Internet Direct

Access Methods

There are many ways to connect to the Internet, and Telstra has the range of dedicated access options available. The following information has been provided to help you decide which connection best suits your organisation.

  1. Dedicated Modem
  2. ISDN
  3. DDS Fastway and Megalink
  4. Frame Relay
  5. Shared Access versus Dedicated Access
  6. ATM
  7. ADSL
  8. Ethernet MAN
  9. Business DSL

You also have the option of packaging your Internet connectivity with your data access in a simple, cost effective solution via the Telstra Internet Direct Premium Packages. For more information, please click here.

1. Modem

If you only expect to download a small quantity of data, you can connect to Telstra Internet Direct by dedicated modem with access speeds of up to 56 Kbps. The connection is by a standard phone line linked to a modem at your premises and to the nearest Telstra Internet Direct Point of Presence (PoP).

2. ISDN

You can connect to Telstra Internet Direct via ISDN for speeds up to 256Kbps. Access speeds of 128Kbps and above require the use of PPP Multilink. In connecting to Telstra Internet Direct, the access configuration is as shown below:

As shown above, Telstra Internet Direct provides ISDN access at our Point of Presence (PoP) for customers connecting to our router via ISDN. As a Telstra Internet Direct customer, you will need to have ISDN at your site.

3. DDS Fastway and Megalink

For services requiring higher levels of network access availability, and for services above 256Kbps, you can use either DDS Fastway or a Megalink. DDS Fastway can be used for services from 64kbps to 1984kbps (approximately 2Mbps). Megalink provides a 2Mbps circuit, terminating on standard (G.703) interfaces. The configuration for customer connection via these services is shown below:

As the ACA considers these services to be in the form of one point-to-point service with an "A" and "B" end, you need to provide both ends of the service as shown above.

4. Frame Relay

Frame Relay, with its ability to support short term bursts of data on a non guaranteed basis, means that Telstra Internet Direct can provide additional data transfer capacity over a given customer access. Frame Relay connections into Telstra Internet Direct are generally provided at speeds from 64kbps to 1984kbps, however can range up to 16Mbps.

Shown below is an example of the standard service configuration for supporting Frame Relay access:

The standard configuration design is for Telstra Internet Direct to provide a 2Mbps DDS Fastway access at each Point of Presence, with total CIRs not exceeding 2Mbps. (A different configuration is used to cater for customers requiring higher speeds.) This is well below the 200% over subscription level currently considered acceptable in Frame Relay network design. Until this point is reached, customers can make use of the additional headroom (EIR capacity) that is available. When a network access is fully configured, customers share this headroom on a dynamic basis, according to traffic levels and CIRs. Frame Relay allows customers to burst into other customers’ CIR, while those customers are not using their CIR at that time. Frame Relay is only available in capital city Points of Presence. Please see the Telstra Internet Direct application form for more details.

5. Shared Access vs Dedicated Access

The previous diagram specifies the rules for connecting to Telstra Internet Direct using shared access Frame Relay. In this scenario, you do not pay for the "B" end (the shared Frame Relay access mechanism). If you require a Frame Relay access with a CIR/EIR make-up different to that described above, you can provide a Frame Relay access at the Telstra Internet Direct PoP (a "B" end) at your own cost. To guarantee bandwidth in any way other than that described above, you will need to provide your own "B" end Frame Relay access.

Given the ability to burst in line with excessive instantaneous traffic, this access method may appeal to those organisations that wish to publish information on the Internet. Customers that are based outside capital cities may wish to use Frame Relay with a low CIR to help reduce the costs of linking their site to Telstra Internet Direct in the nearest capital city.

6. ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode)

Telstra Internet Direct operates high speed 155 Mbps shared Telstra ATM ports terminating in the Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth Points of Presence (PoPs).

To acquire ATM access into Telstra Internet Direct, you will need a customer-end Telstra ATM service access port and an ATM PVC (Private Virtual Circuit) of specified Sustained Information Rate (SIR) between the customer-end ATM access port and the shared Telstra Internet Direct (PoP) ATM service access port. You will be charged for the shared portion of the Internet Direct PoP ATM service access port, determined by your SIR. You can connect to Telstra Internet Direct based on available ATM SIR with either an ATM PVC from 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 or 16 Mbps, or a larger native - ATM access 34 Mbps or 155 Mbps on request.

Telstra Internet Direct ATM access supports 34 Mbps UNI ATM interface and Constant Bit Rate (CBR).

Telstra ATM is only available in capital city Points of Presence. Please see the Telstra Internet Direct application form for more details.

7. ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line)

ADSL is a dedicated Internet access method that transforms ordinary telephone lines (also known as 'twisted copper pair') into high-speed digital lines.

ADSL access to Telstra Internet Direct is available in four speed* combinations (downstream kbps/upstream kbps):

  • 256/64
  • 512/128
  • 512/512**
  • 1536/256

After connecting the ADSL modem/router between your telephone line and your network/PC, the ADSL technology within the modem sends high-speed digital information over your telephone line without interfering with normal telephone operations.

This means that you can use your Telstra Internet Direct service and use the phone line for your voice calls at the same time without any interference. This is achieved by using a Discrete MultiTone (DMT) digital transmission coding scheme operating above the voice band frequencies.

Can I get ADSL?

Test your phone number in our database. If you receive a "Congratulations!" message, your exchange is ADSL enabled and you can order Telstra Internet Direct ADSL. However, where a telephone exchange is shown as being ADSL enabled, we still need to confirm that individual telephone services provided from that exchange will qualify for ADSL service provision. Each service request will be subject to an ADSL Service Qualification process.

8. Ethernet MAN

Ethernet MAN provides an easy and flexible connection between your equipment and the Internet. The connection is capable of access speeds ranging from 2Mbps to 1Gbps, utilising the bandwidth-on-demand feature, which allows you to dynamically change the data access capacity.

Ethernet MAN connections are delivered over a shared network, the core of which is fully redundant, using multiple paths and the use of Spanning Tree Protocol. You are provided with an Ethernet interface within your building that is delivered by a Telstra switching device(s) housed in a physically secure location. You are responsible for the cabling from the Telstra switch in the building and your local network connection (although this may be quoted separately).

9. Business DSL

Business DSL is a broadband data service offering symmetric data rates with guaranteed throughput and a business grade service level. The service is based on the latest broadband technology - G.SHDSL.

Business DSL access to Telstra Internet Direct is available in four speeds (downstream kbps/upstream kbps):

  • 512/512
  • 1024/1024
  • 1536/1536
  • 2048/2048

Business DSL can be configured as 'point to point' to link or Bridge two Ethernet LAN segments, which is achieved through the product offering an Ethernet interface. This configuration can be used to connect your site to Telstra Internet Direct.

The Business DSL services commence with an NTU (Network Terminating Unit) at the customer premises. This NTU supports a 10/100 BaseT Ethernet interface and operates in the RFC1483 Bridged mode. The NTU converts customer data to ATM over SHDSL traffic to be transported over the copper Access network. At the local exchange, the SHDSL copper path terminates on a DSLAM (DSL Access Mux) and the ATM traffic is then carried over Telstra's ATM network. Assuming a point-to-point service then the reverse is performed at the far end of the service.

You can terminate your Telstra Internet Direct via Business DSL connection directly onto your PC. However, if you require your Telstra Internet Direct Service to be connected to a network, you will require a router with two Ethernet ports.

Can I get Business DSL?

Business DSL is currently available from 450 Telstra exchanges nationally.

G.SHDSL technology has distance limits that need to be considered, therefore even if you are in a Business DSL location, there is no guarantee that you will qualify for Business DSL service provision. Each service request will be subject to a Service Qualification process.

To see if Business DSL is available in your area, contact your Telstra Account Representative, or if you do not have an Account Representative, Internet Direct Sales on 1800 655 744 or sales@telstra.net.

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Speeds can vary depending on: the configuration of the customer's computer; volume of Internet traffic; capacity of the server on the sites visited and amount of simultaneous usage on the Telstra network.
*
Note that these speeds are indicative only and represent the maximum speed achievable under optimum circumstances. Downstream kbps refers to traffic received by the user from the Internet, and upstream kbps refers to traffic sent to the Internet from the user.
**
512/512kbps is only available if you are taking advantage of the Telstra Internet Direct ADSL campaign offer. For more information, visit our special offers website page.