DSL Max high speed broadband goes live
DSL Max is a new high speed broadband access product that delivers broadband at speeds up to 8Mbps enabling users to make the best of new ‘bandwidth hungry’ applications. Customers who buy DSL Max want a higher speed broadband service and will be concerned about the maximum and minimum delivered service speeds.
Two products
Two products are currently available: DSL Max and DSL Max Premium with two key differences between them. The obvious one is the potentially higher upload rate (800k instead of 400k) of DSL Max Premium. The other is that in the event of congestion within the BT network, customer traffic for ‘Max Premium’ will get priority over the ‘Max’ product.
Line rate
Line-rate is a measure of the downstream data rate achieved from the local telephone exchange to the user. DSL Max offers as high a line-rate as the line will steadily support, and as a ‘Rate Adaptive Service’, the network may automatically reduce line-rate to ensure reliable service.
| Upstream line rate | Downstream line rate | |
| DSL Max | 64Kbps to 448Kbps | 288Kbps to 8128Kbps |
| DSL Max Premium | 64Kbps to 832Kbps | 288Kbps to 8128Kbit/s |
Rate Adaptive
The line-rate that DSL Max customers achieve may not be the fastest theoretical speed but it will be the fastest reliable speed up to 8Mbps. ‘Rate Adaption’ occurs every time broadband is started or whenever external conditions change significantly and customers may notice changes in line-rates. This is normal and modems and routers will usually reset automatically to new line-rates.
Products from CI plc
CI plc will be offering a series of DSL Max products to its customers from 31 March 2006. These will be usage based products with monthly data transfer quotas.
| DSL Max 20 | DSL Max 50 | DSL Max Premium 20 | DSL Max Premium 50 | |
| Traffic quota | 20 GB | 50 GB | 20 GB | 50 GB |
| Download Speed | Up to 8Mbps | Up to 8 Mbps | Up to 8Mbps | Up to 8Mbps |
| Upload Speed | Up to 400Kbps | Up to 400Kbps | Up to 800 Kbps | Up to 800 Kbps |
Usage above the specified bandwidth quota will be subject to an additional per GB charge.
Ordering DSL Max
Call CI plc on 01865 856016.
Email CI
Visit: the CI website
- The minimum lead-time is 5 working days for regrades and new orders.
- Customers must have an existing BT line.
- An engineering visit is not usually required.
- Customers may migrate from other service providers – please obtain a MAC code from your existing provider.
- There will be a 10 day settling down period when the line may change speed as systems try to find the Maximum Stable Rate for the line. Any time the line rate changes the line will have to resynchronise which will cause a short outage to the customer.