What is Bitstream/Jetstream?
It is a ADSL connection to the internet. This means that its always on and can go up to 50 times the speed of a modem. Your speed will depend on quality of the connection and the upload and download speed selected.

It is great for surfing the web, downloading updates and playing games on, for video conferencing, voice over IP, streaming media (music and/or video). The amount you can download is set by the purchased amount and every extra amaount depends on the plan your ISP offers.

It is a great service for a home or small business connection where staff need to access the email, surf the web for information and collaborate in the online world.

The Bitstream service offers you the ability to remove the analogue voice component and this is called Naked DSL. This can be used when a mobile or VoIP is used instead.

The speed options are

• 256K down / 128K up
• Full speed down / 128K up
• Full speed down / Full speed up

How fast is full speed?

Full speed varies on the quality of the copper/phone connection between your site and the DSL device in Telecoms network called a DSLAM.

The main varibles are

• Distance - Shorter is better
• Copper gauge (thickness) - Thicker is better
• Copper age - Newer is better
• Copper rating - Cat3 -> Cat6 - Higher is better

The shorter the distance and the newer higher quality the copper used greatly increases the speed achieved.

If you have seen a large green cabinet installed in your neighburhood then this is part of the telecom commitment to increasing speeds and you should ba able to get adsl2+ speeds (up to 20+ Mbps)

Internal cabling in a site can also greatly affect the speed of the connection. A Telecom or cabling specilist can assist in ensuring the site is an enabler to high speed broadband.