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Thread ID: 98716	2009-04-04 08:34:00	Internet bottlenecks	johnd (85)	PC World Chat

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
762317	2009-04-04 08:34:00	It is often said (probably correctly) that the last main bottleneck to high speed communications is the local (copper) loop also known as the last mile. The NZ Government is about to spend a large amount of money upgrading the local loop. I wonder whether this is going to solve the slow speed internet experience we sometimes have. To explain – I have just done a download speed test using a web site supplied by my ISP. The speed test indicated 6487kbps or nearly 811kBps. But the reality is when I am doing downloads, the speed seldom gets anywhere near this figure – and in fact can be less than 10kBps at times. At the moment the fastest the system is getting to is just under 100kBps. There is no doubt that the local loop needs to be upgraded – but I don't think we can expect to see a magic solution to internet speeds as a result of this. I am interested in other's comments on this.	johnd (85)
762318	2009-04-04 21:42:00	I think some people will benefit from the upgrades. My max speed is about 4kbps it can drop to 2.5kbps. I am in no doubt that this is fast enough. This is between me (in CHCH) and my ISP (Xnet in Auckland), that is from my house (over copper) to the local exchange (to the DSLAM), then via a PVC (permanent virtual circuit) which is a set path over Telcom bearers to Auckland. The ping time (time for a packet to get to Auckland and back) sits around 63mS (not bad at all). If every web page, game, and item I want to download was sitting in Auckland connected to Xnet then I'd be happy and the web would work instantly for me. But it's not. So for me, and most townies that live close to there local telephone exchange, the problem is the rest of the world which are; Over subscription - An ISP only has limited bandwidth to the rest of the world. With 100 users (subscribers) it might be a great speed but with 10,000 subscribers all trying to share the same bandwidth, things slow down. Dial up ISPs are usually highly oversubscribed. Bandwidth between NZ and the rest of the world - this too is limited, physically and commercially, and the more high speed users in NZ the more this bandwidth is in demand, things begin to slow down. Bandwidth to internet servers - If a web page or file you want on the other side of the world is also being served to 10,000 others then its going to be a long time before you get the full thing. So will the 1.5 Billion help? Maybe help those that live beyond ADSL speeds from their local exchange but how do you use it to fix the rest of the world? More likely it will just line certain peoples pockets....	porkster (6331)
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