Telkom speeds ADSL offering

By Dave Glazier for Telkom

Johannesburg, 25 Aug 2006

All Telkom customers on the home and business DSL 1024 offerings will be upgraded to a service capable of 4Mbps downlink speeds - almost four times faster than the current speed, the fixed-line operator says.

It is initially available on a trial basis that is planned to begin early next month. Lulu Letlape, group executive for corporate communications, says if the trial proves successful, Telkom intends replacing the DSL 1024 product with the new service.

"The cost of the 1024 service offering will apply to the 'up to 4Mbps` offering," says Steven Hayward, Telkom managing executive for retail marketing.

The DSL 1024 access rate of R516, plus line rental and ISP charges, will remain for the duration of the trial. It is likely rates will stay the same if the service becomes a permanent Telkom broadband offering.

Consumers on the upgraded service will see minimum actual downlink speeds of 640Kbps, going up to a theoretical maximum of 4 096Kbps, he notes, adding upstream speeds will vary between 256Kbps and 384Kbps.

At the moment at least, Hayward stresses, it is purely a trial. "It`s a pilot to see how the network will respond to the speed."

Video on-demand

"These changes will pave the way for the provisioning of suitable broadband services for delivery of higher speed applications such as video on-demand (VOD)", Hayward says.

The fixed-line operator`s broadband executive officer, Alphonzo Samuels, said earlier this year Telkom has established a partnership with MultiChoice to stream selected TV content over the Web. He revealed that a closed-group VOD trial is being conducted, but declined to reveal further details.

Simon Butler, products manager at local ISP DataPro, comments: "Telkom`s announcement that it will be trialling a 4Mbps service is a definitely step in the right direction.

"Consumers will certainly benefit by getting more bang for their Internet buck - but more importantly we believe this is finally a positive move towards true broadband services," says Butler. He notes that it will add to the basket of services ISPs are able to offer businesses and consumers.