ADSL is the technical name given by BT for broadband that is delivered over your telephone line. It stands for Asymmetrical Digital Subscriber Line. It works by using the existing copper telephone lines that come directly into your property. You can download data up to 8MB and upload data at 448K.

Once broadband is connected you can:

• Use the telephone and internet at the same time
• Connect and use the internet at least 5x faster than a dial-up modem
• Increase the speed of your internet connection by up to 140x that of a dial-up connection
• Make better use of communication products like web cams and chat programs
• Download movies and music

SDSL is the same as ADSL, but the speed at which data is downloaded and uploaded is the same. However, this is expensive and is usually only for people who need large amounts of data flowing in both directions. E.g. remote office workers.

Many people believe that they must purchase broadband services directly from BT. However, there are many other companies that use the BT infrastructure to deliver broadband.

Taylored Systems recommends that customers should "shop around" for the best deals before taking the plunge. Some providers offer free modems, others have no restriction on the use of the internet, and some won't tie you into a 12 month contract.

We recommend Plus.net as a consistently excellent supplier that offers:

• Broadband starting from £9.99 a month
• Free setup
• 24 hours a day telephone support in aUK call centre

We can provide installation and also networking so that you can connect more than one computer to your broadband connection.