27 April 2006
Quicksilver calls for improved NZ broadband speeds
Wholesale broadband ISP Quicksilver Internet is calling for more action to improve the current broadband situation
across New Zealand.
Quicksilver's helpdesk has this week been fielding a number of complaints, particularly from customers upgrading to
faster broadband plans.
Feedback from industry insiders indicates that there is a nationwide problem, with many Telecom DSL exchanges seemingly
subscribed at extremely high contention ratios. Currently Telecom allocates an average 24kbps per customer on the PVC
link between Telecom and the ISP (this applies to all ISPs except Xtra), and this is creating congestion on many ISP
networks, including Quicksilver's.
Quicksilver is additionally performing some network upgrades internally, to meet forecasted demand for the new broadband
plans. This includes additional international bandwidth being added in the next few days, new network server
infrastructure to allow load sharing and future scalability, and a request Telecom to increase the PVC link.
Quicksilver's managing director, Matthew Hobbs, says "Whilst we are performing some network upgrades this week and next,
this may not resolve the speed problems for all customers. We are continuing to lobby Telecom to improve the contention
ratios, and increase the backhaul bandwidth above the current 24kbps per customer. To our knowledge this has not been
increased in 6 years, since the days of the Jetstart 128kbps product."
A recent figure quoted by Telecom states that across the country there is an 'average' contention ratio of 33:1. Matthew
says "This leads us to believe that there are many telecom DSL exchanges which are currently being subscribed by Telecom
at much higher contention ratios, leading to a degradation of service for many broadband users on popular exchanges.
This is certainly consistent with the feedback from our users and other ISPs."
Quicksilver is working with a number of other wholesale broadband ISPs through the ISPANZ group to lobby Telecom and the
government for further action to improve the current broadband situation in New Zealand. Upgrades to the Quicksilver
network are expected to be completed within the next two weeks.
ENDS