Superfast broadband solutions
The R100 SBVS is technology agnostic with the connectivity requirements clearly outlined in the Supplier Terms and Conditions. Below is some more information on the types of broadband solutions which can provide superfast connectivity to end users.
Full Fibre (Fibre to the Premises/Home (FTTP/H))
Broadband to the vast majority of properties in Scotland, in both urban and rural areas, involves fibre to the cabinet in your street, then copper between the last stretch from the cabinet to your house. This is called “partial fibre” or FTTC (Fibre to the Cabinet). Many rural properties have “exchange only” lines, meaning copper runs all the way from the exchange to the property. Full Fibre is when the connection from the exchange all the way to the inside of your property is a fibre optic cable. This enables you to receive any speed of broadband up to 1,000 Mbps (1 Gigabit per second) and is future-proofed for and capable of even faster speeds.
Fixed Wireless
Fixed wireless broadband is an outdoor wireless network, just like WiFi in your home but over greater distances, from a few hundred metres to many kilometres. Fixed wireless broadband can deliver a one-to-one connection between two buildings or structures (for example from a farm house to a farm office) or a one-to-many network connecting dozens of homes from a single transmitter. Common speeds for fixed wireless networks range between 30 Mbps and 100 Mbps. However, they are capable of much faster speeds over considerable distances, and Gigabit speeds over short distances of around 300 metres as a one-to-many network.
Fixed Mobile (Fixed mobile or cellular broadband (e.g. 4G))
Fixed mobile is a method of getting internet access using one of the UK’s four mobile networks (EE, Vodafone, O2 and Three) or from the many virtual mobile operators (listed here) that use one of the four main networks. Instead of using your mobile phone as a temporary “hot spot” for connecting laptops or TVs, the idea of “fixed mobile” is that you install a special WiFi router with a mobile SIM card in it, and an external aerial in a suitable location outdoors. This installation would be more permanently fixed in place than a mobile phone.
Satellite
Satellite broadband uses a dish on your home to connect to a satellite in space. The connection works both up and down from the satellite without the need for any other connections such as a fixed telephone line. Because there is a delay of around half a second as the signal needs to go into space and back again it’s not suitable for “First Person Shooter” games but other than that it’s fine for all other uses. Satellite broadband technology has greatly improved over recent years but it’s always worth checking with the provider what speeds they expect you to consistently get.