Business Broadband Jargon Buster

Welcome to the world of commercial broadband, where the language can sometimes feel like a maze of technical terms and acronyms. Navigating through the jargon associated with business broadband and other telecom services can sometimes be daunting, especially for those unfamiliar with some technologies.

In this jargon buster, we demystify high-speed broadband terminology with straightforward and concise explanations for lots of common terms, abbreviations and phrases included in our broadband glossary. Let’s get into it.

Commercial Broadband

Simply put, commercial or business broadband is a high-speed internet access solution used by companies and organisations that's faster than a traditional dial-up connection. Most businesses looking for an internet connectivity solution opt for broadband as it's the most appropriate option that meets their needs.

Bandwidth

Getting an internet connection is more complex than just finding a low price. You need to get the right connection for your business needs. Bandwidth is the amount of data you can transmit over a network in a given amount of time and can affect internet speed. Your bandwidth is split between all devices connected simultaneously, and some business activities (such as video calls) will use more bandwidth than others.

You’ll typically see bandwidth measured in megabits per second (Mbps).

Mbps (Megabits per second)

If you compare business internet connections, your broadband speed should be a big factor in your decision-making. Mbps is a unit of measurement for network speed, indicating the number of megabits transmitted per second (see Bandwidth above).

A typical range for business broadband would be between 25 Mbps for a small business with basic needs, right up to 1 Gbps (gigabits per second) for large organisations with high data usage.

Find out more about getting the right speed for your business broadband.

The Difference Between Mbps and MBps

When it comes to Mbps and MBps, the capitalisation of the 'b' makes a big difference. As covered above, Mbps means megabits per second, and MBps means megabytes per second. There's an 8x difference between these representations of internet speed, so 1MBps is the equivalent of 8Mbps.

Thankfully, in the UK, it's rare to see internet speeds measured in MBps, but if ever you see this measurement used, you just need to multiply it by eight to get the speed in Mbps.

Fibre Optic

This technological advancement is one of the main components of high-speed internet in the UK. Fibre optic technology uses thin strands of glass or plastic to transmit data via pulses of light, instead of the copper wire used by older lines. Fibre optic cables are used to provide reliable, high-speed internet connections.

Full Fibre Business Broadband

Full fibre business broadband is an internet connection for commercial use that utilises fibre optic cables instead of analogue telephone lines.

Find out more about full fibre broadband for businesses.

DSL (Digital Subscriber Line)

DSL stands for Digital Subscriber Line, which is a broadband internet connection that uses existing copper telephone lines to transmit digital data. It’s still a widespread type of broadband connection in the UK for homes and businesses, but limits to potential speed, along with new advancements in fibre optic technology, means that most new connections are now full fibre broadband, where it is available.

ASDL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line)

Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) is a type of DSL (see above). The only difference is that ASDL has different download and upload speeds, so it can download faster than upload, whereas DSL has the same speed for both. Most businesses need to download more than they upload, so ASDL is often a faster option.

Cable Internet

While many businesses receive their internet connection through a fibre or copper wire connection, some use Cable Internet, an Internet service provided through the same cable infrastructure that delivers cable TV to homes and businesses. Available in mainly urban and highly populated areas, cable internet can give fast internet speeds to businesses.

Modem

Once you have an internet connection, your business needs a way to make that connection usable. That's where your modem comes into play. A modem is a device that ‘modulates’ and ‘demodulates’ analogue business broadband signals, allowing you to transmit digital data over communication lines and enabling devices to connect to the internet.

Router

While your modem makes your internet connection usable, you need a way to distribute your internet connection. A router is a device that directs data on a network, connecting multiple devices to the internet.

Wi-Fi

If your business has been around long enough, you may remember the days of a wired connection being the standard. Thankfully, technology has moved on. Wi-Fi is a wireless networking technology that allows devices to connect to the internet without needing physical cables.

Ethernet

Although Wi-Fi is useful, a wired internet connection is sometimes preferable, especially if you require heightened internet security or a more stable internet connection. Ethernet is a wired technology that uses a system of cables and connectors to transmit data between devices on a local network at a high bandwidth.

Latency

Your business has undoubtedly had issues with a ‘laggy’ internet connection at some time or another. Latency is the time delay between the sending and receiving data. In today’s world of high-speed broadband, milliseconds are the measurement you'll typically see for latency.

ISP (Internet Service Provider)

In the same way that you need a contract with a business energy provider to get electricity to your company, regardless of whether the cables are in place to deliver the internet to your business, you need an Internet Service Provider (ISP) to allow you to connect. An ISP is a company that provides internet access services to customers, whether residential or commercial.

Download Speed

Whether you want to download files or browse the internet faster, you need a great download speed with your business broadband connection. Download speed is the speed at which data is transferred from the internet to your device, covering anything your device pulls from the internet, meaning it's not just limited to downloads; it can cover streaming and other services, too. Mbps is the measurement typically used for download speeds.

Upload Speed

Converse to downloading, if you want to send anything via the internet, you need a fast upload speed. Upload speed is the speed at which your business transfers data across the internet. Uploads can include video calls, sending emails and sending files to customers and colleagues. As with download speeds, Mbps is the measurement typically used for upload speeds.

Ping

Your business's internet isn't just affected by upload and download speeds. Ping plays a part, too. Network utility tools typically use ping to test the reachability of a host, such as a website page host or an internet-based service provider, with your internet protocol (IP) network.

Leased Line Broadband

A leased line is a dedicated internet connection for a specific business rather than sharing cables and connections with other organisations. As leased lines aren’t shared, this offers businesses a more consistent and reliable connection, even at peak times.

Find out more about business leased lines.

Fibre-to-the-Cabinet (FTTC)

There are various types of broadband connections, and Fibre-to-the-Cabinet (FTTC) is just one of them. FTTC is a connection method where fibre optic cables carry the signal from an ‘exchange’ to a roadside cabinet. Conventional copper phone lines then distribute broadband services to your business.

A downside to FTTC connections is that while fibre optic cables have a high bandwidth, much of this bandwidth is lost through old-fashioned copper phone lines.

Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP)

Resolving the issue of lost bandwidth over old-fashioned copper phone lines, Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) provides some of the fastest internet speeds available to businesses in the UK. FTTP is a broadband network architecture that uses fibre optic cables to provide high-speed internet directly to your home or business rather than to an exchange.

Dial-Up

Before high-speed internet with broadband, we had dial-up. Dial-up is a method of internet access that uses a standard telephone line and a modem device. Dial-up is now considered a slow and outdated technology.

Broadband over Power Lines (BPL)

Another uncommon type of internet collection in the age of common FTTP connections, Broadband over Power Lines (BPL), is an internet connection provided via power lines, offering an alternative to traditional cable or DSL connections.

Satellite Internet

For remote or rural areas where high-speed broadband connections are either impossible or costly, satellite Internet can be a saving grace. It's an Internet service that uses satellite technology to provide connectivity.

Mobile Broadband for Businesses

Mobile broadband is a portable internet connection that allows a business to connect to the local 4G and 5G towers to provide the necessary broadband services. It’s often used by companies in areas with limited options or as a backup for another kind of broadband connection.

Mesh Network

While network extenders might be an acceptable compromise for residential internet connections, businesses typically need a more robust network solution if the premises has dead zones. A mesh network utilises multiple Wi-Fi nodes working together to provide widespread coverage and improved reliability.

VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol)

VoIP is a technology that makes telephone calls possible over business broadband internet rather than telephone lines by converting the audio signals into digital data transmitted over the internet in real time. This is often a cost-effective solution for businesses rather than using a traditional phone system.

Find out more about VoIP.

VPN (Virtual Private Network)

A VPN is a secure connection between a device and a remote server that enables data to pass securely, encrypting the information. A VPN is essential if you’re a business accessing important data from different locations e.g. with staff working from home or from public places.

A business broadband connection can be configured to use a VPN service, helping to keep sensitive information secure.

Find out more in our VPN guide.

Making Business Broadband Simple

Navigating business broadband can be a challenge for businesses, with a wide array of providers, plans and technical details to consider. At BusinessComparison, we simplify this challenge by helping you secure the ideal broadband deal in a straightforward way.

We help businesses make informed decisions tailored to their needs, ensuring you stay connected while saving time and money. Say goodbye to the hassle of sifting through confusing broadband terminology and intricate details - we’re your partner in simplifying the search for the right business broadband deal.

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