Clearer Broadband Information Please

Adverts often show broadband speeds as 'up to 8MB' which implies that customers will receive 8MB, however the speed depends on how far away you live from the exchange. In the majority of cases it would be almost impossible to receive such a speed.

Computeractive magazine asked over 3000 of it's readers to test the speed of their broadband online and compared it to what they expected it to achieve. A broadband checker toll was added to it developed by Broadband Choices to test the current speed of its reader's broadband service. The tool checked single connections an average of 19 times by downloading a 10MB file, this totaled around 100,000 checks overall.

The survey found that more than half of the broadband subscribers tested received less than half the bandwidth advertised by their ISP. 28% of readers received only a 1/4 of their advertised speed. Customers did not expect the results in some cases to be so low, even though they understood the advertised speed of 'up to 8MB' was not always achievable the results where still shocking. One Sky Broadband subscriber living nearby to the exchange was paying for a 16 Mbps service but only receiving 9 Mbps.

Computeractive have taken their results to Downing Street along with a petition to stop such unfair actions and misleading information. They would like Ofcom to force ISPs to provide clear information on actual speeds, instead of advertising the maximum speed they should advertise a 'typical' speed, much like the APR on credit cards.

A similar survey was carried out by Which? magazine last month, and found that the average speed of 300 customers tested was just 2.7Mbps. The lowest speed obtained was 0.09Mbps (practically dial-up speed) and the maximum speed came in at just 6.7Mbps.

Which? Informed Ofcom and Trading Standards of their findings and asked them to investigate Broadband based on their results. Ofcom made a statement at the time saying they would monitor the situation. The new survey carried out by it should hopefully prompt an official investigation, which will lead to more honest and clearer broadband advertising.

This and many other articles on mobile phones and the latest mobile phone deals was written by John Gray.

John Gray's writing can often be found at http://www.onecompare.com

Streamyx
Streamyx
Wireless Streamyx
Streamyx modem
Streamyx ISP
Streamyx
Streamyx
Streamyx Broadband
Streamyx
Streamyx Combo
Streamyx Promotion
Streamyx Online Registration
Streamyx Online
Streamyx Malaysia
Streamyx

Evaluating Bandwidth Choices-Fractional DS3 vs DS3

Looking for bandwidth? That can be a daunting and frustrating task even in the best of situations. There's lots to consider in order to make the right decision for your needs. Below you'll find some help when evaluating Fractional DS3 vs DS3. Factors covered include Technology, Speed, Description, Application, Pros, Cons, and Cost.

~~~~~~~~~

Technology: Fractional DS3

Speed: 3 Mbps - 44.736 Mbps

Description: A fraction of a full DS-3, which is comprised of 28 T-1s or 672 channels.

Application: Provides access from a location into the Internet for a large business or ISP (Internet Service Provider).

Pros: Provides very high speed access directly into the carrier's backbone. Bandwidth guaranteed by SLA (Service Level Agreement). Very reliable.

Cons: Setup and monthly costs can be prohibitive.

Costs: A Fractional DS3 will likely start at around $2,000 for a stable, reliable system (e.g. from a Tier 1 provider)....not including the local loop. A required router is additional unless provided as a "freebie" incentive by the vendor. Price climbs as distance from the providers Central Office (CO) increases. However....the pricing for these connections can vary widely depending on the carrier, location of service and the application for which the connection is being used. For example...Tier 1 providers will probably cost more than local/regional Tier 2 and Tier 3 providers but are much more stable and reliable. A Tier 1 provider should be the provider of choice for any business serious about the quality of their network. Also, expect to pay more if you are in a rural area or need integrated (voice and data combined) DS3 service.

~~~~~~~~~~

Technology: DS3

Speed: 44.736 Mbps

Description: dedicated connection made up of the equivalent of 28 T-1s.

Application: Provides access from a location into the Internet for a large business or ISP (Internet Service Provider).

Pros: Circuit runs directly into the carrier's backbone. Bandwidth guaranteed by SLA (Service Level Agreement). Very reliable.

Cons: Setup and monthly costs can be prohibitive.

Costs: A full DS3 obviously will cost more than a Fractional DS3. Expect cost to start at around a $3-5,000 for a stable, reliable system (e.g. from a Tier 1 provider).....not including the local loop. A required router is additional unless provided as a "freebie" incentive by the vendor. Price climbs as distance from the providers Central Office (CO) increases. However....the pricing for these connections varies widely depending on the carrier, location of service and the application for which the connection is being used. For example...Tier 1 providers may cost more than local/regional Tier2 and Tier 3 providers but are much more stable and reliable. A Tier 1 provider should be the provider of choice for any business serious about the quality of their network. Also, expect to pay more if you are in a rural area or need integrated (voice and data combined) or bonded (multiple DS3s bound in 1 network....option vs full OC3) DS3 service.

~~~~~~~~~~

Technology: E3 (Europe)

Speed: 34.368 Mbps

Description: European equivalent of T-3. Made up of the equivalent of 28 T-1s.

Application: Provides access from a location into the Internet for a large business or ISP (Internet Service Provider).

Pros: Circuit runs directly into the carrier's backbone. Bandwidth guaranteed by SLA (Service Level Agreement). Very reliable.

Cons: Setup and monthly costs can be prohibitive.

Costs: A full E3 usually costs more than it's North American counterpart. Expect cost to start at around a $6-8,000 for a stable, reliable 45 Mbps system (e.g. from an equivalent Tier 1 provider). A required router is additional unless provided as a "freebie" incentive by the vendor (not common in Europe). Local loops range from $1,000 - $3,000/month. Price climbs as distance from the providers Central Office (CO) increases. However....just as with the North American version the pricing for these connections varies widely depending on the carrier, location of service and the application for which the connection is being used.

Michael is the owner of FreedomFire Communications....including DS3-Bandwidth.com and Business-VoIP-Solution.com. Michael also authors Broadband Nation where you're always welcome to drop in and catch up on the latest BroadBand news, tips, insights, and ramblings for the masses.

Streamyx
Wireless Streamyx
Streamyx modem
Streamyx ISP
Streamyx
Streamyx
Streamyx Broadband
Streamyx
Streamyx Combo
Streamyx Promotion
Streamyx Online Registration
Streamyx Online
Streamyx Malaysia
Streamyx
Streamyx