Any device on a network involved in transferring data from one location to another. Bridges, hubs, switches and routers and gateways are all access points.
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ADSL - Asymmetric DSL - allows information to be downloaded more quickly than it is uploaded. This makes it particularly suitable for Internet surfing and for downloading files, music, pictures and sports clips. ADSL is ideal for home and small business use.
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Any program that you use on your computer.
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To get broadband over your phone line, the telephone exchange you are connected to must be upgraded and your line must pass some technical tests. You can get an initial assessment of whether you can already get broadband by entering your BT phone number in the Availability Checker. If you do not have a BT phone number, you can check using your postcode.
Back to top The maximum amount of information you can receive over your line at one time, measured in Kilo (thousands) or Mega (millions) bits (binary digits) per second. Bandwidth and broadband 'speed' are different ways of describing broadband capacity.
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Computers can only process information that is formatted as a series of zeroes and ones - binary digits or bits - so all letters, documents, sounds and visuals are held as bits. Bandwidth and broadband speed are measured by how many thousands or millions of bits per second can be delivered or received.
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Bluetooth technology lets you connect devices such as mobile phones, handheld PCs and PDAs wirelessly over short distances.
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Broadband is the common term for a high bandwidth Internet connection - one that can send or download information many times faster than with a standard telephone and modem. 'Broadband' is used to describe any service that offers bandwidth of 128Kbps or greater.
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Symmetric DSL (SDSL) services allow information to be both sent and received from the home or office at the same broadband speeds. This makes them particularly suitable for businesses that transfer and receive large files or volumes of information between offices and with people working from home.
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BT Wholesale provides network services and solutions in the UK and offers wholesale broadband services based on DSL technology to a wide range of service providers on an equal basis. Service providers market and sell broadband services to individuals and businesses. To get broadband services, you will need to sign up with a service provider.
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Copying information - data, photos, video, music, graphics etc - onto a CD.
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8 bits make a byte. A byte is best thought of as the number of bits a computer requires to represent a single letter, numeral or punctuation point. Documents and other files are measured (sized) in thousands or millions of bytes.
Back to top As well as getting broadband over your BT phone line, you can get broadband over a cable TV connection in many parts of the UK.
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While many of the broadband services offered by service providers impose no downloading limit or cap, some service providers have introduced a cap to enable them to offer services at lower cost. With a capped service, you may be required to pay a premium price if your downloads exceed your limit.
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Discs used to distribute software. CD-R discs can be written to once; CD-RW discs can be written to repeatedly. CD-ROM drives usually also read these discs but you will require a CD-RW drive to write or 'burn' your own discs.
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The standard phone line uses copper wire to connect you to your local telephone exchange and to carry all your voice and data.
Back to top Internet access that is not 'always on'. A narrowband (56Kbps) service where you have to dial up to log in to establish a connection every time you want to use the Internet.
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DSL is a distance dependent technology, so the further signals have to travel, the less easy it is to guarantee fast, clear reception. However, following technical trials, BT has removed the distance-related limits and more than 99.8% of lines connected to a broadband exchange should be able to get an ADSL broadband service.
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Bringing information from anywhere in the online world onto your computer at your home or office. You can download almost anything from the Internet - information, documents, maps, music, video - though you may have to pay the information provider for the privilege.
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Domain Name Server. Domain names are linked to IP addresses so you only have to type in "www.bt.com/broadband" and the DNS computer finds the correct IP address.
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Digital Subscriber Line is the technology that allows BT to offer high bandwidth broadband services over an ordinary copper wire phone line.
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DVDs have higher storage capacity than CDs and are commonly used to record or play data, music and video.
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Each computer or device connected to the Internet needs its own Internet Protocol (IP) address. Devices and sites that are constantly connected to the Internet usually have a static IP address so the Domain Name System (DNS) can reliably route traffic to the right place. When you connect as an individual to the Internet you are usually assigned an IP address dynamically - it is your computer's address on the Internet for the duration of that connection and ceases to be your address when you log out.
Back to top Ethernet is the standard way of connecting computers and devices over a Local Area Network (LAN) in the home or workplace. Recent computers will be factory fitted with an Ethernet card and socket. Ethernet speeds are commonly shown as 10BaseT (10 Mbps),100BaseT (100Mbps) and 1000BaseT (1Gbps); these maximum speeds are reduced in practice to the maximum speed of the slowest device in use. Ethernet cables linking computers and devices should not extend further than 100 metres.
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ADSL Exchange Activate is a BT Wholesale broadband product that offers a business model for bringing broadband to small and remote telephone exchanges. Service providers buy block capacity at an exchange in partnership with a sponsoring body that has a social, business or developmental interest in bringing broadband to an area, helping to keep charges down for broadband end users.
Back to top A security device that stops others having uninvited access to your computer. Hardware firewalls are built into devices such as routers. Software firewalls are special computer programs loaded onto your devices. Your service provider will advise you on appropriate security measures.
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A cross-platform high-speed connection (up to 400Mbps) often used for external disc drives or to connect digital video camcorders. Ideal when large amounts of data need to be moved quickly over short distances (connection up to 4 metres distance only).
Back to top Pieces of equipment including your PC or notebook computer, printer, scanner, modem, router.
Back to top IEEE technical standards for wireless networking links. Newer devices rated 80211.g may be used with older 80211.b networks but not vice versa.
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Internet Message Access Protocol. IMAP collects email messages addressed to you and allows you to review them, only downloading the messages you choose. An IMAP mail server can store both your read and unread messages. Make a note of the name of your IMAP (incoming mail) server in case of a problem with your email. Not all email providers offer IMAP.
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With an always on connection, you can use any of the many commercial messaging systems available to chat, share information and even see your friends and family at any time you like, without incurring additional call costs.
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Every computer or device connected to the Internet has its own IP address. IP addresses can be dynamic and vary with each connection or static so the Domain Name System (DNS) can reliably route traffic to the right destination site.
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Integrated Services Digital Network lines predate broadband, offering speeds of up to 128Kbps. Although ISDN services are still available, most homes and businesses will find broadband to be a better value offering.
Back to top Broadband speed - bandwidth - is measured by the maximum number of bits (binary digits) per second that can be carried on the line. Speed is expressed in Kilobits (thousands of bits) per second and may be abbreviated in several ways.
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The size of a file expressed in thousands of bytes.
Back to top Local Area Network. Computers can be linked together in a workplace or home to form a Local Area Network. Computers on a LAN can be linked by cable or wirelessly to each other and to the Internet.
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Private telecommunications circuits between two premises dedicated to the customer's use and permanently connected.
Back to top Broadband speed - bandwidth - is measured by the maximum number of bits (binary digits) per second that can be carried on the line. Speed is expressed in Megabits (millions of bits) per second and may be abbreviated in several ways.
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The size of a file expressed in millions of bytes.
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ADSL broadband requires separate voice and data channels on your phone line at home or the office. Microfilters - sometimes called 'splitters' - are attached to every phone socket on your line to keep the channels separate.
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You can get broadband on the move at thousands of 'hotspots' across the UK and around the world. Your notebook computer will need to have a networking card fitted and you will need to pay for access by contract or on a pay-as-you-go basis.
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Technically, a 'modulator-demodulator'. You need one at your home or office linked to another in the telephone exchange to receive and transmit high-speed digital signals over your copper wire phone line. Your service provider may provide or recommend a particular modem. A modem capable of providing service to more than one computer at your home or office is called a router.
Back to top Technically, any connection with a maximum speed of less than 128Kbps. Narrowband usually describes a dial-up connection over a standard phone line offering a maximum bandwidth of 56Kbps.
Back to top Connected to the Internet.
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A very high speed, high capacity connection widely used in BT's backbone networks.
Back to top BT works in partnership with the Government, regional and local offices and agencies to promote the use of broadband and to bring broadband to remote communities and locations.
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Personal Digital Assistant. Generic description for any palm-sized or handheld PC or other online device.
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Post Office Protocol. POP collects email messages addressed to you and downloads them to your computer when you check your email. You cannot store your messages on a POP mail server. Make a note of the name of your POP (incoming mail) server in case of problems with email.
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Point-to-Point protocol. PPP is used to connect to the Internet via a narrowband modem and dial-up line. PPP requires a user ID and password to start any session; always on broadband connections do not.
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PPP over Ethernet. Combines the password security of PPP with always on connectivity. With PPPoE, the physical connection is always present but connectivity lapses periodically and must be restarted with a password. Your service provider will advise if you need to configure PPPoE.
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Private telecommunications circuits between two premises dedicated to the customer's use and permanently connected.
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The Public Switched Telephone Network is the proper name for BT's UK phone network.
Back to top Mesh radio is a high capacity wireless network where information is received and transmitted at broadband speeds via an antenna at your home or office.
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A modem capable of providing service to more than one computer in your home or office.
Back to top Broadband can be delivered via a satellite dish at your home or office. One-way satellite broadband uses satellite for downloading and your phone line for uploading information.
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Symmetric DSL (SDSL) services allow information to be both sent and received from the home or office at the same broadband speeds. This makes them particularly suitable for businesses that transfer and receive large files or volumes of information between offices and to people working from home.
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With an always on connection, it is important to minimise the possibility of any interference with your computer and systems. Your service provider will advise on appropriate precautions to take and these should include both firewall and virus protection.
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DSL broadband services are usually bought through a service provider. BT Wholesale sells broadband capacity to a wide range of service providers who offer broadband services to their home and business customers.
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Using a high speed broadband connection, it's easy to share large data files - your music, photos and videos - with others around the world.
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Single high bit rate DSL is the technology that underpins Symmetric DSL (SDSL) services.
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Simple Mail Transfer Protocol. SMTP is the Internet standard for sending your outgoing emails. When you set up your email account, you will be given your SMTP server's (outgoing mail server) name: make a note in case of email problems.
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The computer programs that make the hardware work and provide the tools and facilities you want to use.
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The maximum amount of information you can receive over your line at one time, measured in Kilo (thousands) or Mega (millions) bits (binary digits) per second. Speed and 'bandwidth' are different ways of describing broadband capacity.
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ADSL broadband requires separate voice and data channels on your phone line at home or the office. Splitters - more properly called 'microfilters' - are attached to every phone socket on your line to keep the channels separate.
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Each computer or device connected to the Internet needs its own Internet Protocol (IP) address. Devices and sites that are constantly connected to the Internet usually have a static IP address so the Domain Name System (DNS) can reliably route traffic to the right place.
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A broadcast flow of continuous broadband information such as a sports event or a live concert broadcast.
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Making your way around the World Wide Web from site to site.
Back to top Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol. All information travels across the Internet in small 'packets' that are reassembled into the full message on arrival at the destination. TCP/IP is the mechanism that controls this and it is the basis of all Internet communications.
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Working from home on a permanent or occasional basis using your phone line to connect you to your workplace and office networks.
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Where your BT phone line connects you to BT's national networks. Your local exchange must be upgraded to offer broadband services.
Back to top Sending information from your home or office to any recipient with a computer connected to the Internet. With ADSL broadband, uploading information takes longer than downloading it.
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Universal Serial Bus. USB is a simple pluggable technology used to connect all kinds of devices including keyboards, mouse, digital cameras, disc drives to your computer.
Back to top Virtual Private Network. Companies use the Internet to link Local Area Networks (LANs) at different sites together, forming a VPN.
Back to top Wide Area Network. Companies link Local Area Networks (LANs) at different sites over the Internet using a Virtual Private Network to form a secure WAN.
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A small camera that sits on or by your computer that allows people you are connected with on an instant messaging or videoconferencing system to see you. If they have a webcam too, you can have a full two-way audio and visual connection over your broadband line.
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A broadcast - say, of a sports event or concert - streamed over the World Wide Web.
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Wireless broadband that is available at 'hotspots' in thousands of public locations across the UK and around the world. Airports, railway stations, motorway services, cafes, shops and bars increasingly offer broadband access. All you need is a notebook computer with a wireless networking card fitted; you can buy vouchers for access online.
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For access to wireless broadband services you need to be within range of a public wireless access point, also known as a hotspot. There are already thousands of hotspots around the UK and across the world. All you need is a notebook computer or other device that has a card installed for wireless networking and vouchers for access that can be bought online.
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Each computer or device requires a wireless networking card or adapter to be fitted to connect to a wireless network in the home or workplace or at any one of thousands of Wi-Fi hotspots.
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Using a special router, you can link your computers and other devices to your broadband line wirelessly. Each device needs a wireless networking card fitted.
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