| Broadband continually is being changed and altered | | | | broadband yet, and is used extensively |
| in order to better it on many fronts. Improved | | | | throughout Europe and some of Asia. |
| speed, improved convenience, and improved price | | | | When can it be expected to replace ADSL? |
| rates are the three areas that see constant | | | | Truth be told, whether or not WiMAX or other |
| activity as various technological leaps and brilliant | | | | wireless broadband alternatives ever replace |
| marketing plans alter the way in which we view | | | | ADSL as the ideal connection for homes and |
| our broadband. | | | | offices remains to be seen. For all the advantages |
| What is wireless broadband? | | | | that a wireless connection would offer in terms of |
| As we move into a 'wireless age', it seems fitting | | | | convenience, a certain amount of stability, |
| that wireless broadband is on the horizon even | | | | reliability and security of these connections would |
| now. One type of this wireless broadband is | | | | have to be established too. |
| mobile broadband, which utilises mobile phone | | | | On top of that, by using ADSL connections in |
| towers as access points. However this particular | | | | conjunction with wireless routers, practically the |
| type of broadband is plagued by various | | | | same affect is achieved on a local (i.e. within a |
| disadvantages that pose serious problems for | | | | home or office) basis. So even if some sort of |
| many users. | | | | dependable wireless broadband system to be put |
| Under the umbrella of wireless broadband can fall | | | | in place, it would have to offer something more |
| many technologies that have been attempted, | | | | than ADSL currently does in terms of speed, and |
| and mostly, discarded. First of these was the | | | | pricing too, in order to be able to compete against |
| Wireless Internet Service Providers (WISPs) that | | | | it. |
| serviced rural areas that did not have coverage | | | | Currently there are various efforts under |
| through ADSL. Customers that used said WISPs | | | | development involving wireless broadband as the |
| would have to mount a dish on the roof of their | | | | next frontier of broadband internet. It seems only |
| houses in order to receive a signal that was | | | | a matter of time before at least one of these |
| usually transmitted from somewhere high up | | | | efforts is realised and who knows what would |
| within the area. Using the dish meant that there | | | | come after. Recently MIT unveiled what they |
| had to be a constant line of sight between the | | | | claimed was a wireless power source, and used it |
| dish and the signal transmitter. | | | | to power a light bulb. |
| Since then, wireless broadband has moved | | | | Perhaps in a decade or so wires themselves will |
| forward by leaps and bounds, although it is still not | | | | be obsolete, and then we will truly be in the |
| quite as complete as would be desired. One of | | | | wireless age with wireless electricity supply, |
| the latest, and most widely used, developments is | | | | wireless mobile phones, and of course, wireless |
| that of WiMAX, or Worldwide Interoperability for | | | | broadband internet. Imagine the complete lack of |
| Microwave Access. Thus far this technology | | | | clutter that that world would have. |
| seems to be the most promising form of wireless | | | | |