Always on
With broadband, your computer is connected to the internet whenever it’s switched on. You never have to dial up. In this way, the internet becomes a utility comparable to electricity or water: it’s available when you need it and you don’t have to give it any thought beforehand. Just open your browser. Some people like to think of access to the internet as having an extra disk drive on your PC; only that disk drive is huge and has vast amounts of information on it.
This permanent connection is normally charged at a fixed monthly rate. This means that you don’t incur any additional costs however much use you make of the internet.
Constant access to the internet enables a free flow of information to and from your organisation. Many new things then become possible:
- You receive emails as soon as they are sent so there’s no delay in receiving important messages.
- You can establish permanent connections to your other offices and maintain constant links to third-party services. If there are important changes, you are updated instantly.
- You can establish secure off-site servers, enabling your people to work remotely from home or when they are on the move. You can also back up your data securely off-site.
- You can implement a more cost-effective leasing model for your ICT needs, with management and support subcontracted to off-site specialists.
Finally, you can use your computer as a phone to make calls at low cost or even free of charge.