Understanding broadband plans can be a very confusing task. Line speed, Monthly Usage Allowances, Gigabytes, Shaping...the terminology along with all the numbers can all seem too hard. Outlined below is a breakdown of each component that makes up the Netspace Broadband plans, with a straightforward explanation of what each means!

Line Speed

The first component of the plan is the ‘line speed’. This tells you how ‘fast’ you can download and upload information using your connection. There are 3 speeds you can choose from:

• 256k/64k: The 256 is the entry level speed and a great performer.
• 512k/128k: The 512 is the “all rounder”, a solid speed that gives you plenty of drive and versatility.
• 1500k/256k: The 1500 is the high performance, super-charged speed and the one to choose if it’s blistering pace you are looking for.

The line speed is measured in kilobits or kbits.

So which speed do you choose? It all depends on what you wish to use your broadband connection for. The higher the number, the quicker the connection speed.

Download Speed

The line speeds are made up of two numbers. Let’s take the first line speed “256k/64k” as an example. The first number—256k—is the speed at which you ‘download’ information from the Internet, and the number you are most interested in. You download information from the internet every time you view a web page, download a file or play a computer game online.

Upload Speed

The second number—64k—is the speed at which you upload information to the Internet. By upload we mean the speed at which you can send (say an email or file) from your computer to the Internet.

Usage Allowance

Now you have decided on which line speed you would like, you will need to select your monthly usage allowance.

As part of your subscription you receive a monthly “usage allowance” which is expressed in “Gigabytes” or Gb. At the start of the month you receive your allotted amount of “gigs” (or Gigabytes) which is valid for the entire month.

Now the way it works is simple: you start off with, say, 2Gb at the start of the month; every time you download anything from the internet this is subtracted from your monthly allowance. As you continue to use the Internet throughout the month, you continually eat into your monthly allowance until you have completely used your allocation, or the month finishes, whichever happens sooner.

NOTE: usage allowance is metered from your monthly anniversary date of sunscription, not by calendar month.

1 Gigabyte or 1GB

1000 Megabytes or 1000Mb

What happens if I reach my download allowance before the month ends?

If this happens, your line speed will be “shaped” which basically means your line speed will be reduced from either 256k, 512k or 1500k (depending on which plan you are on), to normal ‘modem speed’, which is equal to a speed of a 56k connection.

Although your line speed will decrease when you are shaped, you will still have full access to the internet. Any usage from that point on is not charged—it’s all FREE. Once shaped, you remain at modem speed until the next month rolls over.

Alternatively you can return to full speed by recharging your account by purchasing a Data Block.

Excess Usage Charges

With the exception of the 256 Starter Plan*, all Netspace Home and SOHO plans are Flat Rate–fixed price plans by default, so you will never be charged for excess downloads on your account. Some Internet Service Providers automatically charge their customers for excess downloads when they exceed their monthly download allowance which can leave customers with a huge internet bill at the end of the month.

Netspace Broadband Plan Features

• Huge monthly download allowances
• Flat Rate–fixed price plans
• No monthly excess charges