ADSL exchange overload: Telkom on the case

Telkom’s ADSL subscriber base continues to grow and the demand for fixed line broadband services is likely to continue for years.

This growth in subscriber numbers, coupled with higher ADSL speeds and increased bandwidth usage, is putting pressure on Telkom to boost its backhaul capacity to ensure good service levels. This, some ISPs argue, is not happening fast enough.

The concern over a lack of capacity on the Telkom network is nothing new. Internet Service providers (ISPs) have long argued that there may be a lack of capacity at many of Telkom’s ADSL exchanges and that other bottlenecks also exist in the Telkom ADSL network.

This situation, they argue, is exacerbated by Telkom’s launch of 10 Mbps and MWEB’s uncapped ADSL where subscribers’ usage is not constrained by capped ADSL offerings.

Telkom previously said that, for the most part, it has adequate backhaul capacity and that their network ordinarily runs without congestion in the backhaul. “Congestion-related upgrading that is constantly being undertaken by Telkom affects currently less than 5% of Telkom’s backhaul network,” Telkom said.

Telkom added that they constantly monitor their network for congestion and endeavor to rectify matters pertaining to congestion as expeditiously as possible. “We consistently seek out different technologies to support high bandwidth requirements. Metro Ethernet, for example, has been deployed to cater for increases in the bandwidth requirement,” said Telkom.

Problems still exist

MyBroadband recently received information that Telkom’s Illovo exchange in Johannesburg  serves 191 ADSL users, but only has an effective backhaul capacity of 5.5 Mbps between the DSLAM and Telkom’s ATM network.

The lack of adequate backhaul capacity resulted in very poor service levels, one ISP said, which in turn means that customers are growing frustrated with the throughput they receive on their ADSL service.

Telkom said that they are aware of this issue, but clarified that the Illovo exchange is actually served by 8 E1 lines of which 15 Mbps is available to customers and 1 Mbps is used for management purposes.

Telkom added that this exchange is set to be upgraded using the company’s IMAX solution with a new backhaul capacity of 155 Mbps. The exact date of the planned upgrade is not yet known.

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