Whether you use your connection to consult your cardiologist in Newcastle via videolink or to join the 17% of American married couples who first met online, this section should persuade even the most convinced non-user to get online.
The simplest benefit of broadband is that it allows you to use your phone line and the internet at the same time. This means you can stay online for as long as you want without worrying about hogging the phone, and check emails or information online without missing important calls. Because broadband is ‘always on’ it provides instant access to the internet, so there’s no waiting for dial-up, and because services are charged at a flat monthly rate, you can use it as much as you like for as long as you like without worrying about the bill.
But there’s so much more to broadband than that - click on the links below to find out more!
Increase your speed to market, expand your market reach, lower your costs with the Cloud.
Make the most of community websites, online newsletters and noticeboards, pledge banks and time banks, community asset sharing, local events, community hubs.
Re-train and take part-time or full-time online courses and degrees, help your children study from home.
Watch HD TV and video-on-demand, play your favourite video games in 3D, virtually attend concerts, football matches and exhibitions.
Talk to your grandchildren with Skype, catch up with friends on social networking sites like Facebook, stay in touch with the world with blogs and twitter.
Stay at home and take control: consult doctors over video link, have your chronic medical condition monitored remotely, join online support groups.
Save time filling out forms, access government data and maps, find out if you’re getting your full benefits or pension entitlement
Save money on price comparison sites, shop on Ebay, shop online and get groceries delivered to your door, recycle with sites like Freegle, cut your electricity bills with smart meters, bank online.
Read the newspapers, access books and libraries online, cooking recipes and demonstrations, latest weather reports, road and travel conditions, hobbies like your local parish history group.
Work from home, find a new job, develop your career, make the most of smart work centres.
Latest Tweet from @bbcumbria
Read @RoryStewartUK's speech to the House of Commons on increasing the mobile coverage obligation http://bit.ly/im56ym 2011/05/20