Stratum Broadband » Technologies

Broadband Internet

What is Broadband Internet? Broadband Internet is a bidirectional Internet connection with sufficient speed¹ to support full motion video². Bidirectional is important because many applications have as much value in their ability to send large quantities of data in real time as to receive it. Internet is important because it implies the freedom to connect to any network and any application.

Many other services offer high speeds in only one direction. They are not Broadband. Also, many services are Broadband, but not Internet, because they offer only a limited choice in terms of networks and applications (also known as walled gardens). By combining the benefits of Broadband and Internet, the whole becomes greater than the sum of its parts.

There are many ways to deliver Broadband Internet to customers. The physical network may be wired, wireless, or a combination of both. The network is Internet, meaning that all applications are merely data and all data merely packets. By adding intelligence to the network, it can prioritize certain packets and manage the performance of applications. The network changes and grows over time and requires maintenance. In addition, networks must consider the user and what support he may need.

Many factors come together in building and deploying a Broadband Internet network. Stratum Broadband can help you make it happen.

Speed it not just a question of how many packets can move per second (bit rate) but also of latency - the amount of time between the request for a packet and its reception. For realtime applications like VoIP, latency is often more important than bit rate.
While full motion video is not the only application for Broadband Internet, it is chosen because it requires high speeds and has strong practical and entertainment applications.

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News and Events: Stratum Broadband to help city of Burlington assess viability of Burlington Telecom
The seven-member committee created by the Burlington City Council in late December to assess Burlington Telecom's financial health and prospects, held its third meeting Tuesday and voted unanimously to hire two expert consulting companies. The committee made clear it intends to make arrangements with Stratum Broadband of Medway, Mass., and Hiawatha Broadband Communications of Winona, Minn., to begin their work as soon as possible. The committee, whose recommendations will likely determine BT's future, amended its schedule and, with the consultants settled on, intends to provide the full council with a picture of BT's viability by Jan. 29. ...Read Full Article...; Press Release: Virgin Islands Awarded $1.4 Million Grant for Broadband Mapping and Planning
United States Virgin Islands (January 3, 2010) - Governor John P. deJongh, Jr. said this weekend that the Virgin Islands has been awarded approximately $1.4 million from the National Telecommunications Information Administration of the Department of Commerce under their Broadband Technologies Opportunity Program (BTOP). The monies will fund mapping of the territory’s existing broadband network and funding for planning the expansion of the territory’s telecommunications facilities.

“This competitive federal stimulus grant award will allow us to begin the process that will result in our being able to provide reliable broadband services to the territory’s residents and businesses. This is a key initiative towards bringing the critical infrastructure to further spur economic growth in the territory and enable our community to participate in communications and internet worlds without limitation,” deJongh said.; Press Release: Report Cites Need for Better Broadband Service - CBN Connect Project Seeks to Bring Vital Services to the North Country
PLATTSBURGH, NY (October 10, 2007) – A consultant’s report recommends the construction of a fiber optic and wireless broadband network for Clinton, Essex, and Franklin counties that would be a wholesale “carrier's carrier,” providing open services broadband transport for existing and new broadband providers. It would not provide retail services to end users. The research project was funded by federal grants through the offices of Senator Hillary Clinton and Congressman John McHugh.
The report, commissioned by the Research Foundation of SUNY on behalf of the CBN Connect (community broadband network) Advisory Board, and conducted by Stratum Broadband and Xit Telecom, provides market research and needs analysis for the CBN Connect project.; May 24, 2007
An article at thepheonix.com by Matt Jerzyk explores the economic and political impact of the state-wide RIWINs wireless program in Rhode Island.; January 16, 2007
The Business Innovation Factory today announced its plans for statewide rollout of the Rhode Island Wireless Innovation Networks (RI-WINs), an effort to make Rhode Island the first state in the country with a border-to-border broadband network.