IS Uncapped ADSL questions..

[cyferijo]

Can someone please explain to me how IS is able to offer static IP's on an ADSL connection.
Also, why is their cisco modem/router compulsory, and remote admin'd? What is the IP-Connect system which UU-Net and IS uses to supply connectivity? Will the local hardcapping from Nov affect this system?

If I have a standard IS ADSL 3gb account, can I expect similar performance from IS Uncapped, or is the IS 3Gb a resold SAIX account?

I want to switch over to IS uncapped, but not if there is a reduction in download performance. The contract makes it a difficult choice...

 

[matt156]

The IS uncapped utilises IS's own satellite bandwidth - the exact same bandwidth that your 3 gig account uses - doesn't go through SAIX. They can provide the fixed IPs because they utilise their own ADSL bandwidth infrastructure. Based on our customer's experiences, speeds are pretty good, and the service is currently unshaped (although not officially, so this may change).

We've already experienced an increase in sales following the 1st November speculation. I think the IS uncapped will start becoming very popular.

Hope this helps

 

[Moederloos]

From what I hear, the account is officially uncapped. (At least, it is sold as an uncapped account).

Bandwidth is via satellite, so pings are terrible, but browsing and downloading is very good.

The router is necessary, to create a "tunnel" over the ADSL.

Rumours exist that the bandwidth is reduced due to the remote admin - I have an account on order, so will give feedback when I have some.

 

[cyferijo]

Thanks for the info...

If IS is able to remote admin the router, can they restrict bandwidth or close/shape certain ports on a per user basis as they see fit?

I wonder if the increased uptake as a result of the Nov changes will result in IS Uncapped performance degradation as was the case with UUNet uncapped.
Won't this also put additional strain on the IS/SAIX peering link which is already experiencing problems?

Would a substantial degredation in performance allow a subscriber to cancel the contract?

 

[Moederloos]

Thanks for the info...

If IS is able to remote admin the router, can they restrict bandwidth or close/shape certain ports on a per user basis as they see fit?

I wonder if the increased uptake as a result of the Nov changes will result in IS Uncapped performance degradation as was the case with UUNet uncapped.
Won't this also put additional strain on the IS/SAIX peering link which is already experiencing problems?

Would a substantial degredation in performance allow a subscriber to cancel the contract?

I cannot answer all the questions, but the SAIX peering link is not used when IS provides uncapped. IS have an IPC link to the ADSL "cloud", and this link is used to provide connectivity. IS sell "normal" 3gb accounts as well (ip address is 196. not 165.). Ask them to provide you with one and see the difference first.

 

[!!DV!!]

We switched from Datapro Business DSL to IS DSL for the Fixed Ip's. What I've seen is that the speeds are a bit slower but nothing the worry about. Where we would peak at 440Kbit it would peak now at 380Kbit with the avg. around 270Kbit mark. The Letancy is not bad nothing that I worry about around 600ms to New York, 670ms to LAX.

 

[matt156]

Thanks for the info...

If IS is able to remote admin the router, can they restrict bandwidth or close/shape certain ports on a per user basis as they see fit?

I wonder if the increased uptake as a result of the Nov changes will result in IS Uncapped performance degradation as was the case with UUNet uncapped.
Won't this also put additional strain on the IS/SAIX peering link which is already experiencing problems?

Would a substantial degredation in performance allow a subscriber to cancel the contract?

Yup, in theory they can remote admin the router. The increased uptake may degrade performance, but its impossible to tell. IS should buy more bandwidth as they get more uptake. Broadband works better with more people sharing.

The peering link won't be an issue because you'll be on IS's backbone. The problem comes in when you're on Telkom's backbone trying to access IS content.

I doubt you'll be able to cancel the contract - at the end of the day it's a best effort service with no guarantees