A: Our initial offering was based on HDSL technology. While our HDSLbased offering was beneficial to our customers since we were able to install an established technology, it was also limiting our ability to offer service to many customers who were located farther than 12,000 from their Central Office.
With this in mind, we decided to deploy a RADSL solution that would increase our availability scope while also offering customers even higher speeds.
A: While one is transmitting data over the telephone wire or local loop, line conditions on the local loops vary all the time. Rate Adaptive Digital Subscriber Line (RADSL) is able to adapt to the changing line conditions on the local loops. In fact, RADSL is able to adapt to these changing conditions as they are happening.
A: Yes. Our Qwest Broadband™ service are logical, point to point
connections and you would be connected full time to an ISP or to a Corporate
host. The connection from the Corporate host or ISP is a shared connection.
Other Qwest Broadband™ end users ride the same connection.
A: These technologies are quite complementary. We see cable-modems and the 56 Kbps modem technology as attractive solutions for the more infrequent business and consumer Internet access users where a shared capability with others is acceptable. The DSL technologies will provide a dedicated networking solution to large and small businesses and the power-user-at-home marketplace.
A: No discussion of DSL technologies would be complete without a review of cable modems. These modems use cable TV companies' coaxial networks as the transport medium. DSL technologies use the Regional Bell Operating Companies' (RBOC) twisted wire pair network.
There are two major issues that impact the deployment and use of cable modems. The first is that only about 7% of existing coaxial distribution systems are capable of two-way traffic. The cable industry is investing heavily to upgrade their facilities to a hybrid fiber/coax based network. Most coaxial networks are designed for one-way downstream distribution only, requiring the expensive replacement of distribution nodes. The second is that all subscribers on a distribution network (from 500 to several thousand homes) share the bandwidth, which can reduce an individual's throughput to analog modem dial-up speeds.
Another cable modem topic of discussion is that unterminated cable TV jacks (no TV connected and no terminating resistor cap screwed on) act as antennas on the distribution node. Any RFI-generating (radio frequency interference) equipment near an un-terminated jack injects noise into the entire distribution network. AC motors (vacuum cleaners), computer monitors, fluorescent lights, and a host of other household items generate RFI. This is not critical for TV viewing, but can adversely affect modem throughput.
A: Yes, loop qualification is required.
A: Unfortunately, if a location does not meet the loop qualification
requirements, the subscriber cannot get Qwest Broadband™. We are working with various vendors to develop a more robust solution for customers
in order to provide service to those locations where access is denied at present. In the interim, if a subscriber is interested in more information on the suite
of Internet services from Qwest®, please check into Consumer Internet Services. You may also be interested in other data transport products that Qwest®
offers. Please visit our World of Interactive Services page for those options.
A: The subscriber's host site or MegaCentral location is responsible for the address.
A: No. All of the registration of addresses and domain conventions must be assigned, administered and managed by the subscriber's host location.
A: Rate Adaptive Carrierless Amplitude/Phase modulation line coding.
A: Qwest Broadband™ is a bridged Layer 2 service. If L2TP
is supported on the end points and can be transported across the network, then
it should work.
A: An Ethernet card must be installed in the customer's computer.
A: Yes. On one end the DSL modem plugs into an RJ11
jack (a regular telephone jack) and on the other end the modem plugs into a
RJ45 jack with a 10Base T interface Network Interface Card (NIC).
A: Yes. At this time the customer must be within 18,000 feet from a serving Central Office.
A: Probably. However, we need to go through the pre-qualification process to ensure that there aren't any other technical issues.
A: We intend to deliver standard voice services, with switched access anywhere you can call today.
A: The minimum configuration for a PC is a 486 with a certain amount of RAM and available hard disk space. Please visit our technical requirements section for more information.
A: While we appreciate your offer to test our products, we have already
tested our services extensively in our labs located in Minneapolis, Minnesota
and Denver, Colorado. Additional tests have been performed on Qwest®
facilities to the residences of company employees. However, we will maintain
your offer on file, and should the need for beta testing arise in the future,
we will contact you.
A: Unfortunately, even when you input the first three digits of your
phone number, and you get a message that Qwest Broadband™ services are available
in your exchange, there still may be hurdles to obtaining service. Most of the
inhibitors to receiving Qwest Broadband™ services are technical in nature.
We at Qwest® are developing solutions to make access to
Qwest Broadband™ services more easily attainable by all. However, the following
obstacles to receiving service do exist in some areas:
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If your phone wire is served by Digital Loop Carrier (DLC) equipment,
you will not be able to receive Qwest Broadband™ services. A DLC is
a multiplexing device in the telephone network used to provide economical
voice service to high growth and suburban areas. A solution to provide
xDSL based data services will be available in prototype 2Q98. Extensive
network testing and evaluation is required to provide service out of DLC
devices. |
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If the telephone wires to your location from the Qwest®
Central Office exceed the distance limit of 18,000 feet, you will not
be able to receive Qwest Broadband™ services. Other factors such as
temperature, wire gauge and condition of the wire may raise or lower the
effective distance at which the service can be offered. |
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If bridge taps, wire gauge changes and/or load coils incorporate part
of your phone wire, there may be delays in receiving service. We need
to identify and deal with them before you are able to receive Qwest Broadband™ services. |
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Finally, please keep in mind that even though some customers may not
be able to access Qwest Broadband™ services, they may be eligible for
other of transport services from Qwest®. For more details
please visit our World of Interactive Services page at www.megaspeed.com.
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If you would like to speak to a Qwest® representative
for more information about alternative high-speed solutions, please call
1-888-634-2879. |
A: No. Qwest Broadband™ services are provisioned for a dedicated,
pointtopoint connection between a host and a subscriber location.
The connection is a virtual private network and does not support peertopeer
communication.
A: Yes, but under very controlled circumstances. If the customer has a router working in conjunction with the 10 BaseT connection and can capture an IP address, then they can subnet behind the router.
Some ISPs or Corporate Hosts may assign a statically mapped or fixed IP address to the MegaSubscriber. This scenario, when used in conjunction with a router can allow a number of other users access by subnetting the IP address. We are providing a Layer Two service and if the ISP or MegaCentral location assigns the address we cannot control how the end devices use the address.
If the MegaCentral host assigns a dynamically assigned IP address and provides an always on service, the end users, if they terminate the 10 BaseT connection in a router, may be able to configure subnets after determining what the IP address is. Again, this is an issue how the host end and the subscriber ends are configured.
In most cases, the connection is a single user to a single host.
A: Yes, the voice line supported by Qwest Broadband™ service is just like any other POTS line. You can connect the voice line to any device registered with the FCC to support either voice or data transmission.
A: Qwest Broadband™ services support only one voice line on the
same pair of wires carrying data to the subscriber.
A: A VPN creates the effect of a private, leased line network, but without the associated design, deployment, cost and vulnerability issues. Dedicated circuits are established between the host location, the closest Central Office and the subscriber location. Dedicated circuits are not established between various subscriber locations. Routing tables are established to route the data traffic over the highspeed DSL facilities on a priority basis in order to ensure that the level of service provided is similar to that offered by a true private network.
A: In most cases, you need to connect to a UNIX server or a device that supports an Ethernet connection to your computer.
A: Most ISPs assign IP addresses using either RADIUS or DHCP servers. It is up to your ISP if they will allow you to connect with an IP address that has been assigned to you.
A: It depends on what you have for CPE. Standard routers, bridges or hubs with a 10BaseT interface will work fine. Qwest Broadband™ services and ISDN raw interfaces are not compatible.
A: No. However, there is Customer Provided Equipment (CPE) needed at the MegaSubscriber location. The device is commonly called a modem but it is not officially a modem. The technical term for the device is an ADSL Termination Unit-Remote or ATU-R. This device must be connected with a similar device in the serving Central Office. The customer is required to purchase and maintain this device.
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