Broadband users benefit from BT Wholesale innovation

It’s all too easy to forget life before broadband. The endless waiting for pages to appear on-screen...for files to download...for anything to happen. Ask broadband users to name one characteristic about broadband and in most cases they’ll mention speed. It’s clearly the most obvious, but is that its only virtue?

The short answer is ‘no’. For what is speed without stability? Or to put it another way, who would want to drive a fast car if it kept stalling en route?

The truth is, if you want a good broadband connection you need speed and stability. And as broadband speeds increase, the issue of stability is becoming increasingly important. After all, more and more people are using their broadband connections for internet TV (IPTV) and video streaming. At the same time, business customers are employing their broadband connections for critical applications such as electronic point of sale (EPOS) units and CCTV.

In all of these cases - whether for domestic or business use - a stable, reliable service is essential.

Which is why BT Wholesale has launched a range of DSL Max stability options to help improve the UK’s broadband experience. They are not available to end users directly, but via Communication Providers (CPs), which in turn provide a range of services to end users.

This innovative set of tools and techniques – unveiled earlier this year - means that CPs can now set stability levels to suit the specific needs of end users.

Ability to choose

Currently, the link between the local telephone exchange and the end user’s premise is set for stability. That’s its default position. But now CPs have the ability to select one of three stability options depending on what their customers want.

For instance, more line stability is better for delivering video if the user is happy to forgo a little speed. In some circumstances choosing a higher stability option would be an obvious choice. For end users where lines are susceptible to 'dropping out' the super stable option offered by BT Wholesale may be the most appropriate. But speed can be unleashed on a line if a faster connection is more important.

All this fits into BT Wholesale’s aim to maximise end users’ broadband performance, improve service resilience and to deliver an exceptional end user experience. The broadband service provided by BT Wholesale is not one-size-fits-all. BT Wholesale is introducing a set of tools and techniques to push broadband boundaries to new limits. The stability options can be mixed and matched with other broadband tools, including for example the I-Plate - a self-install ‘noise’ filter launched earlier this month - to optimise an end user’s broadband service.

The message is clear. It’s about flexibility - providing a service that meets the needs of end users and is tailored to their requirements. Stability options are part of the sophisticated broadband offering that highlights the progress made over recent years. They are available on today's broadband network - as well as the next generation broadband service being progressively rolled out across the UK. And it’s free for CPs to use.

Speed and stability

To help publicise this new development - and to help CPs balance speed and stability – BT Wholesale has just published best practice guide. Written in simple and clear language, it helps CPs work with end users to understand the aspects of their broadband service they value the most.

“Today broadband is the heart beat of modern society and its impact on everyday life cannot be overlooked,” said Angus Flett, BT Wholesale’s product management director.

“BT Wholesale is harnessing its unique knowledge and broadband experience to help our customers meet their end users high service expectations. Moving forward more service improvement developments are in the pipeline to release the maximum potential of each, and every, individual broadband line and the increase in 21CN’s technology capability will allow BT Wholesale to push broadband performance even further.”

Innovation is at the heart of BT’s work and with improvements such as its stability options, it’s clear that BT Wholesale continues to push broadband boundaries to new limits.