their highest. As, once you move out of the big cities and into the vast rural areas, the situation with slow or no broadband access isn't all that dissimilar to that experienced here in the UK.

Realistically it would seem that there is no "quick-fix" solution to the problem.

Various experiments and trials are being commissioned around the country with regards to implementing fibre networks, which will of course help towards the cause.

Moreover, even though it does not compare to other countries' networks, the UK is expected to be able to have the networks in place to increase advertised broadband download rates to 24Mbps over the coming years; which is a considerable improvement based on current standards.

Liam is a UK based author, currently focusing on broadband Compare cheap broadband online today.

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Broadband - Securing Your Wireless Broadband, Part 2

So, now you've got your broadband package and you are raring to go! But first, make sure you are secure and safe to do so without being prayed upon by the evils of the online world.
If you bought a "package" with a broadband company there is most likely a CD-ROM in the box your other pieces arrived in. You should check it to see if it includes a "firewall".

Installing firewall software stops people online and in your area accessing your files, removing and adding to them. There is usually a free trail period on these before you need to begin paying, but be aware that there are plenty of free virus protection programs available online, such as Avast!, which is just as good.

Once you set up your router and broadband, you will be able to access the settings via software on your PC. Do this right away so as not to allow people to access your computer files before you finalise your settings.

The first thing to do is to check if there is an option for the network to be public. This is often on "allow". Change this immediately, and then remove the default passwords and usernames and change them to something completely different.
Try to use a password that is at least 8 characters long, with numbers, letters AND symbols if your program allows it. You must remember that hackers enjoy a challenge, so you need to make the passwords as personal and private as you can - so no birth dates or street names!

When you are on your router set up menu, there should be an option for you to enter an IP code that you can enter onto all the machines you wish to be able to access the network. Change this from the default as soon as possible. It may be advisable to update this every couple of months, just so you can ensure nobody is going to come close to working out what it is.

There will be express instructions with your router on how to secure it, and you should try to implement as many of them as you can.

Unfortunately, every time the broadband and internet businesses bring out more ways to help keep customers safe and secure, the internet criminals are developing more ways to barge through the barriers. Hacking is becoming more popular than ever due to more people being online. Try to keep as hidden and protected as possible.

For broadband deals that are suitable to you, be sure you compare broadband online. Why not do a broadband speed test to see how your current provider compares?

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