WHAT CONNECTION "access" SPEED AM I LIKELY TO GET?
At Green ISP we aim to provide you with the best service that
is possible - our connectivity is taken from major ADSL wholesale providers
to provide as direct (and therefore fast and reliable) a connection to
the Internet as we can.
15. It is useful to distinguish between different definitions of speed that may be used in this guide.
- headline or advertised speed - This is the speed that ISPs use to describe the packages that they offer to consumers. They are often described as ‘up to’ speeds but these are often only a guide as to the speed an ISP can provide and at what price.
- access line speed - This refers to the maximum speed of the data connection between the broadband modem and the local exchange or cable head end. This constitutes the maximum speed a consumer will be able to experience.
- actual throughput speed - This is the actual speed that a consumer experiences at a particular time when they are connected to the internet. This figure is often dependent on factors such as the ISP’s network, its traffic shaping and management policy, the number of subscribers sharing the network at the same time and the number of people accessing a particular website.
- average throughput speed – This is an average of actual throughput speed for each different broadband product offered by an ISP.
However, 'in the real world' you are unlikely to achieve the
types of figures which are stated in our packages (512kbps/1Mbit/2Mbit or 8Mb/s
for example) consistently due to some of the following factors:
You will never get 100% of published "headline" speeds due to 10-15% of the service Bandwidth (speed) being taken up by the "IP and bRAS Profile" on the line, this is to ensure Stability of service.
Contention Ratios - this is probably the single most important thing to affect your download speed. The HOME ADSL 512k, 1Mbit and ADSL 2Mbit HOME services are contended at 50:1 whereas the ADSL 500 BUSINESS, ADSL 1000 BUSINESS and ADSL 2000 BUSINESSservices are contended at 20:1. The lower ratio of the business services means less other people are 'sharing' the overall link speed resulting in generally higher and more consistent performance.
This contention is applied within the BT network - both locally with other users on your telephone exchange and within the BT network as it connects into our network.What this means in the 'worst case' is that you could be sharing a 1Mbit connection with up to 49 other users. So if they were all using it at the same time 'theoretically' you would only get 22 Kbit/s (not very fast at all - in fact quite a bit slower than a normal modem).However, 'in reality' this scenario is very, very unlikely to happen and you should usually find it to be far far faster than a modem connection (at least 50-60% of stated speed when fully contended).
ADSL relies on individual users not making unreasonable traffic demands on the network to provide fast access speeds for all.Remember if you are not getting the speed you expect it can be due to the contention ratio but also to many other factors including the capacity of the remote site you are accessing, the quality and length of your telephone line from the local BT exchange.
OTHER FACTORS TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT !
Remote Site Speed - the actual site you are downloading from may be busy and unable to supply the download at full speed. In addition some sites will actually use 'traffic shaping' to restrict the speed at which single users can download from their site to help ensure a fair level of service for all their users. Network Congestion - sometimes the interconnecting networks are unable to cope with the levels of traffic at peak times causing some slowdown.
Other Applications - you may be running other applications (for instance checking your mail etc.) at the same time which can degrade download performance.
Other Users - if you have more than one computer through your broadband connection (for instance if you are using a router or you are on a network), then it will cause your download to be slower than you might expect.
ADSL Link Distance - if you are a long way from the exchange it is possible that BT have installed your circuit using RADSL - this technology is used to extend the maximum range for broadband services. However, it 'can' be a cause of degrade in performance especially on upload speed. Unfortunately there is very little that can be done as without it you would not be able to receive broadband services at all!
ADSL Equipment -
Ensure you are using the latest drivers for your ADSL equipment and operating system. We have seen this to be important most frequently with ADSL modems connected via USB. Also with USB modems you are best not to use unpowered USB hubs - instead connect direct to your computer or via a powered USB hub.
GREEN ISP RECOMMENDS USING AN ADSL2+ COMPATIBLE ROUTER, NOT A USB MODEM/ROUTER .
LLU ADSL2+ and Up to 24MB/s services:
Our new LLU ADSL2+ up to 16Mb/s and up to 24Mb/s services are a newer technology than Classic RAG up to 2Mb/s and 8Mb/s ADSL MAX services, they can diliver speeds much higher that 8Mb/s in most cases (the same rules apply regarding Telephone line quality, distance from the Telephone echange e.t.c).
The average "access" speed accross the UK taking into account all the limitations or the physical telephone line for ADSL2+ is regarded to be around 12Mb/s.
The following table represents the maximum possible throughput speeds for the different sync speeds you might see
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Fluctuating Throughput Speeds?
It is perfectly normal to see throughput speeds that change from day to day, from hour to hour, even from minute to minute. A Max connection in the late afternoon would likely see variable speeds due to exchange-side contention. The same download at 4am when the network is very quiet might give a very steady download speed.
Broadband works as it does because it works on a shared network. The available capacity on the network is shared out amongst all the customers that are using the Internet at that time. This means that at busy times, when more people are using the Internet, each person gets a smaller share of the bandwidth and so lower speeds than when the network is quiet. As different people use the Internet in different ways and have different usage patterns, this can mean that the speed you see can be constantly going up and down, especially when it is busy.
As a general rule so long as your throughput speeds fit within the following bands it is considered to be normal.
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The ADSL MAX service was launched on 31st March 2006 with 99% of BT exchanges enabled to provide the higher bandwidth services.
What sort of speed might I expect?
For many users ADSL Max will provide an increase in line speed. However, MAX is a rate adaptive service and the actual speed that a user will experience will be dependent on the line length and the line quality. It is quite possible for users in close geographical proximity to receive services with different speeds.
MAX provides download service at up to 8Mb/s. Although some users may experience line speeds at or close to this rate, the majority are likely to receive line (sync) rates around 6.5Mb/s
Actual data throughput speeds will also depend on contention in the external networks and the performance of the remote server etc. Many users report actual throughput at around 50% of downstream line rate. Please note that it is highly likely that different speed tester servers/applications will report widely differing results and at different times.
BT do advise that IPstream aDSL MAX is delivered over a 'best efforts' network and that no guarantee is given that the line rate seen by End Users will result in throughput above that of the IPstream Home/Office fixed rate services (IPstream Home/Office 2000). Outside of busy periods, services may take advantage of any reduction in the core bandwidth utilisation which may be seen by End Users as an increase in throughput.
Will there be an immediate increase if I decide to upgrade my speed?
Note: Regrades will take up to 5 working days from order to provision. There will then be a minimum 10 day period whilst the maximum line rate is determined.
When a user upgrades/orders ADSL Max the system will attempt to synchronise the user modem/router and the BT exchange DSLAM to determine the maximum stable rate (MSR). ADSL Max is rate adaptive - the BT system will record upper and lower line rates. Data will be collected for a MINIMUM of 10 DAYS before the lower line rate is rounded down and to become the MSR. The Fault Threshold Rate (FTR) will be set at a level 30% below MSR. There is likely to be some alteration to the line speed whilst the BT system undergoes 'training' to find the MSR. Once the MSR is set this will be the benchmark level for the lifetime of the connection.
ADSL MAX Availability/potential speed checker
See the ofcom report here:
http://www.ofcom.org.uk/media/features/broadcodejy