This case study examines the best internet package for a small arts management company in Bray, Co. Wicklow. The business requires high-speed unlimited internet and landline access. After reviewing packages from Eircom, Vodafone, and UPC, the UPC package is identified as the best fit. It provides the fastest download speeds at 100 Mbps, fast uploads, unlimited usage, and 100 free call minutes for the lowest price of €44. The high-speed uploading and downloading allows the business to efficiently transfer large files.
2. CASE STUDY….
• Sole Trader who owns a small Arts Management company in Bray, Co.
Wicklow.
• Company operated from home and therefore needs unlimited internet access.
• Business Specialises in Event Management for Music Concerts.
• Business looking for high speed internet and Landline Package.
• This Case study will identify the internet package with the best fit and the best
price for the company.
3. WHAT IS BROADBAND?
“Broadband is defined as a high bandwidth connection to the Internet. Broadband
is easier and faster to use than the traditional telephone and modem as
information can be sent and downloaded much quicker”.
(Broadbandguide, 2012)
4. CURRENT BROADBAND REPORT
“Current broadband in
Ireland today the report
notes that fixed wireless
services of 30Mbps is
currently available to
500,000 homes”
(McArdle, 2012)
Target in 2012 report
states that “a minimum
of 30Mbps available to
all” home’s in Ireland
(Communications, 2012)
5. TYPES OF BROADBAND/TECHNOLOGICAL OPTIONS.
• DSL Broadband: Digital Subscriber Line- delivers broadband over your phone line and allows
you to download in real time.
• ADSL Broadband: Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line- Information is downloaded more
rapidly than it is uploaded.
• SDSL Broadband: Symmetric Digital Subscriber Line- uploads and downloads information at
the same speed. Requires an extra telephone line (useful for homes or businesses that send
large volumes of information).
• Cable Broadband: Cable broadband can only be offered to a business or a home if a company
has cabled your street. Cable not only offers broadband but also television and phone services.
• Satellite Broadband: Is delivered via satellite and through a dish antenna. There are 2 types of
satellite services: One-way satellite services download information via satellite and upload
information via a telephone or IDSN line. Two-way satellite services download and upload
information via satellite. This is a means of high speed internet although it can be affected by
weather and is very expensive to install.
• Wireless Broadband: This type of broadband requires an antenna to be installed to get
connection to the Internet. Works by utilising Radio Waves to carry a signal to your computer.
(Broadbandguide, 2012)
6.
7. MOBILE BROADBAND
“Mobile broadband is provided to customers through mobile phone signals and uses3G
services. 3G technology is made possible by two complementary technologies; HSDPA
and HSUPA (high speed download and upload packet access, respectively). Mobile
broadband can be accessed with a number of devices, including mobile phones, mobile
dongles, MiFi units and data cards. In most cases mobile dongles are USB-compatible
and plug into the laptop, PC or device. Mobile dongles are essentially portable modems,
and are also referred to as mobile USB sticks and USB modems”. (USwitch, 2012)
Advantages: On the Go
Disadvantages: Dependent on your phone signal.
8. TELECOMMUNICATION COMPANIES IN BRAY, CO.
WICKLOW
= Satellite
= Cable
=Wimax/Wireless = Fixed Line/ DSL and
Mobile
=Mobile and Wireless
12. COMPARISON OF TOP THREE PROVIDER
PACKAGES FOR WICKLOW:
Eircom Vodaphone UPC
€45 €48 €44
8mb Download 24mg Download 100mg Download
10mg upload
Unlimited Usage 350gb usage Unlimited Usage
Unlimited off peak phone Free off peak calls 100 minutess free calls
calls
30 Free Mobile Minutes No line rental Free Wireless Modem
13. BEST FIT FOR BUSINESS
Best Price
Fast Download Speeds
Fast upload speeds
Unlimited internet usage
100 minutes free calls
Cable
Overall this UPC package is the most suitable for the Arts Management Business in this
case study as it provides unlimited internet access with high speed uploading and
downloading. The package allows the business to upload and download large files
(e.g. Videos, Graphics and images) more efficiently. With the other packages the
phone deals were on off peak times but with UPC the package allows 100 minutes
free calls at any time. With UPC the business gets the 100 free minutes during
office hours and therfore will reduce the cost of their monthly bill.
14. REFERENCES
• Broadbandguide. (2012). What is Broadband . Retrieved October 9th, 2012, from Broadband-Guide:
http://www.broadband-guide.org.uk/what-is-broadband.html
• Communications, D. o. (2012). National Broadband Plan - FAQ. Retrieved October 7th, 2012, from
Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources:
http://www.dcenr.gov.ie/Communications/Communications+Policy/Next+Generation+Broadband/Nationa
l+Broadband+Plan+-+FAQ.htm
• Eircom. (2012). Eircom Braodband and Home Phone Bundles. Retrieved October 8th, 2012, from
Eircom.net: https://secure.eircom.net/talktime/talktime-evolution-flow?execution=e1s1
• McArdle, I. (2012). Response to Report of the next Generation Broadband Task Force. “Enabling a
Connected Society”, 1-9.
• Rabbit, P. (2012). Delivering a Connecting Society. A Netional Broadband Plan For Ireland, 1-20.
• UPC. (2012). UPC Bundles. Retrieved October 9th, 2012, from UPC.ie: http://www.upc.ie/deals/
• USwitch. (2012). Mobile Broadband. Retrieved October 9th, 2012, from Uswitch.com:
http://www.uswitch.com/broadband/guides/what_is_mobile_broadband/
• Vodafone. (2012). Choose your broadband and phone plan. Retrieved October 9th, 2012, from
Vodafone.ie: http://www.vodafone.ie/df/homebroadband/
Editor's Notes
This case study is on a Sole Trader who owns a small Arts Management company in Bray, Co. Wicklow. The company is operated from home and therefore needs always on Internet access. The business specialises in Event Management for music gigs. This means the business is looking for high speed internet that will allow the upload of videos and images and also will be looking for a landline to co-ordinate these events. In this presentation the research will allow the company to identify the internet package with the best fit and the best price.
“Broadband is defined as a high bandwidth connection to the Internet. Broadband is easier and faster to use than the traditional telephone and modem as information can be sent and downloaded much quicker”. (Broadbandguide, 2012)You can gain access to broadband though Cable, Satellite or through a phone line. Through these mediums large amounts of information are carried at a high speeds to your computer.
Types of Broadband?DSL Broadband: Digital Subscriber Line is a technology that delivers broadband over your phone line. DSL allows you to download in real time. ADSL Broadband Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line is a technology where Information is downloaded more rapidly than it is uploaded. This form of technology is very useful to businesses as it is high speed download time. SDSL Broadband: Symmetric Digital Subscriber Line is a technology that uploads and downloads information at the same speed. Although this type of broadband requires an extra telephone line it is useful for homes or businesses that send large volumes of information. Cable Broadband- Cable broadband can only be offered to a business or a home if a company has cabled your street. Cable not only offers broadband but also television and phone services. Satellite Broadband: Is delivered via satellite and through a dish antennaThere are 2 types of satellite services: One-way satellite services download information via satellite and upload information via a telephone or IDSN line. Two-way satellite services download and upload information via satellite. This is a means of high speed internet although it can be affected by weather and is very expensive to install. (Broadbandguide, 2012)Wireless Broadband: This type of broadband requires an antenna to be installed to get connection to the Internet. Works by utilising Radio Waves to carry a signal to your computer. DSL Broadband: Digital Subscriber Line is a technology that delivers broadband over your phone line. DSL allows you to download in real time. ADSL Broadband: Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line is a technology where Information is downloaded more rapidly than it is uploaded. This form of technology is very useful to businesses as it is high speed download time. SDSL Broadband: Symmetric Digital Subscriber Line is a technology that uploads and downloads information at the same speed. Although this type of broadband requires an extra telephone line it is useful for homes or businesses that send large volumes of information. Cable Broadband: Cable broadband can only be offered to a business or a home if a company has cabled your street. Cable not only offers broadband but also television and phone services. Satellite Broadband: Is delivered via satellite and through a dish antennaThere are 2 types of satellite services: One-way satellite services download information via satellite and upload information via a telephone or IDSN line. Two-way satellite services download and upload information via satellite. This is a means of high speed internet although it can be affected by weather and is very expensive to install. Wireless Broadband: This type of broadband requires an antenna to be installed to get connection to the Internet. Works by utilising Radio Waves to carry a signal to your computer. (Broadbandguide, 2012)
Mobile Broadband: “Mobile broadband is provided to customers through mobile phone signals and uses 3G services. 3G technology is made possible by two complementary technologies; HSDPA and HSUPA (high speed download and upload packet access, respectively). Mobile broadband can be accessed with a number of devices, including mobile phones, mobile dongles, MiFi units and data cards. In most cases mobile dongles are USB-compatible and plug into the laptop, PC or device. Mobile dongles are essentially portable modems, and are also referred to as mobile USB sticks and USB modems”. (USwitch, 2012)Some disadvantages to mobile broadband are that your internet speed is dependent on your phone signal which may vary at different times. Also with mobile broadband there is a limit on your download allowance. This type of Broadband is suited to people who regularly travel but for a business looking for a fast and reliable internet connection, other means of broadband would be better suited.
Networks in local area?Vodafone- Mobile (and Wireless)Imagin- Wimax/WirelessEircom- Fixed Line – DSL (and Mobile)UPC- Cable BroadbandDigiweb- Satellite Provider
Best Options
Best Options
1. Best Price2. Fast Download Speeds: Well suited when company needs to download files.3. Fast upload speeds: Important for the business when uploading files/Graphics/videos to internet.4. Unlimited internet usage: Needed in day to day running of business.5. 100 minutes free calls: important as the business will need to make phone calls during peak times. 6. Cable: It is available in Bray as the street has already had the cable lines installed Overall this package is most suitable for the Arts management business as it provides unlimited internet access with high speed uploading and downloading. This allows the business to upload and download large files (e.g. Videos, Graphics and images) more efficiently. With the other packages the phone deals were on off peak times but with UPC the package allows 100 minutes free calls at any time which in this case will mainly be used during peak office hours.