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Frequently Asked DSL Questions
Q. What is Dedicated Internet Access (DIA)?
A. Dedicated Internet Access is the type of connection used for
customers to reach the Internet. Essentially, a customer's computer system
is connected through a CSU/DSU to a router which information is then carried
over a DS-1, DS-3 or OC3 circuit to our IP Network.
Once routed over the IP backbone, the data is then driven by the distant
end IP address to dive the customer to the appropriate site. Dial-Up Internet
Access is another means in which a customer can connect to the Internet.
This type of connection requires the customer to access the Internet through
a toll free number.
Q. What is the Internet?
A. The Internet is composed of multiple networks tied together
by a common protocol, TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/ Internet
Protocol). TCP/IP is the set of protocols used in the Internet in order
for computers to be able to speak to one another. Organizations also use
these protocols for communications between multiple networks.
Q. What are the main selling points of Dedicated Internet Access?
A. We provide state of the art Internet products that allows customers
to transfer information over a 55,000 mile OC-48 packet over SONET IP
backbone infrastructure. This network utilizes "cold potato" routing which
maximizes on-net traffic. In addition, our zero packet loss design offers
customers the guarantee that all information will be transported accurately
and efficiently from location to location. We offer the best Service Level
Agreement in the industry including 75 millisecond on-net round trip,
100% network availability using a provided local loop access and a 10
minute notification to customers for network outages. As it stands today,
90+% of traffic flows across private peering today. The goal is to have
IP traffic flowing over 95% of the private peering circuits.
Q. What port speeds are available through the DIA offering?
A. The following port speed are offered through our
DIA:
Tiered DS-1
Burstable
DS-1
Q. What
applications can be used for each Connection DIA access
speed?
A. Summary descriptions by access speed:
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Fractional
DS-1 Port speed increments: 56/64 Kbps, 112/128, 168/192, 224/256,
280/384, 336/512, 392/768, 1.544 Mbps
-
Low entry
point, with maximum performance; capped at port speed
-
Introductory
or exploratory access
-
Applications
- best used with integrated access, where voice/data share the same T-1,
provides lower cost to customer
-
Burstable
DS-1 Usage bands from 128 Kbps to 1.544 Mbps
-
Low entry
point, with maximum performance; always burstable to DS1
-
Introductory
or exploratory access
-
Based on 95
percent of monthly readings of five-minute average data flow sampled
every 10 minutes
-
Applications
- Web hosting/searching, email
-
Flat Rate
DS-1 1.544 Mbps
-
Base
enterprise access
-
Applications
- Enterprise-level applications, such as high volume e-mail, Web, FTP
and news
-
Tiered DS-3
1.544 Mbps to 45 Mbps
-
Service is
available in range of speeds, which are tiered by bandwidth usage and
priced according to that usage
-
Enterprise
traffic exceeds T-1, but does not require full T-3
-
Customer
needs fixed cost service for budgeting purposes, but expects traffic
volumes to grow consistently, exceeding T-1 capacity
-
Requires
channelized CSU/DSU (Digital Link, Verilink, ADC/Kentrox)
-
Full DS-3
local loop required
-
Burstable
DS-3 Based on 95 percent of monthly readings of five-minute average data
flow sampled every 10 minutes
-
Enterprise
doesn't require T3 all of the time, but may have consistent traffic
spikes approaching 45Mbps
-
Applications
- for customers needing occasional high-bandwidth Internet access with
optimum performance, this provides a lower entry point
-
Flat Rate
DS-3 45 Mbps
-
Large
enterprise usage
-
May host
multiple servers on-site (i.e. intranet, extranet, email, notes
servers)
-
Potentially
central office location (HQ)
-
Applications
- Basic services (e-mail, etc...) plus e-commerce apps, document
management (notes), collaboration, and/or video conferencing
-
OC Services
155 Mbps to 2.5 Gbps
-
Currently
offer OC-3 and OC-12 services
-
Very large
enterprises or government (i.e. school districts, government
organizations, private sector Internet-focused enterprises)
-
Customer may
be serving high-volume data (i.e. content providers, portal sites) or
may be running high volume systems (typically government or educational
institutions)
-
Traffic
volumes consistently above 45 Mbps
-
Applications
Real-time applications including video-conferencing, white boarding and
VoIP, coupled with large volume usage of e-mail, http, ftp
-
Beyond
single enterprise use where data is exchanged w/ multiple
enterprises
-
"Channel
master" such as trading networks (i.e. NYSE or ANX)
Q. Why should potential customers take
notice of our Connection DIA?
A. Our Connection DIA is a
dynamic product that offers customers the ability to transfer large
amounts of data quickly and efficiently over our
OC-48 IP backbone. This IP backbone will soon be converted to an OC192 IP
backbone that will allow unlimited capacity.
Q. What are our
current Service Level Agreements indicated in the Dedicated Internet
Access Contract?
A. Network Availability: ( Goal of 100
percent network availability for all components of the IP network and
local access facilities. Network downtime measured from the time trouble
ticket open to circuit is able to transmit and receive data.
- Average Round Trip Network Delay: 75 ms node-to-node
delay on every trunk in the network
- Customer Notification of Outages - Services are
unavailable (i.e. router is unable to transmit and/or receive data):
email, page, fax within 10 minutes of detected outage.
- Normal Maintenance Upgrades (hardware, software and/or
capacity): two-day notification to customers affected.
- DIA Circuit Installation Goals: fractional DS-1s and
DS-1within 45 days, DS-3 within 60 days, OC-3 in writing by our sales manager
- Maximum Credits: customers shall not receive a credit
in excess of seven (7) days of service for one given month. Credits
increase if Network Availability SLA is not met.
Q. Where is the Connection DIA available?
A.
It is available in the continental United States
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