|
Broadband |
Ethernet |
Speeds – the download and upload speeds you can get |
ADSL = 24Mbps Download, 1Mbps Upload
VDSL aka FTTC = 80Mbps Downlaods , 20Mbps Upload
FTTP = 900Mbps Download, 50Mbps Upload |
2Mbps – 40Gbps Download and Upload (Symmetric) |
Latency – the time it takes for data to get from you to your service provider and back again |
Typically 18-40ms |
Typically 6-12ms |
Contention – how many other people you may be sharing speeds with |
Typically 1:5, so 5 or more other people are sharing the same ‘pipe’ to the cabinet |
1:1 – a private connection means no contention |
Reliability |
ADSL – Typically Fair
FTTC – has been good
FTTP – typically excellent |
Should be 99.999% with SLA Guarantees |
Target fix times (by the people who provide the physical infrastructure) |
Typically 40 working hours
(That’s one week!)
Upgrade to Enhanced Care for 20-hour service, or Critical Care for 8-hour service |
Typically 4-6 hours |
Last-mile technology |
Typically copper (ADSL, VDSL), but sometimes fibre optic (GPON) |
Typically glass fibre, sometimes copper (for the slower EFM / GEA services) |
Monthly Cost |
Low – typically under £50/month
Faster FTTP services can be higher, up to £100-150/month |
Higher – typically £100-250/month for 10Mbps-20Mbps services, typically £350-£500/month for 100Mbps service |
Installation Cost |
Low – typically £150 or less |
Typically free on a 3-year contract, but often £1000 or more on a 12-month contract.
Sometimes has Excess Construction Charges in addition |
Lead time for installation |
Low – typically 2 – 4 weeks |
High – typically 90 working days |
Availability |
Variable – speed depends on distance from the Exchange or street cabinet, and on which services are currently available (e.g. FTTP is very limited) |
Excellent – as long as you are prepared to pay for the ‘excess’ installation costs |
Connectivity |
Typically Internet only, but sometimes corporate (e.g. MPLS) |
Typically internet but can also be point-to-point, or to a private network (e.g. MPLS) |
Upgradability |
Low – usually you’ll want the fastest available speed from day 1. |
Medium – typically service is provisioned on a higher-speed bearer line, e.g. 100Mbps on 1Gbps bearer line – so you can quickly and easily increase your speed up to 1Gbps within a few days. |