Q&A

1) What is broadband?
Broadband is a high-speed, always on Internet connection which has a larger capacity to receive and send information than any ordinary dial-up connection.

2) How can it help my business?
By being permanently online your emails can be picked up immediately therefore you can repond quicker which can give you an advantage over dial-up users. Information can be looked up quickly via the Internet whilst still being able to used the phone. Using special software you can collaborate with other users via Chat, NetPhone and Video Conferencing.

3) Will I need any special equipment to use it, i.e. modem or adaptor?
In the Business Centres you will need an Ethernet Network Card, most computers come with  an Ethernet card built in nowadays, but the cost of an Ethernet card is approx £15.

4) How much will it cost?
Broadband at the centres is free until March 2008, it will then be about *£15 per month compared with £20-25 per month from an external supplier like BT.

5) Is Broadband simple to use, will I need any guidance or training on how to use it?
Broadband is very simple to use. If you know how to use a web browser and an email package you already know how to use broadband. Its just a faster internet connection.

6) If so, is there any help available and will I have to pay for it?
Yes, help is available on request through Business Centre Manager at no cost. For more information and advice on Broadband please log on to http://www.onlincolnshire.net/

7) How much meg will I be able to use?
The system is set up with a 2Mb connection, so if you are the only person using Broadband you will get all 2Mb. If there are 5 people then you will share the 2Mb and so may get 400Kb. In real terms this means that you will average about 40k per second download, approx 10 times more than the 3-4k per second of a dial up connection, for example a 5Mb file will take about a minute to download via broadband compared to 20 minutes on a modem connection.

8) Will I be able to get Broadband on my laptop when I’m away from the office?

Broadband is only available from the Centres when you are connected to the Business Centre network. If you are at another location and they have broadband (either at home or another office) then you will have to set up and get permission from them to use their broadband connection.

* The Business Centre reserves the right to review charges

Don't worry we have an IT expert who will help you with all this and ongoing support is available.

The Business Centres have Advanced Broadband which means we benefit from both an uplink and downlink speed of 2Mbit/s.