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Deadline 9th February

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Making an online purchase

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Adam Colwell

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Computer/laptop, ISP, signal, phone,router, URL, IP address, search engine, WiFi...

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Amy Jenkins

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A good site describing the equipment you need to connect to the internet

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The most common devices people use today to get online, include:

However, the range of devices capable of connecting to the internet is ever-expanding and shifting our understanding of what "being online" means.

In recent years, we've seen the emergence of smart watches, central heating systems, and even refrigerators, which by connecting to the internet can perform all sorts of enhanced and useful functions.

Still, the most "traditional" devices used for accessing and browsing the internet today are desktop computers, laptop computers, tablets and smartphones.

Two types of internet connection services

There are two key types of service that can provide you with internet access. They are:

Let's take a look at each, in turn...

As the name suggests, this is an internet connection that is fixed to a specific location (such as a home, office or shop) - meaning that the internet connection is unique to that property, and as such you can only access it when you're physically situated there.

Today, the three most common types of fixed internet connection are:

ADSL broadband

The most widely used form of internet connection, ADSL uses a property's existing phoneline to get online.

This form of broadband has been available for a while, making it often the most cost-effective way of getting online - yet not the fastest (average download speeds of 8.4 Mb) compared to the two other available forms of internet connection now available in the UK, cable and fibre broadband.

Cable broadband

Instead of using a phone line as ADSL does, cable broadband establishes an internet connection via a specialised cable that shares the same line as your TV service.

Cable broadband generally offers higher speeds than ADSL connections (average download speeds of 50.5 mb), but as a cable broadband connection is often shared with many other users, speeds can suffer from time to time due to congestion during peak times.

Fibre broadband

The most recently rolled out form of internet connection in the UK (and therefore, still not that widely available) is fibre broadband.

Fibre broadband claims to offer more consistent and reliable speeds than cable and ADSL (average download speeds of 59.4mb) - allowing multiple devices to be performing high-capacity tasks, simultaneously, without any slow downs or breakages in the connection, making it an attractive proposition for busy family homes or office environments.

Choosing a fixed internet service provider

Many companies provide installation of one of the above types of fixed internet connection, with ongoing access to the connection at an agreed speed and data usage offered, mostly on a contract basis.

Some companies are more specialised in one type of connection than another. For instance, Virgin Media specialises in cable broadband connections as it is also a TV service provider. Whilst BT, as the owner of the majority of the UK's telephone lines, is most well-known for providing ADSL broadband - though many third-party companies are allowed access to BT's network and offer their own ADSL broadband services. As the owner of the new infrastructure that allows for latest fibre broadband, BT is also currently the sole provider of this next-generation service.

Mobile internet is a way of getting online anywhere without relying on a fixed-location connection - as the name suggests, by using your mobile device.

Mobile phone operators provide access to this alternative method of internet usage. When you sign up to a mobile phone operator's services - either on a contract or pay-as-you-go basis - you can include access to a certain amount of data (measured in megabytes), allowing you to use your mobile device to connect to the internet within that capped usage limit.

Mobile internet is currently offered at two different speeds and capability levels:

3G mobile internet: has been around for many years and typically offers basic access and download speeds that allow users to complete basic tasks such as load a web page or access an email. 3G mobile internet is gradually being replaced by 4G services.

4G mobile internet: is the more recently available level of mobile internet available, offering much higher speeds than 3G. In fact, due to excellent connection and download speeds, 4G might eventually replace fixed internet connections in more rural parts of the country that may struggle to get access to quicker connections.

5G mobile internet: is the proposed next telecommunications standard beyond the current 4G advanced standards.
Here's what we've covered:

It's possible to connect to the internet via a range of devices.

In order to get your internet-enabled device online, you need to use a specialised service for accessing the internet.

These internet access services are generally of two types: fixed or mobile.

The device and method you choose for getting online, really depends on the type of environment you wish to be using the internet in (your home, or out and about), plus how your want to use the internet and how frequently.

So there you have it. Hopefully, this has given you enough awareness and basic knowledge to be able to make your first moves towards getting online, and using the internet. Go for it!

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How To Connect To The Internet | Step-By-Step Guide

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The most common devices people use today to get online, include: However, the range of devices capable of connecting to the internet is ever-expanding and shifting our understanding of what "being online" means. In recent years, we've seen the emergence of smart watches, central heating systems, and even refrigerators, which by connecting to the internet can perform all sorts of enhanced and useful functions.

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If you have any questions, please  ask me in person or email me at copelanda@ceredigion.ac.uk

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P3 Use the internet for different types of business activities

P4 Describe the actions taken to reduce risks to security whilst using the internet for different types of business activities

M1 Demonstrate how to solve problems in internet use for four different types of business activity