Broadband is the name used for any way of connecting your computer to the internet using digital technology at high speed. Connecting to the internet via broadband means most websites appear at least 10 times faster than via a traditional ‘dial-up’ modem, and you can download audio and video files much quicker.

You are able to make telephone calls while using the internet too. The broadband connection is always open and, as it only uses a certain part of the signal, it leaves space for voice calls.

According to the telecommunications regulator Ofcom, broadband has become one of the fastest growing new consumer technologies, overtaking the growth of TVs, CD players, video recorders, and mobile phones. It is estimated that 13 million people in the UK are now using broadband.