What is VICNET DSL ...and how is it better.

As VICNET offers a wide range of DSL products and services following is some general information on DSL and why the VICNET DSL services offer better functionality and value than many of the alternative DSL providers.

What is DSL | VICNET DSL features | ADSL vs SHDSL | DSL vs cable & satellite | VICNET's DSL network

What is DSL?

DSL stands for Digital Subscriber Line. As there are a number of flavours or types of DSL it is often identified as xDSL. ADSL and SHDSL are two types of xDSL services.
DSL is a broadband technology that uses regular phone lines.
DSL has the potential to deliver video conferencing, television, video-on-demand, and other "cutting-edge" services such as Voice over IP or VoIP.
DSL modems are always connected to the network, meaning there is no "dial-up" involved.
DSL modems share a normal telephone line, you don't need a separate line for the modem.
DSL is FAST. 6000K DSL connections are around 200 times faster than an ordinary 33K modem whereas a 2000K DSL connection is around 60 times faster than a 33 K modem

VICNET DSL features

An "always-on" connection, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
VICNET only charges for Internet download traffic, we do not charge for upload data. Many other DSL suppliers charge for both download and upload traffic. If upload traffic is consistently higher than downloads VICNET reserves the right to charge for uploads in lieu of downloads but we do not charge for uploads AND downloads at the same time.
VICNET does not charge for data between VICNET DSL connected customers, nor do we charge for data hosted by VICNET.
Our service comes with a static IP address, which means it is suitable for hosting your own services, such as a mail server or web server.
Installation is always performed by qualified technicians within 21 business days
Download speeds up to 6Mb/s
Upstream speeds up to 768Kb/s
Industry leading Service Level Agreement (SLA)
24-hour monitoring and fault detection
No special configuration needed for an end-user's PC because all that is required is an approved router installed at the customer's premises
Business-grade performance using existing copper telephone lines. VICNET uses Request, winner of ATUG 2002 carrier of the year award as our DSL wholesale supplier.
Uses a secure backbone network which can also support office-to-office data connectivity as well as voice and video-conferencing.

ADSL versus SHDSL

ADSL stands for Asynchronous Digital Subscriber Line. This means the download capacity is greater than the upload capacity. See the following diagram for an example. Most Internet usage requires more download capacity than upload capacity which is why ADSL is so popular. Unless you require video conferencing, IP Telephony, or host large web databases; services that use large amounts of upload as well as download capacity, VICNET ADSL should more than meet your needs. VICNET offers a wide range of ADSL services. If you are a not-for-profit community group, public library, or school refer to our eCommunity ADSL services.

ADSL diagram

SHDSL stands for Synchronous Digital Subscriber Line. The download capacity and the upload capacity are the same. See the following diagram for an example. If you plan to do video conferencing, IP Telephony, or host large web databases; all of which are services that use large amounts of upload as well as download capacity you should consider VICNET SHDSL products and services. VICNET offers a wide range of SHDSL services. If you are a not-for-profit community group, public library, or school refer to our eCommunity SHDSL services.

SHDSL diagram

VICNET's DSL versus Satellite and Cable

How does VICNET's DSL compare to other "broadband" services? There are two main factors here, technical and contract ones. Technically, DSL is a little faster than satellite (data doesn't have to go up into space and back!) although there may be a less broad "pipe" in the most popular form of ADSL. Compared to cable, DSL will have fewer bottlenecks, since a single (very large) cable connection may be shared in a neighbourhood. ADSL is faster and cheaper than ISDN, typically about six times as fast. The contract differences between DSL and cable are mostly the ones mentioned before: no matter what rate is given for monthly or "bundled" plans, Internet service providers are always interested in charges for download. That is its main cost. VICNET'S approach is to offer a realistic included monthly amount data at an affordable price, with no hidden penalties, so once you know how much you're likely to download (we'll help you with that), you'll find VICNET is very competitive indeed.

VICNET's DSL network

VICNET is a not-for-profit Internet Service Provider (ISP) that does not charge for data between connected VICNET DSL sites and customers. We do this to help reduce the data costs of the many community groups, not-for-profit organisations and libraries that use VICNET to access the Internet. See the following diagram for more information.

VICNET also does not charge for traffic between connected DSL customers and sites and data hosted by VICNET at the State Library of Victoria. VICNET has Victoria's largest Website at www.vicnet.net.au. Again we do this to help reduce the data costs of the many community groups, not-for-profit organisations and libraries that use VICNET to access the Internet. Our Web servers currently get 10 million hits a month, we host over 200 virtual Web servers and host nearly 2,000 Websites for Victoria's community groups.

DSL network

And finally every dollar spent at VICNET helps our community training, outreach and infrastructure projects. So VICNET ADSL is more than just an extremely fast Net technology, it's a good partnership choice for your organisation.