Broadband Help
Questions & Answers
What is Broadband?
Broadband is high-speed Internet access that splits your existing telephone line and allows you to surf the Internet and make calls at the same time.
What are the advantages of Broadband?
- High-speed 'always on' connection
- Fixed monthly cost
- Great value for money
- Competitive modem and router prices
What do I need to get online?
You will need a BT telephone line which is within 6 kilometers of a Broadband enabled exchange. Your line must also pass a number of tests before installation can go ahead. You will need a Broadband modem or router, plus a micro filter for each active telephone socket. Your computer must also reach the minimum specifications required for Broadband.
What can I do with it?
A simple answer to this would be: anything you already do with your 56k connection, just much faster. However, you will also be able to do things that wouldn't be possible on a dial-up connection such as:
- Multitask - download a file, browse the web and check e-mails all at the same time
- Play games with much lower latency
- Streaming media - You can now watch high quality streaming media on your PC such as music videos, movie trailers and concerts
- Leave your system running 24/7 and operate your pc remotely
Fair Use Policy for Broadband
If you subscribe to our broadband service, this Fair Use Policy applies to you.
Why does Onetel Broadband have a Fair Use Policy?
We're passionate about providing all our customers with a fast, reliable and high quality service. To achieve this, we implemented a Fair Use Policy as part of the terms and conditions governing the Onetel Broadband Service effective from 15 June 2007.
Excessive bandwidth usage, exceeding what we deem to be reasonable levels for a residential broadband product, slows down our service and affects the online experience of all other Onetel Broadband users. In addition, a very small number of customers use file-sharing software (commonly known as "peer to peer" or P2P) or other applications, which constantly send and receive video and other very large files.
Who is affected by the Fair Use Policy?
The Fair Use Policy applies to all Onetel Broadband customers. However, users that do not use Peer to Peer, file sharing or similar types of applications will not be affected as their usage is well within what we would expect from a residential broadband user.
What happens when the Fair Use Policy is applied?
If a customer's usage exceeds what Onetel Broadband deems fair and reasonable for a residential broadband service, speed-limiting restrictions may be applied during peak hours (typically evenings) in the first instance. We'll also contact customers whose usage is deemed excessive with advice and recommendations on how to reduce usage. If usage continues to be very high, we may reluctantly give a customer notice that their account will be terminated.
What is Peer to Peer?
We don't stop our customers using file-sharing software (often known as peer-to-peer or P2P), but we keep an eye out for anyone abusing the rules. Examples of P2P software include Kazaa, Morpheus and WinMX.
We will work to restrict P2P users who slow down the network for everyone else. And we certainly don't condone using P2P software to illegally share copyrighted music, or to breach any other local law or regulation.
How is Peer-to-Peer (P2P) restricted?
We restrict P2P activity in peak hours to make sure that other general Internet use takes priority (including surfing, email, shopping, gaming and commercial downloads). This means that if you are using P2P applications, such as some file sharing programmes, your speed will be restricted to avoid affecting other customers' use of the service.
