ABSTRACT
This chapter is concerned with the history of broadband. From its origins in the Cold War to its diffusion among the public in the 2000s, broadband vastly accelerated the speed of internet connections. The chapter discusses the variety of platforms used, including wireless broadband, and the numerous innovations that sprang forth from this technology, such as web browsers, Web 2.0 and smartphones. Broadband has been extensively studied in terms of its economic impacts and social benefits. It concludes with comments on the broadband digital divide and the future of the technology.
