ADSL reaches outer limits

 

To get ADSL service at present, potential consumers must be located no more
than 3.5 kilometres away from an enabled BT telephone exchange. From June,
this 'broadband zone' around exchanges will be expanded to more than 5
kilometres. It means that most premises will be included. On average, 90%
of subscribers' lines terminate within a 5.5 kilometre radius.

There will be no extra charge for the new service, known as RADSL.

Speed: RADSL will be available in 512Kbps multi-user and 512Kbps USB
single-user versions. Customers living closer to the exchange will still be
able to order Zen's multi-user 1Mbps and 2Mbps ADSL services.

Difference: The flexible new ADSL service that breaks the 3.5 kilometre
barrier is Rate Adaptive Digital Subscriber Line. It 'adapts' according to
line conditions. Most of the time, this should make no difference, and
performance will be identical to that being enjoyed by neighbours living
nearer the exchange. (There will be times when data leaving the computer
could be slower, but incoming speeds will be the same). Downloading files,
viewing Web pages and receiving e-mail will not be 'rate adapted'.

Technicalities: On current ADSL services, the maximum upstream (outgoing)
line speed is 278Kbps. With the new extended service, this line rate will
be dynamically 'adapted' to between 278k and 64kbps - depending on line
conditions at the time. Since the majority of traffic on ADSL travels
downstream (receiving files, viewing Internet pages etc) most users will
notice no difference.

Register: Be first in the queue this time. Orders and enquiries turned away
after line testing during recent months should be able to pass
pre-installation checks easily when the 3.5 kilometre barrier is lifted. To
register interest in Zen Internet's new RADSL service, and get the latest
information as soon as it's released, check "YES" when you complete our
request form here: http://www.zenadsl.com/Info/information.asp#RADSL

Horizons: Using the same form, you can also register an interest in SDSL
('same speed both ways' Digital Subscriber Line) the DSL alternative to
Leased Lines. Zen Internet provided some of the earliest ADSL installations
in the UK when service first became available in July 2000, and we expect
to be leading the way with the latest technology again as soon as SDSL is
introduced, perhaps at the end of this year.

............

And in the Zen Press Release, could you possibly change this:

It doesn't mention that ADSL is more readily available elsewhere.

Worse, it implies that other suppliers all have long waiting lists too.

Although ADSL is delivered over standard BT telephone lines, and through
ADSL-enabled BT exchanges, BT Openworld isn't the only ISP offering the
service. Other providers specialising in ADSL, like Business ISP Zen
Internet, have no waiting list.

Zen's "Instant Karma" catchline refers to the transforming nature of the
service itself, not their delivery time, but they say that most
installations have been provided in 7-10 days.

To this:

It doesn't mention that ADSL is more readily available elsewhere.

Worse, it sometimes implies that other suppliers all have long waiting
lists too.

Although ADSL is delivered over standard BT telephone lines, and through
ADSL-enabled BT exchanges, BT Openworld isn't the only ISP offering the
service. Other providers specialising in ADSL, like Business ISP Zen
Internet, have no waiting list.

Zen's "Net Nirvana and Instant Karma" catchlines refer to the transforming
nature of the service itself, not their delivery time, but they say that
most installations have been provided in 7-10 days.