In general, broadband refers to telecommunication in which a wide range of frequencies are available, because of this information can be multiplexed and sent on many different frequencies or channels within the band concurrently. This allows more information to be transmitted in a given amount of time (much as more lanes on a highway allow more cars to travel on it at the same time). Related terms are wideband (a synonym), baseband (a one-channel band), and narrowband (sometimes meaning just wide enough to carry voice, or simply "not broadband," and sometimes meaning specifically between 50 cps and 64 Kpbs).

Various definers of broadband have assigned a minimum data rate to the term but is generally agreed that Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) and cable TV are broadband services in the downstream direction.