[AuckLUG] XtraXtra broadband?

[Mark Foster]

> Speaking with your friend and mine, Telecom, they have quoted:
>
> Pricing for 1MB (1024CIR/1024PIR)
> Installation: $1430.00
> 10GB - Monthly Frame Access: $523
> Mixed Usage: $336
> Total: $859.00 per month
> Overage (per GB) - $69.00
> +GST
> Add that up and it's about $12,000 for a year! (for a tiny 10Gb allowance 
> pcm).
> :-(
>

Oh, I overlooked; The above looks like a Frame Relay circuit.  Phone lines 
of course associate with DSL "Jetstream" type services which are entirely 
different.

The above rates are fairly typical for Frame Relay type services as they 
are sold as 'corporate spec' 'highly available' 'managed or semi-managed' 
type services.

As opposed to DSL, where you can get something akin to the above for well 
under $200/month.  DSL being 'best effort, asynchronous up/down 
performance.'

So ask yourself what you're using your internet service for; If the 
reliability of your pipe is fundamental, Frame Relay or a similar service 
is your only option. (Depending on location, do investigate alternative 
Telco's and their options... most central city environments and many 
industrial centres have access to Fibre, which changes the picture 
considerably.)

If its just web browsing and a non-mission-critical webservice (and by 
that I mean one that will survive the odd outage on what is a 'generally' 
reliable DSL offering) then maybe a DSL plan delivered on a phone line is 
smarter money.

Mark.