NBN E Book
description
Transcript of NBN E Book
The must-have guide for every Australian small business
The NBNToolkit
the essential pocket guide series
EDITORIALEditor William Maher wmaherbitcomauArt Director Andrew Bennett Creative Director Sam GrimmerContributors Brad Howarth John Gillooly
PRODUCTIONGroup Production Manager Lucia Zavaglia
ADVERTISING Phone (02) 8399 7603 Fax (02) 8399 3622Senior Account Manager Daniel Baddeley dbaddeleybitcomau Head of IT Sales Adrian LloydCommercial Director Darren McNally
PUBLISHED BYManaging Director Jeremy VaughanPublishing Manager Jasmine Epiro
Bit Essential Pocket Guide Series is published by Haymarket Media Pty Ltd Company registered in Australia ABN 61 083 063 914 This publication may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form in whole or in part without the written permission of the publishersLIABILITY While every care has been taken in the preparation of this magazine the publishers cannot be held responsible for the accuracy of the information herein or any consequence arising from it Please note that all judgements have been made in the context of equipment available to Bit at time of review and that lsquovalue for moneyrsquo comments are based on Australian prices at the time of writing which are subject to fluctuation and are only applicable to the Australian marketPERMISSIONS amp REPRINTS Material in Bit may not be reproduced in any form without the written consent of the Managing Director of Haymarket Media Quotations for reprints are available from the Production Manager Bit logo is a trademark of Haymarket Media All editorial items are the copyright property of Haymarket Media Copyright 2012 All rights reserved
2 bitcomau
Contents4 Why should I care
about the NBNJust as there are many questions about the NBN there are many possibilities for your business
10 What will it costGetting the best value on the NBN
12 Connecting my officeIf you want the maximum speed and most value for your money there are a few important things to know
18 Top 10 tipsTips and advice from real users
20 What if I donrsquot have the NBN yetEven if the roll-out hasnrsquot reached your area yet there are still several other options to get better Internet performance now
26 My bookmarksA collection of useful links
28 Jargon busterThe tech-talk in plain English
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INTRODUCTION
ow is a good time to start thinking about what the future of your business will be in the digital era
Even if you donrsquot think of yourself as a digital business you are probably aware of changes the Internet is bringing
These changes create opportunities for you New opportunities to attract customers save money on your IT bills and opportunities to grow your business
The National Broadband Network (NBN) promises to help make these things possible for small businesses While the Australia-wide broadband service is years away for many businesses when it arrives it will bring (we hope) much more reliable and faster broadband for everyone
This guide is designed to help you better understand the NBN It includes tips you can make use of if you are signing up for the NBN now or if you are getting ready for the future We hope you find it useful
If you want to share your experience with the NBN or another technology in your business you can email me at wmaherbitcomau
WILLIAM MAHER Editor BIT (Business IT)
WelcomeN
when the NBN arrives it will bring
(we hope) much more reliable and faster broadband
for everyone
the Internet has trained us to expect instant service regardless of where we are
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OUTLOOK
he National Broadband Network will take most of this decade
to roll out But even if your business is located in a region that is in the backend of that schedule it is important that you start thinking now about your businessrsquos high-speed broadband future Because even if a change of government results in a dramatically different scheme Australiarsquos love affair with the Internet shows no signs of slowing down and Australian
broadband speeds are only likely to get faster
Even if the NBN rollout were to stop dead there are some good reasons for investigating your businessrsquos broadband readiness According to Nielsenrsquos Australian Online Landscape Report 2012 92 per cent of online Australians have some sort of home internet connection and 93 per cent use the Internet daily Importantly as broadband speeds increase so too does
Why should I care about the NBNJust as there are many questions about the NBN there are many possibilities for your business WORDS BRAD HOWARTH
T
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OUTLOOK
time spent online which Nielsen estimates reached a weekly average of 21 hours and 54 minutes in 2011 And the things we do online ndash such as banking booking appointments and researching and buying products ndash are also increasing
Secondly the Internet is overpowering geography The worldrsquos stores are now available and customers no longer need depend on local suppliers That same principle now applies to almost every kind of product and the vast majority of information-based services such as business administration design or marketing You are not just competing with nearby
businesses you are competing with businesses around Australia and around the world Maybe your business once made good money printing business cards for local companies ndash now they get that done by VistaPrint
And thirdly the Internet has trained Australians to expect instant service regardless of when or where they are such as banking at midnight or shopping while on the bus Customers donrsquot keep to business hours any more
A presence on the webOf course all this is happening without the NBN being in place Which makes now the
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OUTLOOK
perfect time to be thinking about the potential impact of the NBN because the NBN will accelerate the changes that are already happening and make the benefits of high-speed broadband available to all
That means all of your customers potentially interacting online Will you be there to greet them
The first place to start when planning for the NBN is to look at your companyrsquos web presence If you donrsquot have one ndash and roughly
half of Australian businesses donrsquot ndash then get one
A website is your billboard on the Internet Start by putting up basic information about your products and services ndash pictures descriptions rates etc ndash and provide a response form to collect feedback
Not all products can be sold online but the basic rule is that if you can ship it you can sell it online But this also applies to many services such as bookkeeping graphic design or secretarial services Adding ecommerce means adding a lsquoshopping cartrsquo to your site and there are hundreds to choose from Yoursquoll also need to incorporate a payment gateway which is available from numerous
more than one in five online Australians shops or browses online between 6 and 10pm
HOW CAN I GET A WEBSITESo you want to get your business online but yoursquore not sure where to start Here are 3 simple ways you can get yourself up and running quickly
MYOB and Google have teamed in an initiative called Getting Aussie Business Online that offers a free basic website
You can design your own using a simple publishing tool such as WordPress with hosting available for just dollars a month
Or get someone else to design one for you using a service such as 99designs or DesignCrowd ndash Prices start from under $500
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OUTLOOK
suppliers such as PayPal POLi Payments or eWAY
Even business that involve physical services such as pool cleaning fence repairs or hairdressing can benefit from an ecommerce site by allowing clients to book with you online outside of your business hours According to Nielsen more than one in five Australians shops or browses online between 6pm and 10pm
Put yourself in picturesWhile the NBN will encourage more Australians to spend more time online and hence do more online the higher data transfer speed it provides means businesses can start to invest in more bandwidth-heavy applications such as video Creating videos to showcase your products and services is cheap and easy ndash a high-definition video camera such as the Toshiba
Camileo H30 sells for less than $250 Hosting your video on YouTube or Vimeo is free ndash and YouTube even offers editing software Importantly Nielsen estimates that 59 per cent of the online population watch online videos to help inform their purchase choices
Finally even if your business wonrsquot be connected to the NBN for years you can still take advantage of it Many useful services are hosted on the Internet itself ndash these are often described as cloud services so even if your own Internet service is relatively slow it could well be faster for your customers
That also means you donrsquot have to own your own web server or hire a team of professionals ndash your service provider will generally take care of all the hard work and you can simply add more services as you need them
Payment Gateway
When a customer buys a product on your site the transaction is sent to a third party or payment gateway which authorises the payment In a few seconds they send the details to the bank then let your website know itrsquos ok to go ahead with the transaction
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BENEFITS
CUT MY PHONE BILLLong distance call charges should be consigned to the history books Ways of making calls over the Internet (also called voice-over-IP or VOIP) such as Skype enable you to talk free-of-charge between users of the same service and to call regular telephone numbers in distant locations at greatly reduced charges The NBN will improve call quality and reliability
SLASH MY IT SERVICE CHARGES
Many of the NBN-enabled services will be based in the Cloud meaning that someone else pays for the hardware
(like servers) and operating costs All you pay for is the service and the
computers you use to access them such as your PC smartphone or tablet
IMPROVE MY ONLINE SALESThe NBN will make it easier for more customers to browse and buy online meaning yoursquoll need to be ready for them Take advantage of the NBNrsquos bandwidth and include high-resolution images and high-definition video so customers can really see what theyrsquore getting
2
3
1
5
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BENEFITS
WAYS THE NBN CAN HELP MY BUSINESS
SPREAD MY WINGSThe NBN will make it possible for more people to work from home or remote locations using the Internet Teleworking gives staff more flexibility and might enable you to employ workers with special skills who might otherwise be located too far away
TRIM MY TRAVEL COSTSOnce yoursquove used high-definition
videoconferencing yoursquoll start to question whether the business trips you make are actually worth the time and cost
of flying The NBN will make two-way HD videoconferencing possible ndash and
affordable ndash from your desktop and tools such as Cisco WebEx Meetings and Citrix
GoToMeeting are free to trial
Therersquos more to the NBN than faster InternetWORDS BRAD HOWARTH
4
55
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here are expensive and cheap NBN plans ndash just like there are for
other types of broadband The cheapest plan in our table on the right is $35 at 12Mbps with 50GB of data per month
When you compare this with what yoursquore paying now remember a couple of things First you are more likely to get consistent speeds on the NBN Even for Fixed Wireless NBN the NBN Co promises yoursquoll get ldquorelatively steadyrdquo speeds unlike 3G or 4G wireless broadband Second some of these NBN plans have much faster upload speeds than ADSL
Even though data limits look small for some entry level plans they often jump up drastically on the next most expensive plan ndash from 50GB to 200GB in one example
Yoursquoll also need a telephone service You can get this over the NBN too from your Internet provider You can keep your copper line telephone service for a while but eventually it will be decommissioned in areas with the NBN over fibre cable (not in areas with NBN via wireless or satellite)
What will it costGetting the best value on the NBN WORDS WILLIAM MAHER
T 100Mbps 40Mbps 50Mbps 20Mbps 25Mbps 5Mbps 12Mbps 1MbpsPROVIDER Cost Data limit Cost Data limit Cost Data limit Cost Data limit
Internode $7495 30GB $6495 30GB $5495 30GB $4995 30GB
iiNet $6995 40GB $6495 40GB $5495 40GB $4995 40GB
Optus $7999 120GB $6999 120GB $5999 120GB $3999 40GB
iPrimus $7995 40GB $6995 40GB $5995 40GB $4995 40GB
Telstra $9190 50GBwith phone service
ndash ndash $8190 50GBwith phone service
ndash ndash
Exetel $4500 25GB $5000 50GB $4000 50GB $3500 50GB
MyNetFone $9995 1000GB $6995 500GB $5995 250GB $3995 20GB
(Satellite) Activ8me ndash ndash ndash ndash ndash ndash $3495 3GB6Mbps 1Mbps
(Fixed Wireless) iiNet ndash ndash ndash ndash ndash ndash $4995 40GB
100Mbps 40Mbps 50Mbps 20Mbps 25Mbps 5Mbps 12Mbps 1MbpsPROVIDER Cost Data limit Cost Data limit Cost Data limit Cost Data limit
Internode $10495 30GB $9495 30GB $8495 30GB $7995 30GB
iiNet $9995 40GB $9495 40GB $8495 40GB25Mbps 10Mbps
$7995 40GB
Optus $7900 100GB $6900 100GB $6400 100GB $5900 100GB
MyNetFone $9995 1000GB $6995 500GB $5995 250GB $3995 20GB
RESIDENTIAL PLANS PER MONTH
BUSINESS PLANS PER MONTH
Please note This is designed to be a general guide to the cost of NBN services For each speed tier we have picked the cheapest available plan from each provider
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PLANS amp PRICES
100Mbps 40Mbps 50Mbps 20Mbps 25Mbps 5Mbps 12Mbps 1MbpsPROVIDER Cost Data limit Cost Data limit Cost Data limit Cost Data limit
Internode $7495 30GB $6495 30GB $5495 30GB $4995 30GB
iiNet $6995 40GB $6495 40GB $5495 40GB $4995 40GB
Optus $7999 120GB $6999 120GB $5999 120GB $3999 40GB
iPrimus $7995 40GB $6995 40GB $5995 40GB $4995 40GB
Telstra $9190 50GBwith phone service
ndash ndash $8190 50GBwith phone service
ndash ndash
Exetel $4500 25GB $5000 50GB $4000 50GB $3500 50GB
MyNetFone $9995 1000GB $6995 500GB $5995 250GB $3995 20GB
(Satellite) Activ8me ndash ndash ndash ndash ndash ndash $3495 3GB6Mbps 1Mbps
(Fixed Wireless) iiNet ndash ndash ndash ndash ndash ndash $4995 40GB
100Mbps 40Mbps 50Mbps 20Mbps 25Mbps 5Mbps 12Mbps 1MbpsPROVIDER Cost Data limit Cost Data limit Cost Data limit Cost Data limit
Internode $10495 30GB $9495 30GB $8495 30GB $7995 30GB
iiNet $9995 40GB $9495 40GB $8495 40GB25Mbps 10Mbps
$7995 40GB
Optus $7900 100GB $6900 100GB $6400 100GB $5900 100GB
MyNetFone $9995 1000GB $6995 500GB $5995 250GB $3995 20GB
RESIDENTIAL PLANS PER MONTH
BUSINESS PLANS PER MONTH
Not all services and providers are listed Extra fees and conditions such as setup fees (where applicable) contract length peakoff-peak restrictions are not shown All prices correct at time of writing but may have changed Check with your provider for the latest details
Compare more pricesClick here for extra comparisons at the BIT website
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1 Connecting my buildingHow does the NBN connect to my building and what does the NBN box look like p14
2 Inside my officeIs my office ready for the NBN and do I need a network p16
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Now that you know how the NBN might help you letrsquos get down to the nuts and bolts of connecting If you want the maximum speed and most value for your money there are a few important things to know ndash for example is your network up to scratchWORDS WILLIAM MAHER
CONNECTING MY OFFICE
3 Choosing my routerFrom routers to wireless extenders here are useful devices that will help you get more from the NBN p17
OFFICE READY
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1 CONNECTING MY BUILDINGThis is the NBN box that is being installed in businesses and homes across the countryIf yoursquore being connected by fibre optic cable as opposed to wireless or satellite the cable will run down your street either in trenches or strung on overhead lines Your connection again either in a trench or via an overhead line will run to a box called the Premises Connection Device (PCD) which will be attached to an outside wall of your building ndash the fibre comes into your building via this box
The fibre then travels to the Network Termination Device (NTD) Thatrsquos the box you see on this page This is the box you might connect to your router computers and desk phones You wonrsquot use a DSL modem anymore ndash for the modem function at least This box replaces it
Letrsquos take a look at the box In the photo the incoming NBN cable connects to the box on the right [A] From here a cable connects the NTD to your router via the data port [B] Note there are four data ports For example it might be possible to get Internet access from one provider and perhaps
a video on demand service on a separate port
On the left are two voice ports [C] ndash once copper telephone lines are phased out all NBN fibre-connected buildings will have phones connected over the NBN If you have a landline telephone that should plug straight into the voice port on the box
Keep in mind that the NBN box gets installed by an NBN contractor
The NTD must be next to a power point which will be used for the battery backup unit ndash a separate box that sits next to this one so you can make phone calls if there is a blackout
For a standard installation the NTD will be attached to an exterior wall (inside the building but on an outer wall) If you need the box in another room where your router and other equipment are there is an option for a ldquonon-standardrdquo installation but you might have to pay
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OFFICE READY
The NBN Box comes with four data ports The battery backup
unit (not shown)will not power these ports in a blackout only the voice ports
[B]
You can request a voice service to be delivered through
these UNI-V voice ports Your corded telephone will plug straight in
[C]
This is where the incoming NBN fibre connects[A]
NBN Network Termination Device (NTD)PRICE FREE SUPPLIER NBN CO
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2 INSIDE MY OFFICEHow will your computers desk phones and other devices connect to the NBN boxOnce the NBN is installed in your building and yoursquove signed up with your Internet provider for an NBN Internet plan yoursquoll need to connect your computers to the NBN box
If you have more than one computer one way of doing this is to connect them via Wi-Fi to a
wireless router you plug into the NBN box If all you need to do is browse the web send email
send documents and watch the occasional video then this might be ok If you are sending and
receiving a lot of very big files though or you need to regularly watch high definition video or backup large amounts of data using the NBN then therersquos
the possibility Wi-Fi might slow things down
WIRELESSROUTER[1]
Another option is to connect all your computers to the NBN box with network cable This will give you the fastest throughput from the NBN box to your computers Wersquore not about to go out on a limb and suggest everyone start planning when to get their floorboards ripped up for cabling though Not only is it an extra expense running cables throughout your building isnrsquot a simple job
NETWORKCABLE[2]
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OFFICE READY
Powerline networking is another option You plug network ports to the power points in your house The system uses the electricity wiring instead of network cables It should give you a better connection than Wi-Fi
WARNINGOne big surprise is that yoursquore not to install any data cabling yourself if it connects to the telecoms network A licensed professional is supposed to do the job badly installed network cable can result in slow speed dropouts or in extreme cases injury And while there might be electricians with excellent data expertise itrsquos a different set of skills and theyrsquore not always the best choice If in doubt ask for their registration card or check with the registrar yourself The ACMA web site has a fact sheet
POWERLINENETWORKING[3]
3 CHOOSING MY ROUTERWORDS JOHN GILLOOLY
Once you have the NBN you need a router to spread the Internet to each computer in your building
You might see lsquoNBN readyrsquo modem routers for sale ndash this means that the ADSL modem can be disabled once you get the NBN (because the NBN box takes care of that function) But these routers might be designed for low ADSL speeds and may not actually cope with the demands of the highest NBN speeds of 100Mbit download 40Mbit upload If your NBN plan isnrsquot that fast your router might cope ok but it is best to think of any lsquoNBN Readyrsquo ADSL modemrouter as a temporary solution We suggest looking for
Routers that can cope with sustained high-speed transfers We like ASUSrsquo RT-N56U the FritzBox Fon WLAN 7390 and Netgearrsquos DGND3700 N600
If yoursquore using Wi-Fi a dual band wireless router (these will work at the 5GHz band) is ideal but your Wi-Fi devices must be compatible
80211ac wireless routers will work better with Wi-Fi devices and have the fastest technology on the market but arenrsquot a must-have yet
If you have network cable installed a Gigabit Ethernet router is ideal
Want more Click to see photos of common wiring mistakes
Fritzbox Fon WLAN 7390
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Tips and advice from real NBN usersWORDS WILLIAM MAHER
TOP
1 PLAN AHEAD
Itrsquos generally a good idea to have the NBN termination unit installed as close to your computers and router as possible ndash everything that connects to the Internet will need to connect to it This might cost extra
2 GET HERITAGE CLEARANCE
Installation will likely involve holes being drilled in your wall to attach equipment feeds to the cable If you work in a heritage building then this might not be allowed
4 DONrsquoT EXPECT THE INTERNET TO BE PERFECT ALL THE TIME
Yes despite all the hype some NBN users have told us that web browsing
on the NBN is sometimes not noticeably any faster than ADSL Your connection might be fast but web servers on the other side of the world can still struggle to cope with congestion On the upside it should cope much
better with several users uploads should be faster and it should be
less prone to dropouts
3 DONrsquoT RUSH IN
Just because your building gets connected doesnrsquot mean you have to start using the NBN straight away Generally the plan is for the copper telephone lines to be kept for 18 months after the NBN is rolled out before being disconnected Where the NBN is delivered by wireless or satellite telephone lines wonrsquot be disconnected for at least 10 years
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NEED TO KNOW
7 BE WARY OF CHEAP ROUTERS
Your router will need to be able to cope with NBN speeds as well as be able to spread the data around your building fast enough If it doesnrsquot have gigabit Ethernet (for wired networks) or dual band wireless (for wireless networks) you might want to think about upgrading See page 19
9 GET A BACKUP POWER SUPPLY
Even if you have a battery backup box supplied with the NBN connection it wonrsquot keep your Internet running during a blackout only your phone If data access is critical to your business even during a blackout get an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) for a few hundred dollars
8 COMPARE VOICE PLANS
The Internet provider you have a data plan with might give you a better deal on a UNI-V phone service than other providers But call rates might be cheaper on a phone plan through the UNI-D ports
6 REWIRE YOUR PHONES
If you have lots of phone extensions in different rooms itrsquos still possible to keep using them for phone calls but the wiring will need to be connected to the NBN box An alternative is to connect a cordless phone base station to the NBN box
10 WATCH FOR BOTTLENECKS
Wersquove heard stories of people complaining that the NBN isnrsquot any faster but in the end something on their network was limiting the speed ndash like a wireless router that was affected by interference Remember that your own network can cause problems if itrsquos not set up correctly Bad cabling can also cause problems
5 CHECK YOU HAVE ENOUGH PHONE PORTS
The NBN termination unit has two phone ports If you need more phone lines once the copper telephone lines are disconnected consider switching to a VOIP telephone plan This gives you lots of ldquovirtualrdquo lines which run through the data ports instead
20 bitcomau
o you donrsquot want to wait for the NBN to arrive You need faster
more reliable Internet now On these pages wersquove listed ways you can get it without waiting for the NBN
The cheapest broadband is a home plan and they can provide relatively fast speeds if you only have one or two computers But if your business has grown or you want to connect a small office full of people business-grade broadband might serve you better
Generally business-grade services cost more ndash anywhere from around the $100-a-month mark up to $1000 or more
Yes the more expensive services can be much faster than a home ADSL service but download speeds are only one benefit
Other benefits of a business data service might include
A commitment that the connection will be working for a certain amount of time Eg ldquo9995 uptimerdquo
Fewer customers to share the bandwidth with This means your connection is less likely to slow down when lots of other businesses are using the network too
Faster upload speeds than home ADSL Very important to prevent your connection slowing down if you have several people sending large files at the same time Upload speeds are very limited on home ADSL services
Some services include 24x7 technical support
NBN plans are generally shaping up to be good value compared to what you see on the following pages but not everyone wants to wait
What if I donrsquot have the NBN yetEven if the roll-out hasnrsquot reached your area yet there are still several other options to get better Internet performance nowWORDS WILLIAM MAHER
SSLA
A Service Level Agreement is offered with many business data plans It sets out formal responsibilities of the service provider covering things like how fast they should respond to you if there is a problem what hours of the day technical support is available a commitment that problems will be fixed within a certain number of hours and that the service will be running without problems for a certain amount of time
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OPTIONS
HOME ADSL2+Speed Up to 24Mbps download 1Mbps upload (theoretical peak speeds actual speeds will be slower)Pros Relatively cheap compared to business servicesCons Speed depends on distance from telephone exchange Slow upload speed Shared with other usersRecommended Home office 1-2 computers where upload speeds arenrsquot critical where consistent speed isnrsquot critical for day-to-day operations
HOME ADSL2+ WITH ANNEX MSpeed Up to 24Mbps download up to 25Mbps upload (theoretical peak speeds Actual speeds will be slower)Pros Relatively cheap compared to business services Faster upload speed than regular ADSL2+Cons Speed depends on distance from telephone exchange Shared with other usersRecommended Home office 1-2 computers where faster upload speeds are useful but not critical where consistent speed isnrsquot critical for day-to-day operations
CABLE INTERNETSpeed Up to 100Mbps download up to 2Mbps upload (theoretical peak speeds Actual
speeds will be slower)Pros Relatively cheap compared to business services Much faster potential download speeds than ADSL2+Cons Limited to certain cities upload speeds much slower than download shared with other usersRecommended Home office 1-2 computers where faster download speeds than ADSL2+ are needed where fast upload speeds are not necessary where consistent speed isnrsquot critical for day-to-day operations
WIRELESS 3G Speed ldquoTypicalrdquo speeds up to 20Mbps download up to 3Mbps upload (actual speeds could be much slower speed depends on network type)Pros You can use it on the moveCons Speed varies a lot depending on where you are Speed decreases as more users share network Latency generally higher than ADSL Upload speeds much lower than downloadRecommended Secondary connection for accessing email and websites while on the move and where fast upload speeds are not required Where a reliable connection and consistent speed isnrsquot important
WIRELESS 4GSpeed ldquoTypicalrdquo speeds up
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to 40MBps download up to 10Mbps upload (actual speeds could be much slower)Pros You can use it on the move Higher upload speeds than ADSL2+ and 3G are possibleCons Speed varies a lot depending on where you are Speed decreases as more users share network Theoretical upload speeds slower than download (though not always the case in practice) Limited to Telstra and Optus at time of writing
Recommended Secondary connection while on the move and where faster upload speeds than 3G are required for transferring large files For connecting several gadgets (tablet and laptop) to the Internet at the same time Where a reliable connection and consistent speed isnrsquot important
BUSINESS ADSL2+Speed up to 24Mbps download up to 25Mbps upload
DATA SPEED COMPARISON DOWNLOADSUPLOADS
0Mbps 10Mbps 20Mbps 30Mbps 40Mbps 50Mbps 100Mbps 1000Mbps
HOME ADSL2+
HOME ADSL2+ WITH ANNEX M
CABLE INTERNET
WIRELESS 3G (PEAK ldquoTYPICALrdquo SPEED)
WIRELESS 4G (PEAK ldquoTYPICALrdquo SPEED)
BUSINESS ADSL2+
BONDED DSL
SHDSL
ETHERNET OVER COPPER
ETHERNET OVER FIBRE
NBN (FIBRE)
NBN (FIXED WIRELESS)
NBN (SATELLITE)
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OPTIONS
with Annex M (theoretical peak speeds Actual speeds will be slower)Pros Relatively cheap compared to other business broadband services Might include priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratioCons Speed depends on distance from telephone exchange Upload speed much slower than downloadRecommended Home office 1-3 computers where upload
speeds arenrsquot critical where consistent speed isnrsquot critical for day-to-day operations
BONDED DSLSpeed Typical speeds up to 30Mbps download up to 26Mbps upload with Annex M (by combining copper lines) (actual speeds could be slower)Pros Faster speeds than ADSL2+ possible Relatively cheap compared to other business broadband services
Please note The information on these pages is intended to be a general guide only Exact speeds and other factors can differ between providers Check these details with your provider before purchasing a data service Unless otherwise noted we have quoted maximum potential speeds real life speeds can be significantly slower (especially for wireless and ADSL) and maximum potential speeds can vary according to which technology variant your network uses Note For wireless 3G and 4G we have followed the lead of carriers and quoted the maximum ldquotypicalrdquo speed you are likely to achieve not the maximum theoretical speed
Some of these services will not be available at a certain point after the NBN is connected in your area For example in areas where fibre cable is installed to connect customers to the NBN copper telephone lines will be decommissioned 18 months after the fibre is connected HFC (cable Internet) networks are also expected to be decommissioned in each area once the NBN is rolled out
0Mbps 10Mbps 20Mbps 30Mbps 40Mbps 50Mbps 100Mbps 1000Mbps
DOWNLOADUPLOAD
24 bitcomau
Might include priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratioCons Speed depends on distance from telephone exchange Upload speed much slower than downloads Two telephone lines neededRecommended Homesmall office that needs faster speeds than ADSL2+ or canrsquot get fast enough ADSL2+ speeds because of distance from telephone exchange Where having the same uploaddownload speed isnrsquot necessary
SHDSLSpeed Up to 46Mbps download up to 46Mbps uploadPros Same upload and download speeds Speeds are guaranteed Usually includes priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratioCons More expensive than ADSL2+ Download speeds offered often slower than theoretical ADSL2+ peak speedsRecommende Office that needs faster speeds than ADSL2+ especially where upload speed is crucial for videoconferencing regularly sending large files multiple Voice over IP telephone lines or connecting several offices Where fibre isnrsquot available Where consistent speed is critical
ETHERNET OVER COPPER(MIDBAND ETHERNET)Speed Up to 40Mbps download up to 40Mbps upload (by combining copper lines)Pros Same upload and download speeds Much faster upload speeds than ADSL2+ available Usually includes priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratio Cheaper overall than fibreCons More expensive than ADSL2+Recommended Office with many people at the same time regularly sending large files videoconferencing backup hosted applications VPN using VOIP or connecting to servers in other offices Where fibre isnrsquot available or is too expensive
ETHERNET OVER FIBRESpeed Up to 1000Mbps download up to 1000 Mbps uploadPros Same upload and download speeds Much faster speeds available than other services Usually includes priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratioCons Generally the most expensive option ndash can cost several thousand dollars a month Limited availabilityRecommended Large offices with many people at the same time regularly sending large
Latency Sometimes
refers to the delay between sending data and receiving a response Higher latency is a disadvantage when using certain applications like video-conferencing Latency is generally higher on satellite and wireless networks such as 3G although 4G has a theoretical lower latency than 3G
25bitcomau
OPTIONS
files videoconferencing backup hosted applications VPN using VOIP or connecting to servers in other offices Where a reliable connection and consistent very high speed is critical for day to day operations
NBN (FIBRE)Speed Up to 100MBps download up to 40Mbps upload (fastest plans available at time of writing Faster speeds theoretically possible in future)Pros Much faster speeds available than ADSL2+ including much faster upload speeds Provides minimum peak speeds unlike ADSL2+ More reliable than ADSL Business plans can include priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) (though residential NBN plans might not include this) Generally much cheaper than other business services with comparable speedsCons Very limited availability at time of writingRecommended Where several users need to senddownload large files videoconference backup use hosted applications VPN use VOIP or connect to servers in other offices at the same time Where a reliable connection and consistent speeds are critical Where much faster downloadupload speeds than ADSL2+ are important
NBN (FIXED WIRELESS)Speed Minimum 12Mbps download up to 1Mbps upload (Faster speeds planned)Pros Unlike mobile 4G and 3G networks ldquorelatively steadyrdquo speeds are promisedCons Very limited availability at time of writing Upload speeds much slower than download Top download speed currently much slower than NBN fibre and some other business servicesRecommended Where ADSL2+ isnrsquot available or is unreliable or slow For home office or small office where very high downloadupload speeds arenrsquot critical
NBN (SATELLITE)Speed Up to 6Mbps download up to 1Mbps upload (12Mbps download speeds planned for 2015)Pros Better speeds than some locations could otherwise getCons Top download speed relatively slow compared to NBN fibre and theoretical peak ADSL2+ download speed Upload speed much slower than download speed Higher latency than fixed line services Generally smaller download limits than ADSL2+ and fibreRecommended Locations that donrsquot have access to other broadband Where fast upload speeds arenrsquot needed Where latency-sensitive applications like VPNs arenrsquot required
26 bitcomau
My BookmarksFor more information on the best NBN plans and more click these links
Show me when I am getting connected
General NBN info
Show me all the NBN providers
Tell me if I can get NBN satellite
Give me more info on fibre NBN
I want more info on wireless NBN
I want more info about
the NBN fibre termination unit
Show me all the towns on
the current NBN rollout plan
Show me the NBN FAQ
27bitcomau
MORE INFO
Show me the best plans
Tell me about finding
a registered cabler
I want to try videoconferencing
Show me a list of cablers
I want Microsoft to host my servers
for me
Show me more about
getting connected
I want to read what users are
saying about Internet
providers
I want a web site
Help me make better
use of the NBN for
my business
Teach me about
online marketing
I want Google to
host my servers for me
28 bitcomau
The tech-talk in plain English
AnnexMrsaquorsaquo An add-on feature that some ADSL Internet providers offer to increase the speed of uploads iiNet for example says that customers will get a theoretical maximum upload speed of 275Mbps
ATArsaquorsaquo If you want to use a VOIP telephone service and donrsquot have a suitable VOIP router your VOIP provider can provide this adapter which you plug your telephone into
BondedDSLrsaquorsaquo By combining several phone lines higher broadband speeds are possible Unlike SHDSL upload speeds are still a lot slower than download speeds
Brownfieldrsaquorsaquo Premises that have already been built The focus is on connecting brownfields in regional areas to the NBN first so people currently with the worst broadband get it first
Businessgradebroadbandrsaquorsaquo Can cost more than home broadband but can include guaranteed uptime service agreements and sometimes your
data will travel over a separate network meaning less traffic congestion
Cat6rsaquorsaquo Category 6 cables are recommended for Gigabit Ethernet speeds in an office network
Cloudrsaquorsaquo Instead of buying and installing software on your own businessrsquos server a cloud company owns and runs the server hardware and software ndash you pay to access it over the Internet Examples include Microsoft Office 365 Salesforce Gmail and Dropbox
Contentionratiorsaquorsaquo A term used to indicate how many users have to share the same bandwidth Generally the lower the contention ratio the better Business grade broadband can sometimes have better contention ratios than home broadband
Copperrsaquorsaquo The public telephone lines also used for broadband services like ADSL SHDSL and Midband Ethernet Data services over copper reduce in speed the further your building is from your local telephone exchange
Dualbandwirelessrsaquorsaquo Dual band wireless routers can use two frequency bands (24GHz and 5GHz) to send and receive data unlike some wireless routers which can only use 24GHz This Brownfield
29bitcomau
JARGON BUSTER
can mean faster speeds but the tablet phone or laptop you are using needs to work on 5GHz or you wonrsquot see any difference
Ethernetrsaquorsaquo A network protocol often used for networks inside your building but can also be used for data services delivered over copper telephone lines or optical fibre cable Ethernet broadband services generally have same uploaddownload as opposed to ADSL
Exchangersaquorsaquo Can refer to Microsoft Exchange software which runs on a companyrsquos server and operates their company email or a telephone exchange
FSAMrsaquorsaquo A group of up to 3000 buildings connected to the NBN
GigabitEthernetrsaquorsaquo If you are using Ethernet cable to network your office Gigabit Ethernet will provide faster speeds (1Gbps) than Fast Ethernet (100Mbps)
Greenfieldrsaquorsaquo New housing developments Many of these streets will receive the NBN before Brownfield locations as they will be connected on a demand-driven basis Developers apply to have the NBN connected in their development
HostedITrsaquorsaquo Instead of buying and installing IT equipment yourself you can use another companyrsquos servers This can
include servers to run your email and website as well as hosted applications that users access over the network You can also hire a ldquomanaged service providerrdquo to setup and run your own IT
Latencyrsaquorsaquo Sometimes refers to the delay between sending data and receiving a response Higher latency is a disadvantage when using certain applications like videoconferencing Latency is generally higher on satellite and wireless networks such as 3G although 4G has a theoretical lower latency than 3G
LTErsaquorsaquo Higher speed wireless broadband used in the latest generation of smartphones and if you are getting the NBN via fixed wireless Much faster speeds than ADSL are possible but latency is much higher than optical fibre cable meaning itrsquos not suitable for videoconferencing Sometimes referred to as ldquo4Grdquo
Continued over page
Greenfield
LTE
WirelessRouter
30 bitcomau
MidbandEthernetrsaquorsaquo Provides up to 40Mbps over multiple copper lines Unlike ADSL you get the same upload and download speed but cost is usually several hundred dollars a month
NTDrsaquorsaquo Network Termination Device This is supplied free and is attached to a wall inside your building It takes the place of a modem when you get the NBN This is the box your router and phones will plug in to
Paymentgatewayrsaquorsaquo Used if you want to let customers buy products from your website When a customer buys a product on your website the transaction is sent to a third party the payment gateway which authorises the payment with the bank
PCDrsaquorsaquo Premises Connection Device This is a small box that is attached to an outside wall of your building when you are connected to the NBN via fibre cable The NBN fibre cable runs through this box to the inside of your building where it connects to the NTD
Powerlinenetworkrsaquorsaquo If a wireless router isnrsquot enough to spread your Internet connection
around your business (due to brick walls or multiple stories) and having Ethernet cables installed is too difficult another option is a powerline network An adaptor is plugged into each power point and data can be sent through the buildingrsquos internal wiring
PSTNrsaquorsaquo The public switched telephone network The copper network your analogue telephone connects to
RSPrsaquorsaquo Retail Service Provider Another name for an Internet provider such as Telstra Optus iiNet or Internode Once your building is connected you can contact an RSP to pay for an Internet plan and start using the NBN
Serverrsaquorsaquo A central computer that other computers on a network connect to A server might be in your own building providing a central location so all your staff can access the same files from their computers or an Internet server to which you connect to to access web sites or other services
SHDSLrsaquorsaquo Unlike ADSL SHDSL provides the same upload and download speeds Speeds up to 40Mbps are available by combining several phone lines in the form of Extreme SHDSL
SIPrsaquorsaquo A protocol used in devices for delivering multiple VOIP telephone calls at once
PCD
NTD
PCD
31bitcomau
JARGON BUSTER
SLArsaquorsaquo business-grade broadband contracts can include a Service Level Agreement ndash the provider commits to providing a certain level of service (995 Internet uptime for example)
Synchronousrsaquorsaquo The same upload and download speeds Midband Ethernet and SHDSL are synchronous but ADSL services are not meaning upload speeds are much slower than download speeds
UNI-Vportrsaquorsaquo A port on the NBN network termination device (NTD) where you plug in a telephone Alternatively if you use a VOIP telephone service your telephone can be plugged into a wireless router with a VOIP feature which then plugs into the data port on the NTD
Batterybackupunitrsaquorsaquo A separate box supplied free with your NBN connection that is installed alongside the NTD on a wall inside your building This unit lets you continue to make telephone calls during a blackout if you are using an analogue phone running through the UNI-V port
Uploadspeedrsaquorsaquo If you use applications that send data such as videoconferencing and sending large email attachments as opposed to downloading large files and watching videos then look for an Internet service with higher upload speeds
UPSrsaquorsaquo Uninterruptible Power Supply A device that plugs into your server or computer so that it can continue to run if the main power supply stops
VOIPrsaquorsaquo Voice over IP Unlike regular telephone services VOIP telephone calls are converted to data and travel over data networks Call rates can be much cheaper though call quality can suffer if your VOIP service and your broadband connection arenrsquot suitable
VPNrsaquorsaquo A secure way to upload and download files to and from your officersquos internal network drives and servers when you are not in the office (eg at a hotel or from another office)
WANrsaquorsaquo Wide Area Network Offices in different towns or cities can be connected via the same WAN
Wirelessextenderrsaquorsaquo If you already have a wireless router this is a separate device which plugs into a power point and extends the range of the signal
WirelessNrsaquorsaquo Compatible routers are recommended for spreading your Internet connection around your office wirelessly Will be superseded by the faster 80211ac standard but there are not currently many compatible laptops and devices that will connect at 80211ac speeds
Batterybackupunit
UNI-Vport
WirelessRouter
28bitcomau
Their small businesses have the technology edgeDoes yoursSometimes you can be so busy that keeping up with technology seems too much What you really want to know is what it can do for your business BIT will keep you up to date with the technology that can help you do your job and grow your business ndash whether you are a florist a plumber an accountant or any type of Australian small business
B U S I N E S S I T
Make technology work for your business
Click to return to
Bit
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EDITORIALEditor William Maher wmaherbitcomauArt Director Andrew Bennett Creative Director Sam GrimmerContributors Brad Howarth John Gillooly
PRODUCTIONGroup Production Manager Lucia Zavaglia
ADVERTISING Phone (02) 8399 7603 Fax (02) 8399 3622Senior Account Manager Daniel Baddeley dbaddeleybitcomau Head of IT Sales Adrian LloydCommercial Director Darren McNally
PUBLISHED BYManaging Director Jeremy VaughanPublishing Manager Jasmine Epiro
Bit Essential Pocket Guide Series is published by Haymarket Media Pty Ltd Company registered in Australia ABN 61 083 063 914 This publication may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form in whole or in part without the written permission of the publishersLIABILITY While every care has been taken in the preparation of this magazine the publishers cannot be held responsible for the accuracy of the information herein or any consequence arising from it Please note that all judgements have been made in the context of equipment available to Bit at time of review and that lsquovalue for moneyrsquo comments are based on Australian prices at the time of writing which are subject to fluctuation and are only applicable to the Australian marketPERMISSIONS amp REPRINTS Material in Bit may not be reproduced in any form without the written consent of the Managing Director of Haymarket Media Quotations for reprints are available from the Production Manager Bit logo is a trademark of Haymarket Media All editorial items are the copyright property of Haymarket Media Copyright 2012 All rights reserved
2 bitcomau
Contents4 Why should I care
about the NBNJust as there are many questions about the NBN there are many possibilities for your business
10 What will it costGetting the best value on the NBN
12 Connecting my officeIf you want the maximum speed and most value for your money there are a few important things to know
18 Top 10 tipsTips and advice from real users
20 What if I donrsquot have the NBN yetEven if the roll-out hasnrsquot reached your area yet there are still several other options to get better Internet performance now
26 My bookmarksA collection of useful links
28 Jargon busterThe tech-talk in plain English
3bitcomau
INTRODUCTION
ow is a good time to start thinking about what the future of your business will be in the digital era
Even if you donrsquot think of yourself as a digital business you are probably aware of changes the Internet is bringing
These changes create opportunities for you New opportunities to attract customers save money on your IT bills and opportunities to grow your business
The National Broadband Network (NBN) promises to help make these things possible for small businesses While the Australia-wide broadband service is years away for many businesses when it arrives it will bring (we hope) much more reliable and faster broadband for everyone
This guide is designed to help you better understand the NBN It includes tips you can make use of if you are signing up for the NBN now or if you are getting ready for the future We hope you find it useful
If you want to share your experience with the NBN or another technology in your business you can email me at wmaherbitcomau
WILLIAM MAHER Editor BIT (Business IT)
WelcomeN
when the NBN arrives it will bring
(we hope) much more reliable and faster broadband
for everyone
the Internet has trained us to expect instant service regardless of where we are
4 bitcomau
OUTLOOK
he National Broadband Network will take most of this decade
to roll out But even if your business is located in a region that is in the backend of that schedule it is important that you start thinking now about your businessrsquos high-speed broadband future Because even if a change of government results in a dramatically different scheme Australiarsquos love affair with the Internet shows no signs of slowing down and Australian
broadband speeds are only likely to get faster
Even if the NBN rollout were to stop dead there are some good reasons for investigating your businessrsquos broadband readiness According to Nielsenrsquos Australian Online Landscape Report 2012 92 per cent of online Australians have some sort of home internet connection and 93 per cent use the Internet daily Importantly as broadband speeds increase so too does
Why should I care about the NBNJust as there are many questions about the NBN there are many possibilities for your business WORDS BRAD HOWARTH
T
5bitcomau
OUTLOOK
time spent online which Nielsen estimates reached a weekly average of 21 hours and 54 minutes in 2011 And the things we do online ndash such as banking booking appointments and researching and buying products ndash are also increasing
Secondly the Internet is overpowering geography The worldrsquos stores are now available and customers no longer need depend on local suppliers That same principle now applies to almost every kind of product and the vast majority of information-based services such as business administration design or marketing You are not just competing with nearby
businesses you are competing with businesses around Australia and around the world Maybe your business once made good money printing business cards for local companies ndash now they get that done by VistaPrint
And thirdly the Internet has trained Australians to expect instant service regardless of when or where they are such as banking at midnight or shopping while on the bus Customers donrsquot keep to business hours any more
A presence on the webOf course all this is happening without the NBN being in place Which makes now the
6 bitcomau
OUTLOOK
perfect time to be thinking about the potential impact of the NBN because the NBN will accelerate the changes that are already happening and make the benefits of high-speed broadband available to all
That means all of your customers potentially interacting online Will you be there to greet them
The first place to start when planning for the NBN is to look at your companyrsquos web presence If you donrsquot have one ndash and roughly
half of Australian businesses donrsquot ndash then get one
A website is your billboard on the Internet Start by putting up basic information about your products and services ndash pictures descriptions rates etc ndash and provide a response form to collect feedback
Not all products can be sold online but the basic rule is that if you can ship it you can sell it online But this also applies to many services such as bookkeeping graphic design or secretarial services Adding ecommerce means adding a lsquoshopping cartrsquo to your site and there are hundreds to choose from Yoursquoll also need to incorporate a payment gateway which is available from numerous
more than one in five online Australians shops or browses online between 6 and 10pm
HOW CAN I GET A WEBSITESo you want to get your business online but yoursquore not sure where to start Here are 3 simple ways you can get yourself up and running quickly
MYOB and Google have teamed in an initiative called Getting Aussie Business Online that offers a free basic website
You can design your own using a simple publishing tool such as WordPress with hosting available for just dollars a month
Or get someone else to design one for you using a service such as 99designs or DesignCrowd ndash Prices start from under $500
7bitcomau
OUTLOOK
suppliers such as PayPal POLi Payments or eWAY
Even business that involve physical services such as pool cleaning fence repairs or hairdressing can benefit from an ecommerce site by allowing clients to book with you online outside of your business hours According to Nielsen more than one in five Australians shops or browses online between 6pm and 10pm
Put yourself in picturesWhile the NBN will encourage more Australians to spend more time online and hence do more online the higher data transfer speed it provides means businesses can start to invest in more bandwidth-heavy applications such as video Creating videos to showcase your products and services is cheap and easy ndash a high-definition video camera such as the Toshiba
Camileo H30 sells for less than $250 Hosting your video on YouTube or Vimeo is free ndash and YouTube even offers editing software Importantly Nielsen estimates that 59 per cent of the online population watch online videos to help inform their purchase choices
Finally even if your business wonrsquot be connected to the NBN for years you can still take advantage of it Many useful services are hosted on the Internet itself ndash these are often described as cloud services so even if your own Internet service is relatively slow it could well be faster for your customers
That also means you donrsquot have to own your own web server or hire a team of professionals ndash your service provider will generally take care of all the hard work and you can simply add more services as you need them
Payment Gateway
When a customer buys a product on your site the transaction is sent to a third party or payment gateway which authorises the payment In a few seconds they send the details to the bank then let your website know itrsquos ok to go ahead with the transaction
8 bitcomau
BENEFITS
CUT MY PHONE BILLLong distance call charges should be consigned to the history books Ways of making calls over the Internet (also called voice-over-IP or VOIP) such as Skype enable you to talk free-of-charge between users of the same service and to call regular telephone numbers in distant locations at greatly reduced charges The NBN will improve call quality and reliability
SLASH MY IT SERVICE CHARGES
Many of the NBN-enabled services will be based in the Cloud meaning that someone else pays for the hardware
(like servers) and operating costs All you pay for is the service and the
computers you use to access them such as your PC smartphone or tablet
IMPROVE MY ONLINE SALESThe NBN will make it easier for more customers to browse and buy online meaning yoursquoll need to be ready for them Take advantage of the NBNrsquos bandwidth and include high-resolution images and high-definition video so customers can really see what theyrsquore getting
2
3
1
5
9bitcomau
BENEFITS
WAYS THE NBN CAN HELP MY BUSINESS
SPREAD MY WINGSThe NBN will make it possible for more people to work from home or remote locations using the Internet Teleworking gives staff more flexibility and might enable you to employ workers with special skills who might otherwise be located too far away
TRIM MY TRAVEL COSTSOnce yoursquove used high-definition
videoconferencing yoursquoll start to question whether the business trips you make are actually worth the time and cost
of flying The NBN will make two-way HD videoconferencing possible ndash and
affordable ndash from your desktop and tools such as Cisco WebEx Meetings and Citrix
GoToMeeting are free to trial
Therersquos more to the NBN than faster InternetWORDS BRAD HOWARTH
4
55
10 bitcomau
here are expensive and cheap NBN plans ndash just like there are for
other types of broadband The cheapest plan in our table on the right is $35 at 12Mbps with 50GB of data per month
When you compare this with what yoursquore paying now remember a couple of things First you are more likely to get consistent speeds on the NBN Even for Fixed Wireless NBN the NBN Co promises yoursquoll get ldquorelatively steadyrdquo speeds unlike 3G or 4G wireless broadband Second some of these NBN plans have much faster upload speeds than ADSL
Even though data limits look small for some entry level plans they often jump up drastically on the next most expensive plan ndash from 50GB to 200GB in one example
Yoursquoll also need a telephone service You can get this over the NBN too from your Internet provider You can keep your copper line telephone service for a while but eventually it will be decommissioned in areas with the NBN over fibre cable (not in areas with NBN via wireless or satellite)
What will it costGetting the best value on the NBN WORDS WILLIAM MAHER
T 100Mbps 40Mbps 50Mbps 20Mbps 25Mbps 5Mbps 12Mbps 1MbpsPROVIDER Cost Data limit Cost Data limit Cost Data limit Cost Data limit
Internode $7495 30GB $6495 30GB $5495 30GB $4995 30GB
iiNet $6995 40GB $6495 40GB $5495 40GB $4995 40GB
Optus $7999 120GB $6999 120GB $5999 120GB $3999 40GB
iPrimus $7995 40GB $6995 40GB $5995 40GB $4995 40GB
Telstra $9190 50GBwith phone service
ndash ndash $8190 50GBwith phone service
ndash ndash
Exetel $4500 25GB $5000 50GB $4000 50GB $3500 50GB
MyNetFone $9995 1000GB $6995 500GB $5995 250GB $3995 20GB
(Satellite) Activ8me ndash ndash ndash ndash ndash ndash $3495 3GB6Mbps 1Mbps
(Fixed Wireless) iiNet ndash ndash ndash ndash ndash ndash $4995 40GB
100Mbps 40Mbps 50Mbps 20Mbps 25Mbps 5Mbps 12Mbps 1MbpsPROVIDER Cost Data limit Cost Data limit Cost Data limit Cost Data limit
Internode $10495 30GB $9495 30GB $8495 30GB $7995 30GB
iiNet $9995 40GB $9495 40GB $8495 40GB25Mbps 10Mbps
$7995 40GB
Optus $7900 100GB $6900 100GB $6400 100GB $5900 100GB
MyNetFone $9995 1000GB $6995 500GB $5995 250GB $3995 20GB
RESIDENTIAL PLANS PER MONTH
BUSINESS PLANS PER MONTH
Please note This is designed to be a general guide to the cost of NBN services For each speed tier we have picked the cheapest available plan from each provider
11bitcomau
PLANS amp PRICES
100Mbps 40Mbps 50Mbps 20Mbps 25Mbps 5Mbps 12Mbps 1MbpsPROVIDER Cost Data limit Cost Data limit Cost Data limit Cost Data limit
Internode $7495 30GB $6495 30GB $5495 30GB $4995 30GB
iiNet $6995 40GB $6495 40GB $5495 40GB $4995 40GB
Optus $7999 120GB $6999 120GB $5999 120GB $3999 40GB
iPrimus $7995 40GB $6995 40GB $5995 40GB $4995 40GB
Telstra $9190 50GBwith phone service
ndash ndash $8190 50GBwith phone service
ndash ndash
Exetel $4500 25GB $5000 50GB $4000 50GB $3500 50GB
MyNetFone $9995 1000GB $6995 500GB $5995 250GB $3995 20GB
(Satellite) Activ8me ndash ndash ndash ndash ndash ndash $3495 3GB6Mbps 1Mbps
(Fixed Wireless) iiNet ndash ndash ndash ndash ndash ndash $4995 40GB
100Mbps 40Mbps 50Mbps 20Mbps 25Mbps 5Mbps 12Mbps 1MbpsPROVIDER Cost Data limit Cost Data limit Cost Data limit Cost Data limit
Internode $10495 30GB $9495 30GB $8495 30GB $7995 30GB
iiNet $9995 40GB $9495 40GB $8495 40GB25Mbps 10Mbps
$7995 40GB
Optus $7900 100GB $6900 100GB $6400 100GB $5900 100GB
MyNetFone $9995 1000GB $6995 500GB $5995 250GB $3995 20GB
RESIDENTIAL PLANS PER MONTH
BUSINESS PLANS PER MONTH
Not all services and providers are listed Extra fees and conditions such as setup fees (where applicable) contract length peakoff-peak restrictions are not shown All prices correct at time of writing but may have changed Check with your provider for the latest details
Compare more pricesClick here for extra comparisons at the BIT website
12 bitcomau
1 Connecting my buildingHow does the NBN connect to my building and what does the NBN box look like p14
2 Inside my officeIs my office ready for the NBN and do I need a network p16
13bitcomau
Now that you know how the NBN might help you letrsquos get down to the nuts and bolts of connecting If you want the maximum speed and most value for your money there are a few important things to know ndash for example is your network up to scratchWORDS WILLIAM MAHER
CONNECTING MY OFFICE
3 Choosing my routerFrom routers to wireless extenders here are useful devices that will help you get more from the NBN p17
OFFICE READY
14 bitcomau
1 CONNECTING MY BUILDINGThis is the NBN box that is being installed in businesses and homes across the countryIf yoursquore being connected by fibre optic cable as opposed to wireless or satellite the cable will run down your street either in trenches or strung on overhead lines Your connection again either in a trench or via an overhead line will run to a box called the Premises Connection Device (PCD) which will be attached to an outside wall of your building ndash the fibre comes into your building via this box
The fibre then travels to the Network Termination Device (NTD) Thatrsquos the box you see on this page This is the box you might connect to your router computers and desk phones You wonrsquot use a DSL modem anymore ndash for the modem function at least This box replaces it
Letrsquos take a look at the box In the photo the incoming NBN cable connects to the box on the right [A] From here a cable connects the NTD to your router via the data port [B] Note there are four data ports For example it might be possible to get Internet access from one provider and perhaps
a video on demand service on a separate port
On the left are two voice ports [C] ndash once copper telephone lines are phased out all NBN fibre-connected buildings will have phones connected over the NBN If you have a landline telephone that should plug straight into the voice port on the box
Keep in mind that the NBN box gets installed by an NBN contractor
The NTD must be next to a power point which will be used for the battery backup unit ndash a separate box that sits next to this one so you can make phone calls if there is a blackout
For a standard installation the NTD will be attached to an exterior wall (inside the building but on an outer wall) If you need the box in another room where your router and other equipment are there is an option for a ldquonon-standardrdquo installation but you might have to pay
15bitcomau
OFFICE READY
The NBN Box comes with four data ports The battery backup
unit (not shown)will not power these ports in a blackout only the voice ports
[B]
You can request a voice service to be delivered through
these UNI-V voice ports Your corded telephone will plug straight in
[C]
This is where the incoming NBN fibre connects[A]
NBN Network Termination Device (NTD)PRICE FREE SUPPLIER NBN CO
16 bitcomau
2 INSIDE MY OFFICEHow will your computers desk phones and other devices connect to the NBN boxOnce the NBN is installed in your building and yoursquove signed up with your Internet provider for an NBN Internet plan yoursquoll need to connect your computers to the NBN box
If you have more than one computer one way of doing this is to connect them via Wi-Fi to a
wireless router you plug into the NBN box If all you need to do is browse the web send email
send documents and watch the occasional video then this might be ok If you are sending and
receiving a lot of very big files though or you need to regularly watch high definition video or backup large amounts of data using the NBN then therersquos
the possibility Wi-Fi might slow things down
WIRELESSROUTER[1]
Another option is to connect all your computers to the NBN box with network cable This will give you the fastest throughput from the NBN box to your computers Wersquore not about to go out on a limb and suggest everyone start planning when to get their floorboards ripped up for cabling though Not only is it an extra expense running cables throughout your building isnrsquot a simple job
NETWORKCABLE[2]
17bitcomau
OFFICE READY
Powerline networking is another option You plug network ports to the power points in your house The system uses the electricity wiring instead of network cables It should give you a better connection than Wi-Fi
WARNINGOne big surprise is that yoursquore not to install any data cabling yourself if it connects to the telecoms network A licensed professional is supposed to do the job badly installed network cable can result in slow speed dropouts or in extreme cases injury And while there might be electricians with excellent data expertise itrsquos a different set of skills and theyrsquore not always the best choice If in doubt ask for their registration card or check with the registrar yourself The ACMA web site has a fact sheet
POWERLINENETWORKING[3]
3 CHOOSING MY ROUTERWORDS JOHN GILLOOLY
Once you have the NBN you need a router to spread the Internet to each computer in your building
You might see lsquoNBN readyrsquo modem routers for sale ndash this means that the ADSL modem can be disabled once you get the NBN (because the NBN box takes care of that function) But these routers might be designed for low ADSL speeds and may not actually cope with the demands of the highest NBN speeds of 100Mbit download 40Mbit upload If your NBN plan isnrsquot that fast your router might cope ok but it is best to think of any lsquoNBN Readyrsquo ADSL modemrouter as a temporary solution We suggest looking for
Routers that can cope with sustained high-speed transfers We like ASUSrsquo RT-N56U the FritzBox Fon WLAN 7390 and Netgearrsquos DGND3700 N600
If yoursquore using Wi-Fi a dual band wireless router (these will work at the 5GHz band) is ideal but your Wi-Fi devices must be compatible
80211ac wireless routers will work better with Wi-Fi devices and have the fastest technology on the market but arenrsquot a must-have yet
If you have network cable installed a Gigabit Ethernet router is ideal
Want more Click to see photos of common wiring mistakes
Fritzbox Fon WLAN 7390
18 bitcomau
Tips and advice from real NBN usersWORDS WILLIAM MAHER
TOP
1 PLAN AHEAD
Itrsquos generally a good idea to have the NBN termination unit installed as close to your computers and router as possible ndash everything that connects to the Internet will need to connect to it This might cost extra
2 GET HERITAGE CLEARANCE
Installation will likely involve holes being drilled in your wall to attach equipment feeds to the cable If you work in a heritage building then this might not be allowed
4 DONrsquoT EXPECT THE INTERNET TO BE PERFECT ALL THE TIME
Yes despite all the hype some NBN users have told us that web browsing
on the NBN is sometimes not noticeably any faster than ADSL Your connection might be fast but web servers on the other side of the world can still struggle to cope with congestion On the upside it should cope much
better with several users uploads should be faster and it should be
less prone to dropouts
3 DONrsquoT RUSH IN
Just because your building gets connected doesnrsquot mean you have to start using the NBN straight away Generally the plan is for the copper telephone lines to be kept for 18 months after the NBN is rolled out before being disconnected Where the NBN is delivered by wireless or satellite telephone lines wonrsquot be disconnected for at least 10 years
19bitcomau
NEED TO KNOW
7 BE WARY OF CHEAP ROUTERS
Your router will need to be able to cope with NBN speeds as well as be able to spread the data around your building fast enough If it doesnrsquot have gigabit Ethernet (for wired networks) or dual band wireless (for wireless networks) you might want to think about upgrading See page 19
9 GET A BACKUP POWER SUPPLY
Even if you have a battery backup box supplied with the NBN connection it wonrsquot keep your Internet running during a blackout only your phone If data access is critical to your business even during a blackout get an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) for a few hundred dollars
8 COMPARE VOICE PLANS
The Internet provider you have a data plan with might give you a better deal on a UNI-V phone service than other providers But call rates might be cheaper on a phone plan through the UNI-D ports
6 REWIRE YOUR PHONES
If you have lots of phone extensions in different rooms itrsquos still possible to keep using them for phone calls but the wiring will need to be connected to the NBN box An alternative is to connect a cordless phone base station to the NBN box
10 WATCH FOR BOTTLENECKS
Wersquove heard stories of people complaining that the NBN isnrsquot any faster but in the end something on their network was limiting the speed ndash like a wireless router that was affected by interference Remember that your own network can cause problems if itrsquos not set up correctly Bad cabling can also cause problems
5 CHECK YOU HAVE ENOUGH PHONE PORTS
The NBN termination unit has two phone ports If you need more phone lines once the copper telephone lines are disconnected consider switching to a VOIP telephone plan This gives you lots of ldquovirtualrdquo lines which run through the data ports instead
20 bitcomau
o you donrsquot want to wait for the NBN to arrive You need faster
more reliable Internet now On these pages wersquove listed ways you can get it without waiting for the NBN
The cheapest broadband is a home plan and they can provide relatively fast speeds if you only have one or two computers But if your business has grown or you want to connect a small office full of people business-grade broadband might serve you better
Generally business-grade services cost more ndash anywhere from around the $100-a-month mark up to $1000 or more
Yes the more expensive services can be much faster than a home ADSL service but download speeds are only one benefit
Other benefits of a business data service might include
A commitment that the connection will be working for a certain amount of time Eg ldquo9995 uptimerdquo
Fewer customers to share the bandwidth with This means your connection is less likely to slow down when lots of other businesses are using the network too
Faster upload speeds than home ADSL Very important to prevent your connection slowing down if you have several people sending large files at the same time Upload speeds are very limited on home ADSL services
Some services include 24x7 technical support
NBN plans are generally shaping up to be good value compared to what you see on the following pages but not everyone wants to wait
What if I donrsquot have the NBN yetEven if the roll-out hasnrsquot reached your area yet there are still several other options to get better Internet performance nowWORDS WILLIAM MAHER
SSLA
A Service Level Agreement is offered with many business data plans It sets out formal responsibilities of the service provider covering things like how fast they should respond to you if there is a problem what hours of the day technical support is available a commitment that problems will be fixed within a certain number of hours and that the service will be running without problems for a certain amount of time
21bitcomau
OPTIONS
HOME ADSL2+Speed Up to 24Mbps download 1Mbps upload (theoretical peak speeds actual speeds will be slower)Pros Relatively cheap compared to business servicesCons Speed depends on distance from telephone exchange Slow upload speed Shared with other usersRecommended Home office 1-2 computers where upload speeds arenrsquot critical where consistent speed isnrsquot critical for day-to-day operations
HOME ADSL2+ WITH ANNEX MSpeed Up to 24Mbps download up to 25Mbps upload (theoretical peak speeds Actual speeds will be slower)Pros Relatively cheap compared to business services Faster upload speed than regular ADSL2+Cons Speed depends on distance from telephone exchange Shared with other usersRecommended Home office 1-2 computers where faster upload speeds are useful but not critical where consistent speed isnrsquot critical for day-to-day operations
CABLE INTERNETSpeed Up to 100Mbps download up to 2Mbps upload (theoretical peak speeds Actual
speeds will be slower)Pros Relatively cheap compared to business services Much faster potential download speeds than ADSL2+Cons Limited to certain cities upload speeds much slower than download shared with other usersRecommended Home office 1-2 computers where faster download speeds than ADSL2+ are needed where fast upload speeds are not necessary where consistent speed isnrsquot critical for day-to-day operations
WIRELESS 3G Speed ldquoTypicalrdquo speeds up to 20Mbps download up to 3Mbps upload (actual speeds could be much slower speed depends on network type)Pros You can use it on the moveCons Speed varies a lot depending on where you are Speed decreases as more users share network Latency generally higher than ADSL Upload speeds much lower than downloadRecommended Secondary connection for accessing email and websites while on the move and where fast upload speeds are not required Where a reliable connection and consistent speed isnrsquot important
WIRELESS 4GSpeed ldquoTypicalrdquo speeds up
22 bitcomau
to 40MBps download up to 10Mbps upload (actual speeds could be much slower)Pros You can use it on the move Higher upload speeds than ADSL2+ and 3G are possibleCons Speed varies a lot depending on where you are Speed decreases as more users share network Theoretical upload speeds slower than download (though not always the case in practice) Limited to Telstra and Optus at time of writing
Recommended Secondary connection while on the move and where faster upload speeds than 3G are required for transferring large files For connecting several gadgets (tablet and laptop) to the Internet at the same time Where a reliable connection and consistent speed isnrsquot important
BUSINESS ADSL2+Speed up to 24Mbps download up to 25Mbps upload
DATA SPEED COMPARISON DOWNLOADSUPLOADS
0Mbps 10Mbps 20Mbps 30Mbps 40Mbps 50Mbps 100Mbps 1000Mbps
HOME ADSL2+
HOME ADSL2+ WITH ANNEX M
CABLE INTERNET
WIRELESS 3G (PEAK ldquoTYPICALrdquo SPEED)
WIRELESS 4G (PEAK ldquoTYPICALrdquo SPEED)
BUSINESS ADSL2+
BONDED DSL
SHDSL
ETHERNET OVER COPPER
ETHERNET OVER FIBRE
NBN (FIBRE)
NBN (FIXED WIRELESS)
NBN (SATELLITE)
23bitcomau
OPTIONS
with Annex M (theoretical peak speeds Actual speeds will be slower)Pros Relatively cheap compared to other business broadband services Might include priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratioCons Speed depends on distance from telephone exchange Upload speed much slower than downloadRecommended Home office 1-3 computers where upload
speeds arenrsquot critical where consistent speed isnrsquot critical for day-to-day operations
BONDED DSLSpeed Typical speeds up to 30Mbps download up to 26Mbps upload with Annex M (by combining copper lines) (actual speeds could be slower)Pros Faster speeds than ADSL2+ possible Relatively cheap compared to other business broadband services
Please note The information on these pages is intended to be a general guide only Exact speeds and other factors can differ between providers Check these details with your provider before purchasing a data service Unless otherwise noted we have quoted maximum potential speeds real life speeds can be significantly slower (especially for wireless and ADSL) and maximum potential speeds can vary according to which technology variant your network uses Note For wireless 3G and 4G we have followed the lead of carriers and quoted the maximum ldquotypicalrdquo speed you are likely to achieve not the maximum theoretical speed
Some of these services will not be available at a certain point after the NBN is connected in your area For example in areas where fibre cable is installed to connect customers to the NBN copper telephone lines will be decommissioned 18 months after the fibre is connected HFC (cable Internet) networks are also expected to be decommissioned in each area once the NBN is rolled out
0Mbps 10Mbps 20Mbps 30Mbps 40Mbps 50Mbps 100Mbps 1000Mbps
DOWNLOADUPLOAD
24 bitcomau
Might include priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratioCons Speed depends on distance from telephone exchange Upload speed much slower than downloads Two telephone lines neededRecommended Homesmall office that needs faster speeds than ADSL2+ or canrsquot get fast enough ADSL2+ speeds because of distance from telephone exchange Where having the same uploaddownload speed isnrsquot necessary
SHDSLSpeed Up to 46Mbps download up to 46Mbps uploadPros Same upload and download speeds Speeds are guaranteed Usually includes priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratioCons More expensive than ADSL2+ Download speeds offered often slower than theoretical ADSL2+ peak speedsRecommende Office that needs faster speeds than ADSL2+ especially where upload speed is crucial for videoconferencing regularly sending large files multiple Voice over IP telephone lines or connecting several offices Where fibre isnrsquot available Where consistent speed is critical
ETHERNET OVER COPPER(MIDBAND ETHERNET)Speed Up to 40Mbps download up to 40Mbps upload (by combining copper lines)Pros Same upload and download speeds Much faster upload speeds than ADSL2+ available Usually includes priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratio Cheaper overall than fibreCons More expensive than ADSL2+Recommended Office with many people at the same time regularly sending large files videoconferencing backup hosted applications VPN using VOIP or connecting to servers in other offices Where fibre isnrsquot available or is too expensive
ETHERNET OVER FIBRESpeed Up to 1000Mbps download up to 1000 Mbps uploadPros Same upload and download speeds Much faster speeds available than other services Usually includes priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratioCons Generally the most expensive option ndash can cost several thousand dollars a month Limited availabilityRecommended Large offices with many people at the same time regularly sending large
Latency Sometimes
refers to the delay between sending data and receiving a response Higher latency is a disadvantage when using certain applications like video-conferencing Latency is generally higher on satellite and wireless networks such as 3G although 4G has a theoretical lower latency than 3G
25bitcomau
OPTIONS
files videoconferencing backup hosted applications VPN using VOIP or connecting to servers in other offices Where a reliable connection and consistent very high speed is critical for day to day operations
NBN (FIBRE)Speed Up to 100MBps download up to 40Mbps upload (fastest plans available at time of writing Faster speeds theoretically possible in future)Pros Much faster speeds available than ADSL2+ including much faster upload speeds Provides minimum peak speeds unlike ADSL2+ More reliable than ADSL Business plans can include priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) (though residential NBN plans might not include this) Generally much cheaper than other business services with comparable speedsCons Very limited availability at time of writingRecommended Where several users need to senddownload large files videoconference backup use hosted applications VPN use VOIP or connect to servers in other offices at the same time Where a reliable connection and consistent speeds are critical Where much faster downloadupload speeds than ADSL2+ are important
NBN (FIXED WIRELESS)Speed Minimum 12Mbps download up to 1Mbps upload (Faster speeds planned)Pros Unlike mobile 4G and 3G networks ldquorelatively steadyrdquo speeds are promisedCons Very limited availability at time of writing Upload speeds much slower than download Top download speed currently much slower than NBN fibre and some other business servicesRecommended Where ADSL2+ isnrsquot available or is unreliable or slow For home office or small office where very high downloadupload speeds arenrsquot critical
NBN (SATELLITE)Speed Up to 6Mbps download up to 1Mbps upload (12Mbps download speeds planned for 2015)Pros Better speeds than some locations could otherwise getCons Top download speed relatively slow compared to NBN fibre and theoretical peak ADSL2+ download speed Upload speed much slower than download speed Higher latency than fixed line services Generally smaller download limits than ADSL2+ and fibreRecommended Locations that donrsquot have access to other broadband Where fast upload speeds arenrsquot needed Where latency-sensitive applications like VPNs arenrsquot required
26 bitcomau
My BookmarksFor more information on the best NBN plans and more click these links
Show me when I am getting connected
General NBN info
Show me all the NBN providers
Tell me if I can get NBN satellite
Give me more info on fibre NBN
I want more info on wireless NBN
I want more info about
the NBN fibre termination unit
Show me all the towns on
the current NBN rollout plan
Show me the NBN FAQ
27bitcomau
MORE INFO
Show me the best plans
Tell me about finding
a registered cabler
I want to try videoconferencing
Show me a list of cablers
I want Microsoft to host my servers
for me
Show me more about
getting connected
I want to read what users are
saying about Internet
providers
I want a web site
Help me make better
use of the NBN for
my business
Teach me about
online marketing
I want Google to
host my servers for me
28 bitcomau
The tech-talk in plain English
AnnexMrsaquorsaquo An add-on feature that some ADSL Internet providers offer to increase the speed of uploads iiNet for example says that customers will get a theoretical maximum upload speed of 275Mbps
ATArsaquorsaquo If you want to use a VOIP telephone service and donrsquot have a suitable VOIP router your VOIP provider can provide this adapter which you plug your telephone into
BondedDSLrsaquorsaquo By combining several phone lines higher broadband speeds are possible Unlike SHDSL upload speeds are still a lot slower than download speeds
Brownfieldrsaquorsaquo Premises that have already been built The focus is on connecting brownfields in regional areas to the NBN first so people currently with the worst broadband get it first
Businessgradebroadbandrsaquorsaquo Can cost more than home broadband but can include guaranteed uptime service agreements and sometimes your
data will travel over a separate network meaning less traffic congestion
Cat6rsaquorsaquo Category 6 cables are recommended for Gigabit Ethernet speeds in an office network
Cloudrsaquorsaquo Instead of buying and installing software on your own businessrsquos server a cloud company owns and runs the server hardware and software ndash you pay to access it over the Internet Examples include Microsoft Office 365 Salesforce Gmail and Dropbox
Contentionratiorsaquorsaquo A term used to indicate how many users have to share the same bandwidth Generally the lower the contention ratio the better Business grade broadband can sometimes have better contention ratios than home broadband
Copperrsaquorsaquo The public telephone lines also used for broadband services like ADSL SHDSL and Midband Ethernet Data services over copper reduce in speed the further your building is from your local telephone exchange
Dualbandwirelessrsaquorsaquo Dual band wireless routers can use two frequency bands (24GHz and 5GHz) to send and receive data unlike some wireless routers which can only use 24GHz This Brownfield
29bitcomau
JARGON BUSTER
can mean faster speeds but the tablet phone or laptop you are using needs to work on 5GHz or you wonrsquot see any difference
Ethernetrsaquorsaquo A network protocol often used for networks inside your building but can also be used for data services delivered over copper telephone lines or optical fibre cable Ethernet broadband services generally have same uploaddownload as opposed to ADSL
Exchangersaquorsaquo Can refer to Microsoft Exchange software which runs on a companyrsquos server and operates their company email or a telephone exchange
FSAMrsaquorsaquo A group of up to 3000 buildings connected to the NBN
GigabitEthernetrsaquorsaquo If you are using Ethernet cable to network your office Gigabit Ethernet will provide faster speeds (1Gbps) than Fast Ethernet (100Mbps)
Greenfieldrsaquorsaquo New housing developments Many of these streets will receive the NBN before Brownfield locations as they will be connected on a demand-driven basis Developers apply to have the NBN connected in their development
HostedITrsaquorsaquo Instead of buying and installing IT equipment yourself you can use another companyrsquos servers This can
include servers to run your email and website as well as hosted applications that users access over the network You can also hire a ldquomanaged service providerrdquo to setup and run your own IT
Latencyrsaquorsaquo Sometimes refers to the delay between sending data and receiving a response Higher latency is a disadvantage when using certain applications like videoconferencing Latency is generally higher on satellite and wireless networks such as 3G although 4G has a theoretical lower latency than 3G
LTErsaquorsaquo Higher speed wireless broadband used in the latest generation of smartphones and if you are getting the NBN via fixed wireless Much faster speeds than ADSL are possible but latency is much higher than optical fibre cable meaning itrsquos not suitable for videoconferencing Sometimes referred to as ldquo4Grdquo
Continued over page
Greenfield
LTE
WirelessRouter
30 bitcomau
MidbandEthernetrsaquorsaquo Provides up to 40Mbps over multiple copper lines Unlike ADSL you get the same upload and download speed but cost is usually several hundred dollars a month
NTDrsaquorsaquo Network Termination Device This is supplied free and is attached to a wall inside your building It takes the place of a modem when you get the NBN This is the box your router and phones will plug in to
Paymentgatewayrsaquorsaquo Used if you want to let customers buy products from your website When a customer buys a product on your website the transaction is sent to a third party the payment gateway which authorises the payment with the bank
PCDrsaquorsaquo Premises Connection Device This is a small box that is attached to an outside wall of your building when you are connected to the NBN via fibre cable The NBN fibre cable runs through this box to the inside of your building where it connects to the NTD
Powerlinenetworkrsaquorsaquo If a wireless router isnrsquot enough to spread your Internet connection
around your business (due to brick walls or multiple stories) and having Ethernet cables installed is too difficult another option is a powerline network An adaptor is plugged into each power point and data can be sent through the buildingrsquos internal wiring
PSTNrsaquorsaquo The public switched telephone network The copper network your analogue telephone connects to
RSPrsaquorsaquo Retail Service Provider Another name for an Internet provider such as Telstra Optus iiNet or Internode Once your building is connected you can contact an RSP to pay for an Internet plan and start using the NBN
Serverrsaquorsaquo A central computer that other computers on a network connect to A server might be in your own building providing a central location so all your staff can access the same files from their computers or an Internet server to which you connect to to access web sites or other services
SHDSLrsaquorsaquo Unlike ADSL SHDSL provides the same upload and download speeds Speeds up to 40Mbps are available by combining several phone lines in the form of Extreme SHDSL
SIPrsaquorsaquo A protocol used in devices for delivering multiple VOIP telephone calls at once
PCD
NTD
PCD
31bitcomau
JARGON BUSTER
SLArsaquorsaquo business-grade broadband contracts can include a Service Level Agreement ndash the provider commits to providing a certain level of service (995 Internet uptime for example)
Synchronousrsaquorsaquo The same upload and download speeds Midband Ethernet and SHDSL are synchronous but ADSL services are not meaning upload speeds are much slower than download speeds
UNI-Vportrsaquorsaquo A port on the NBN network termination device (NTD) where you plug in a telephone Alternatively if you use a VOIP telephone service your telephone can be plugged into a wireless router with a VOIP feature which then plugs into the data port on the NTD
Batterybackupunitrsaquorsaquo A separate box supplied free with your NBN connection that is installed alongside the NTD on a wall inside your building This unit lets you continue to make telephone calls during a blackout if you are using an analogue phone running through the UNI-V port
Uploadspeedrsaquorsaquo If you use applications that send data such as videoconferencing and sending large email attachments as opposed to downloading large files and watching videos then look for an Internet service with higher upload speeds
UPSrsaquorsaquo Uninterruptible Power Supply A device that plugs into your server or computer so that it can continue to run if the main power supply stops
VOIPrsaquorsaquo Voice over IP Unlike regular telephone services VOIP telephone calls are converted to data and travel over data networks Call rates can be much cheaper though call quality can suffer if your VOIP service and your broadband connection arenrsquot suitable
VPNrsaquorsaquo A secure way to upload and download files to and from your officersquos internal network drives and servers when you are not in the office (eg at a hotel or from another office)
WANrsaquorsaquo Wide Area Network Offices in different towns or cities can be connected via the same WAN
Wirelessextenderrsaquorsaquo If you already have a wireless router this is a separate device which plugs into a power point and extends the range of the signal
WirelessNrsaquorsaquo Compatible routers are recommended for spreading your Internet connection around your office wirelessly Will be superseded by the faster 80211ac standard but there are not currently many compatible laptops and devices that will connect at 80211ac speeds
Batterybackupunit
UNI-Vport
WirelessRouter
28bitcomau
Their small businesses have the technology edgeDoes yoursSometimes you can be so busy that keeping up with technology seems too much What you really want to know is what it can do for your business BIT will keep you up to date with the technology that can help you do your job and grow your business ndash whether you are a florist a plumber an accountant or any type of Australian small business
B U S I N E S S I T
Make technology work for your business
Click to return to
Bit
- 001
- 002-003
- 004-009
- 010-011
- 012-017
- 018-019
- 020-025
- 026-027
- 028-031
- 032
-
3bitcomau
INTRODUCTION
ow is a good time to start thinking about what the future of your business will be in the digital era
Even if you donrsquot think of yourself as a digital business you are probably aware of changes the Internet is bringing
These changes create opportunities for you New opportunities to attract customers save money on your IT bills and opportunities to grow your business
The National Broadband Network (NBN) promises to help make these things possible for small businesses While the Australia-wide broadband service is years away for many businesses when it arrives it will bring (we hope) much more reliable and faster broadband for everyone
This guide is designed to help you better understand the NBN It includes tips you can make use of if you are signing up for the NBN now or if you are getting ready for the future We hope you find it useful
If you want to share your experience with the NBN or another technology in your business you can email me at wmaherbitcomau
WILLIAM MAHER Editor BIT (Business IT)
WelcomeN
when the NBN arrives it will bring
(we hope) much more reliable and faster broadband
for everyone
the Internet has trained us to expect instant service regardless of where we are
4 bitcomau
OUTLOOK
he National Broadband Network will take most of this decade
to roll out But even if your business is located in a region that is in the backend of that schedule it is important that you start thinking now about your businessrsquos high-speed broadband future Because even if a change of government results in a dramatically different scheme Australiarsquos love affair with the Internet shows no signs of slowing down and Australian
broadband speeds are only likely to get faster
Even if the NBN rollout were to stop dead there are some good reasons for investigating your businessrsquos broadband readiness According to Nielsenrsquos Australian Online Landscape Report 2012 92 per cent of online Australians have some sort of home internet connection and 93 per cent use the Internet daily Importantly as broadband speeds increase so too does
Why should I care about the NBNJust as there are many questions about the NBN there are many possibilities for your business WORDS BRAD HOWARTH
T
5bitcomau
OUTLOOK
time spent online which Nielsen estimates reached a weekly average of 21 hours and 54 minutes in 2011 And the things we do online ndash such as banking booking appointments and researching and buying products ndash are also increasing
Secondly the Internet is overpowering geography The worldrsquos stores are now available and customers no longer need depend on local suppliers That same principle now applies to almost every kind of product and the vast majority of information-based services such as business administration design or marketing You are not just competing with nearby
businesses you are competing with businesses around Australia and around the world Maybe your business once made good money printing business cards for local companies ndash now they get that done by VistaPrint
And thirdly the Internet has trained Australians to expect instant service regardless of when or where they are such as banking at midnight or shopping while on the bus Customers donrsquot keep to business hours any more
A presence on the webOf course all this is happening without the NBN being in place Which makes now the
6 bitcomau
OUTLOOK
perfect time to be thinking about the potential impact of the NBN because the NBN will accelerate the changes that are already happening and make the benefits of high-speed broadband available to all
That means all of your customers potentially interacting online Will you be there to greet them
The first place to start when planning for the NBN is to look at your companyrsquos web presence If you donrsquot have one ndash and roughly
half of Australian businesses donrsquot ndash then get one
A website is your billboard on the Internet Start by putting up basic information about your products and services ndash pictures descriptions rates etc ndash and provide a response form to collect feedback
Not all products can be sold online but the basic rule is that if you can ship it you can sell it online But this also applies to many services such as bookkeeping graphic design or secretarial services Adding ecommerce means adding a lsquoshopping cartrsquo to your site and there are hundreds to choose from Yoursquoll also need to incorporate a payment gateway which is available from numerous
more than one in five online Australians shops or browses online between 6 and 10pm
HOW CAN I GET A WEBSITESo you want to get your business online but yoursquore not sure where to start Here are 3 simple ways you can get yourself up and running quickly
MYOB and Google have teamed in an initiative called Getting Aussie Business Online that offers a free basic website
You can design your own using a simple publishing tool such as WordPress with hosting available for just dollars a month
Or get someone else to design one for you using a service such as 99designs or DesignCrowd ndash Prices start from under $500
7bitcomau
OUTLOOK
suppliers such as PayPal POLi Payments or eWAY
Even business that involve physical services such as pool cleaning fence repairs or hairdressing can benefit from an ecommerce site by allowing clients to book with you online outside of your business hours According to Nielsen more than one in five Australians shops or browses online between 6pm and 10pm
Put yourself in picturesWhile the NBN will encourage more Australians to spend more time online and hence do more online the higher data transfer speed it provides means businesses can start to invest in more bandwidth-heavy applications such as video Creating videos to showcase your products and services is cheap and easy ndash a high-definition video camera such as the Toshiba
Camileo H30 sells for less than $250 Hosting your video on YouTube or Vimeo is free ndash and YouTube even offers editing software Importantly Nielsen estimates that 59 per cent of the online population watch online videos to help inform their purchase choices
Finally even if your business wonrsquot be connected to the NBN for years you can still take advantage of it Many useful services are hosted on the Internet itself ndash these are often described as cloud services so even if your own Internet service is relatively slow it could well be faster for your customers
That also means you donrsquot have to own your own web server or hire a team of professionals ndash your service provider will generally take care of all the hard work and you can simply add more services as you need them
Payment Gateway
When a customer buys a product on your site the transaction is sent to a third party or payment gateway which authorises the payment In a few seconds they send the details to the bank then let your website know itrsquos ok to go ahead with the transaction
8 bitcomau
BENEFITS
CUT MY PHONE BILLLong distance call charges should be consigned to the history books Ways of making calls over the Internet (also called voice-over-IP or VOIP) such as Skype enable you to talk free-of-charge between users of the same service and to call regular telephone numbers in distant locations at greatly reduced charges The NBN will improve call quality and reliability
SLASH MY IT SERVICE CHARGES
Many of the NBN-enabled services will be based in the Cloud meaning that someone else pays for the hardware
(like servers) and operating costs All you pay for is the service and the
computers you use to access them such as your PC smartphone or tablet
IMPROVE MY ONLINE SALESThe NBN will make it easier for more customers to browse and buy online meaning yoursquoll need to be ready for them Take advantage of the NBNrsquos bandwidth and include high-resolution images and high-definition video so customers can really see what theyrsquore getting
2
3
1
5
9bitcomau
BENEFITS
WAYS THE NBN CAN HELP MY BUSINESS
SPREAD MY WINGSThe NBN will make it possible for more people to work from home or remote locations using the Internet Teleworking gives staff more flexibility and might enable you to employ workers with special skills who might otherwise be located too far away
TRIM MY TRAVEL COSTSOnce yoursquove used high-definition
videoconferencing yoursquoll start to question whether the business trips you make are actually worth the time and cost
of flying The NBN will make two-way HD videoconferencing possible ndash and
affordable ndash from your desktop and tools such as Cisco WebEx Meetings and Citrix
GoToMeeting are free to trial
Therersquos more to the NBN than faster InternetWORDS BRAD HOWARTH
4
55
10 bitcomau
here are expensive and cheap NBN plans ndash just like there are for
other types of broadband The cheapest plan in our table on the right is $35 at 12Mbps with 50GB of data per month
When you compare this with what yoursquore paying now remember a couple of things First you are more likely to get consistent speeds on the NBN Even for Fixed Wireless NBN the NBN Co promises yoursquoll get ldquorelatively steadyrdquo speeds unlike 3G or 4G wireless broadband Second some of these NBN plans have much faster upload speeds than ADSL
Even though data limits look small for some entry level plans they often jump up drastically on the next most expensive plan ndash from 50GB to 200GB in one example
Yoursquoll also need a telephone service You can get this over the NBN too from your Internet provider You can keep your copper line telephone service for a while but eventually it will be decommissioned in areas with the NBN over fibre cable (not in areas with NBN via wireless or satellite)
What will it costGetting the best value on the NBN WORDS WILLIAM MAHER
T 100Mbps 40Mbps 50Mbps 20Mbps 25Mbps 5Mbps 12Mbps 1MbpsPROVIDER Cost Data limit Cost Data limit Cost Data limit Cost Data limit
Internode $7495 30GB $6495 30GB $5495 30GB $4995 30GB
iiNet $6995 40GB $6495 40GB $5495 40GB $4995 40GB
Optus $7999 120GB $6999 120GB $5999 120GB $3999 40GB
iPrimus $7995 40GB $6995 40GB $5995 40GB $4995 40GB
Telstra $9190 50GBwith phone service
ndash ndash $8190 50GBwith phone service
ndash ndash
Exetel $4500 25GB $5000 50GB $4000 50GB $3500 50GB
MyNetFone $9995 1000GB $6995 500GB $5995 250GB $3995 20GB
(Satellite) Activ8me ndash ndash ndash ndash ndash ndash $3495 3GB6Mbps 1Mbps
(Fixed Wireless) iiNet ndash ndash ndash ndash ndash ndash $4995 40GB
100Mbps 40Mbps 50Mbps 20Mbps 25Mbps 5Mbps 12Mbps 1MbpsPROVIDER Cost Data limit Cost Data limit Cost Data limit Cost Data limit
Internode $10495 30GB $9495 30GB $8495 30GB $7995 30GB
iiNet $9995 40GB $9495 40GB $8495 40GB25Mbps 10Mbps
$7995 40GB
Optus $7900 100GB $6900 100GB $6400 100GB $5900 100GB
MyNetFone $9995 1000GB $6995 500GB $5995 250GB $3995 20GB
RESIDENTIAL PLANS PER MONTH
BUSINESS PLANS PER MONTH
Please note This is designed to be a general guide to the cost of NBN services For each speed tier we have picked the cheapest available plan from each provider
11bitcomau
PLANS amp PRICES
100Mbps 40Mbps 50Mbps 20Mbps 25Mbps 5Mbps 12Mbps 1MbpsPROVIDER Cost Data limit Cost Data limit Cost Data limit Cost Data limit
Internode $7495 30GB $6495 30GB $5495 30GB $4995 30GB
iiNet $6995 40GB $6495 40GB $5495 40GB $4995 40GB
Optus $7999 120GB $6999 120GB $5999 120GB $3999 40GB
iPrimus $7995 40GB $6995 40GB $5995 40GB $4995 40GB
Telstra $9190 50GBwith phone service
ndash ndash $8190 50GBwith phone service
ndash ndash
Exetel $4500 25GB $5000 50GB $4000 50GB $3500 50GB
MyNetFone $9995 1000GB $6995 500GB $5995 250GB $3995 20GB
(Satellite) Activ8me ndash ndash ndash ndash ndash ndash $3495 3GB6Mbps 1Mbps
(Fixed Wireless) iiNet ndash ndash ndash ndash ndash ndash $4995 40GB
100Mbps 40Mbps 50Mbps 20Mbps 25Mbps 5Mbps 12Mbps 1MbpsPROVIDER Cost Data limit Cost Data limit Cost Data limit Cost Data limit
Internode $10495 30GB $9495 30GB $8495 30GB $7995 30GB
iiNet $9995 40GB $9495 40GB $8495 40GB25Mbps 10Mbps
$7995 40GB
Optus $7900 100GB $6900 100GB $6400 100GB $5900 100GB
MyNetFone $9995 1000GB $6995 500GB $5995 250GB $3995 20GB
RESIDENTIAL PLANS PER MONTH
BUSINESS PLANS PER MONTH
Not all services and providers are listed Extra fees and conditions such as setup fees (where applicable) contract length peakoff-peak restrictions are not shown All prices correct at time of writing but may have changed Check with your provider for the latest details
Compare more pricesClick here for extra comparisons at the BIT website
12 bitcomau
1 Connecting my buildingHow does the NBN connect to my building and what does the NBN box look like p14
2 Inside my officeIs my office ready for the NBN and do I need a network p16
13bitcomau
Now that you know how the NBN might help you letrsquos get down to the nuts and bolts of connecting If you want the maximum speed and most value for your money there are a few important things to know ndash for example is your network up to scratchWORDS WILLIAM MAHER
CONNECTING MY OFFICE
3 Choosing my routerFrom routers to wireless extenders here are useful devices that will help you get more from the NBN p17
OFFICE READY
14 bitcomau
1 CONNECTING MY BUILDINGThis is the NBN box that is being installed in businesses and homes across the countryIf yoursquore being connected by fibre optic cable as opposed to wireless or satellite the cable will run down your street either in trenches or strung on overhead lines Your connection again either in a trench or via an overhead line will run to a box called the Premises Connection Device (PCD) which will be attached to an outside wall of your building ndash the fibre comes into your building via this box
The fibre then travels to the Network Termination Device (NTD) Thatrsquos the box you see on this page This is the box you might connect to your router computers and desk phones You wonrsquot use a DSL modem anymore ndash for the modem function at least This box replaces it
Letrsquos take a look at the box In the photo the incoming NBN cable connects to the box on the right [A] From here a cable connects the NTD to your router via the data port [B] Note there are four data ports For example it might be possible to get Internet access from one provider and perhaps
a video on demand service on a separate port
On the left are two voice ports [C] ndash once copper telephone lines are phased out all NBN fibre-connected buildings will have phones connected over the NBN If you have a landline telephone that should plug straight into the voice port on the box
Keep in mind that the NBN box gets installed by an NBN contractor
The NTD must be next to a power point which will be used for the battery backup unit ndash a separate box that sits next to this one so you can make phone calls if there is a blackout
For a standard installation the NTD will be attached to an exterior wall (inside the building but on an outer wall) If you need the box in another room where your router and other equipment are there is an option for a ldquonon-standardrdquo installation but you might have to pay
15bitcomau
OFFICE READY
The NBN Box comes with four data ports The battery backup
unit (not shown)will not power these ports in a blackout only the voice ports
[B]
You can request a voice service to be delivered through
these UNI-V voice ports Your corded telephone will plug straight in
[C]
This is where the incoming NBN fibre connects[A]
NBN Network Termination Device (NTD)PRICE FREE SUPPLIER NBN CO
16 bitcomau
2 INSIDE MY OFFICEHow will your computers desk phones and other devices connect to the NBN boxOnce the NBN is installed in your building and yoursquove signed up with your Internet provider for an NBN Internet plan yoursquoll need to connect your computers to the NBN box
If you have more than one computer one way of doing this is to connect them via Wi-Fi to a
wireless router you plug into the NBN box If all you need to do is browse the web send email
send documents and watch the occasional video then this might be ok If you are sending and
receiving a lot of very big files though or you need to regularly watch high definition video or backup large amounts of data using the NBN then therersquos
the possibility Wi-Fi might slow things down
WIRELESSROUTER[1]
Another option is to connect all your computers to the NBN box with network cable This will give you the fastest throughput from the NBN box to your computers Wersquore not about to go out on a limb and suggest everyone start planning when to get their floorboards ripped up for cabling though Not only is it an extra expense running cables throughout your building isnrsquot a simple job
NETWORKCABLE[2]
17bitcomau
OFFICE READY
Powerline networking is another option You plug network ports to the power points in your house The system uses the electricity wiring instead of network cables It should give you a better connection than Wi-Fi
WARNINGOne big surprise is that yoursquore not to install any data cabling yourself if it connects to the telecoms network A licensed professional is supposed to do the job badly installed network cable can result in slow speed dropouts or in extreme cases injury And while there might be electricians with excellent data expertise itrsquos a different set of skills and theyrsquore not always the best choice If in doubt ask for their registration card or check with the registrar yourself The ACMA web site has a fact sheet
POWERLINENETWORKING[3]
3 CHOOSING MY ROUTERWORDS JOHN GILLOOLY
Once you have the NBN you need a router to spread the Internet to each computer in your building
You might see lsquoNBN readyrsquo modem routers for sale ndash this means that the ADSL modem can be disabled once you get the NBN (because the NBN box takes care of that function) But these routers might be designed for low ADSL speeds and may not actually cope with the demands of the highest NBN speeds of 100Mbit download 40Mbit upload If your NBN plan isnrsquot that fast your router might cope ok but it is best to think of any lsquoNBN Readyrsquo ADSL modemrouter as a temporary solution We suggest looking for
Routers that can cope with sustained high-speed transfers We like ASUSrsquo RT-N56U the FritzBox Fon WLAN 7390 and Netgearrsquos DGND3700 N600
If yoursquore using Wi-Fi a dual band wireless router (these will work at the 5GHz band) is ideal but your Wi-Fi devices must be compatible
80211ac wireless routers will work better with Wi-Fi devices and have the fastest technology on the market but arenrsquot a must-have yet
If you have network cable installed a Gigabit Ethernet router is ideal
Want more Click to see photos of common wiring mistakes
Fritzbox Fon WLAN 7390
18 bitcomau
Tips and advice from real NBN usersWORDS WILLIAM MAHER
TOP
1 PLAN AHEAD
Itrsquos generally a good idea to have the NBN termination unit installed as close to your computers and router as possible ndash everything that connects to the Internet will need to connect to it This might cost extra
2 GET HERITAGE CLEARANCE
Installation will likely involve holes being drilled in your wall to attach equipment feeds to the cable If you work in a heritage building then this might not be allowed
4 DONrsquoT EXPECT THE INTERNET TO BE PERFECT ALL THE TIME
Yes despite all the hype some NBN users have told us that web browsing
on the NBN is sometimes not noticeably any faster than ADSL Your connection might be fast but web servers on the other side of the world can still struggle to cope with congestion On the upside it should cope much
better with several users uploads should be faster and it should be
less prone to dropouts
3 DONrsquoT RUSH IN
Just because your building gets connected doesnrsquot mean you have to start using the NBN straight away Generally the plan is for the copper telephone lines to be kept for 18 months after the NBN is rolled out before being disconnected Where the NBN is delivered by wireless or satellite telephone lines wonrsquot be disconnected for at least 10 years
19bitcomau
NEED TO KNOW
7 BE WARY OF CHEAP ROUTERS
Your router will need to be able to cope with NBN speeds as well as be able to spread the data around your building fast enough If it doesnrsquot have gigabit Ethernet (for wired networks) or dual band wireless (for wireless networks) you might want to think about upgrading See page 19
9 GET A BACKUP POWER SUPPLY
Even if you have a battery backup box supplied with the NBN connection it wonrsquot keep your Internet running during a blackout only your phone If data access is critical to your business even during a blackout get an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) for a few hundred dollars
8 COMPARE VOICE PLANS
The Internet provider you have a data plan with might give you a better deal on a UNI-V phone service than other providers But call rates might be cheaper on a phone plan through the UNI-D ports
6 REWIRE YOUR PHONES
If you have lots of phone extensions in different rooms itrsquos still possible to keep using them for phone calls but the wiring will need to be connected to the NBN box An alternative is to connect a cordless phone base station to the NBN box
10 WATCH FOR BOTTLENECKS
Wersquove heard stories of people complaining that the NBN isnrsquot any faster but in the end something on their network was limiting the speed ndash like a wireless router that was affected by interference Remember that your own network can cause problems if itrsquos not set up correctly Bad cabling can also cause problems
5 CHECK YOU HAVE ENOUGH PHONE PORTS
The NBN termination unit has two phone ports If you need more phone lines once the copper telephone lines are disconnected consider switching to a VOIP telephone plan This gives you lots of ldquovirtualrdquo lines which run through the data ports instead
20 bitcomau
o you donrsquot want to wait for the NBN to arrive You need faster
more reliable Internet now On these pages wersquove listed ways you can get it without waiting for the NBN
The cheapest broadband is a home plan and they can provide relatively fast speeds if you only have one or two computers But if your business has grown or you want to connect a small office full of people business-grade broadband might serve you better
Generally business-grade services cost more ndash anywhere from around the $100-a-month mark up to $1000 or more
Yes the more expensive services can be much faster than a home ADSL service but download speeds are only one benefit
Other benefits of a business data service might include
A commitment that the connection will be working for a certain amount of time Eg ldquo9995 uptimerdquo
Fewer customers to share the bandwidth with This means your connection is less likely to slow down when lots of other businesses are using the network too
Faster upload speeds than home ADSL Very important to prevent your connection slowing down if you have several people sending large files at the same time Upload speeds are very limited on home ADSL services
Some services include 24x7 technical support
NBN plans are generally shaping up to be good value compared to what you see on the following pages but not everyone wants to wait
What if I donrsquot have the NBN yetEven if the roll-out hasnrsquot reached your area yet there are still several other options to get better Internet performance nowWORDS WILLIAM MAHER
SSLA
A Service Level Agreement is offered with many business data plans It sets out formal responsibilities of the service provider covering things like how fast they should respond to you if there is a problem what hours of the day technical support is available a commitment that problems will be fixed within a certain number of hours and that the service will be running without problems for a certain amount of time
21bitcomau
OPTIONS
HOME ADSL2+Speed Up to 24Mbps download 1Mbps upload (theoretical peak speeds actual speeds will be slower)Pros Relatively cheap compared to business servicesCons Speed depends on distance from telephone exchange Slow upload speed Shared with other usersRecommended Home office 1-2 computers where upload speeds arenrsquot critical where consistent speed isnrsquot critical for day-to-day operations
HOME ADSL2+ WITH ANNEX MSpeed Up to 24Mbps download up to 25Mbps upload (theoretical peak speeds Actual speeds will be slower)Pros Relatively cheap compared to business services Faster upload speed than regular ADSL2+Cons Speed depends on distance from telephone exchange Shared with other usersRecommended Home office 1-2 computers where faster upload speeds are useful but not critical where consistent speed isnrsquot critical for day-to-day operations
CABLE INTERNETSpeed Up to 100Mbps download up to 2Mbps upload (theoretical peak speeds Actual
speeds will be slower)Pros Relatively cheap compared to business services Much faster potential download speeds than ADSL2+Cons Limited to certain cities upload speeds much slower than download shared with other usersRecommended Home office 1-2 computers where faster download speeds than ADSL2+ are needed where fast upload speeds are not necessary where consistent speed isnrsquot critical for day-to-day operations
WIRELESS 3G Speed ldquoTypicalrdquo speeds up to 20Mbps download up to 3Mbps upload (actual speeds could be much slower speed depends on network type)Pros You can use it on the moveCons Speed varies a lot depending on where you are Speed decreases as more users share network Latency generally higher than ADSL Upload speeds much lower than downloadRecommended Secondary connection for accessing email and websites while on the move and where fast upload speeds are not required Where a reliable connection and consistent speed isnrsquot important
WIRELESS 4GSpeed ldquoTypicalrdquo speeds up
22 bitcomau
to 40MBps download up to 10Mbps upload (actual speeds could be much slower)Pros You can use it on the move Higher upload speeds than ADSL2+ and 3G are possibleCons Speed varies a lot depending on where you are Speed decreases as more users share network Theoretical upload speeds slower than download (though not always the case in practice) Limited to Telstra and Optus at time of writing
Recommended Secondary connection while on the move and where faster upload speeds than 3G are required for transferring large files For connecting several gadgets (tablet and laptop) to the Internet at the same time Where a reliable connection and consistent speed isnrsquot important
BUSINESS ADSL2+Speed up to 24Mbps download up to 25Mbps upload
DATA SPEED COMPARISON DOWNLOADSUPLOADS
0Mbps 10Mbps 20Mbps 30Mbps 40Mbps 50Mbps 100Mbps 1000Mbps
HOME ADSL2+
HOME ADSL2+ WITH ANNEX M
CABLE INTERNET
WIRELESS 3G (PEAK ldquoTYPICALrdquo SPEED)
WIRELESS 4G (PEAK ldquoTYPICALrdquo SPEED)
BUSINESS ADSL2+
BONDED DSL
SHDSL
ETHERNET OVER COPPER
ETHERNET OVER FIBRE
NBN (FIBRE)
NBN (FIXED WIRELESS)
NBN (SATELLITE)
23bitcomau
OPTIONS
with Annex M (theoretical peak speeds Actual speeds will be slower)Pros Relatively cheap compared to other business broadband services Might include priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratioCons Speed depends on distance from telephone exchange Upload speed much slower than downloadRecommended Home office 1-3 computers where upload
speeds arenrsquot critical where consistent speed isnrsquot critical for day-to-day operations
BONDED DSLSpeed Typical speeds up to 30Mbps download up to 26Mbps upload with Annex M (by combining copper lines) (actual speeds could be slower)Pros Faster speeds than ADSL2+ possible Relatively cheap compared to other business broadband services
Please note The information on these pages is intended to be a general guide only Exact speeds and other factors can differ between providers Check these details with your provider before purchasing a data service Unless otherwise noted we have quoted maximum potential speeds real life speeds can be significantly slower (especially for wireless and ADSL) and maximum potential speeds can vary according to which technology variant your network uses Note For wireless 3G and 4G we have followed the lead of carriers and quoted the maximum ldquotypicalrdquo speed you are likely to achieve not the maximum theoretical speed
Some of these services will not be available at a certain point after the NBN is connected in your area For example in areas where fibre cable is installed to connect customers to the NBN copper telephone lines will be decommissioned 18 months after the fibre is connected HFC (cable Internet) networks are also expected to be decommissioned in each area once the NBN is rolled out
0Mbps 10Mbps 20Mbps 30Mbps 40Mbps 50Mbps 100Mbps 1000Mbps
DOWNLOADUPLOAD
24 bitcomau
Might include priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratioCons Speed depends on distance from telephone exchange Upload speed much slower than downloads Two telephone lines neededRecommended Homesmall office that needs faster speeds than ADSL2+ or canrsquot get fast enough ADSL2+ speeds because of distance from telephone exchange Where having the same uploaddownload speed isnrsquot necessary
SHDSLSpeed Up to 46Mbps download up to 46Mbps uploadPros Same upload and download speeds Speeds are guaranteed Usually includes priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratioCons More expensive than ADSL2+ Download speeds offered often slower than theoretical ADSL2+ peak speedsRecommende Office that needs faster speeds than ADSL2+ especially where upload speed is crucial for videoconferencing regularly sending large files multiple Voice over IP telephone lines or connecting several offices Where fibre isnrsquot available Where consistent speed is critical
ETHERNET OVER COPPER(MIDBAND ETHERNET)Speed Up to 40Mbps download up to 40Mbps upload (by combining copper lines)Pros Same upload and download speeds Much faster upload speeds than ADSL2+ available Usually includes priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratio Cheaper overall than fibreCons More expensive than ADSL2+Recommended Office with many people at the same time regularly sending large files videoconferencing backup hosted applications VPN using VOIP or connecting to servers in other offices Where fibre isnrsquot available or is too expensive
ETHERNET OVER FIBRESpeed Up to 1000Mbps download up to 1000 Mbps uploadPros Same upload and download speeds Much faster speeds available than other services Usually includes priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratioCons Generally the most expensive option ndash can cost several thousand dollars a month Limited availabilityRecommended Large offices with many people at the same time regularly sending large
Latency Sometimes
refers to the delay between sending data and receiving a response Higher latency is a disadvantage when using certain applications like video-conferencing Latency is generally higher on satellite and wireless networks such as 3G although 4G has a theoretical lower latency than 3G
25bitcomau
OPTIONS
files videoconferencing backup hosted applications VPN using VOIP or connecting to servers in other offices Where a reliable connection and consistent very high speed is critical for day to day operations
NBN (FIBRE)Speed Up to 100MBps download up to 40Mbps upload (fastest plans available at time of writing Faster speeds theoretically possible in future)Pros Much faster speeds available than ADSL2+ including much faster upload speeds Provides minimum peak speeds unlike ADSL2+ More reliable than ADSL Business plans can include priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) (though residential NBN plans might not include this) Generally much cheaper than other business services with comparable speedsCons Very limited availability at time of writingRecommended Where several users need to senddownload large files videoconference backup use hosted applications VPN use VOIP or connect to servers in other offices at the same time Where a reliable connection and consistent speeds are critical Where much faster downloadupload speeds than ADSL2+ are important
NBN (FIXED WIRELESS)Speed Minimum 12Mbps download up to 1Mbps upload (Faster speeds planned)Pros Unlike mobile 4G and 3G networks ldquorelatively steadyrdquo speeds are promisedCons Very limited availability at time of writing Upload speeds much slower than download Top download speed currently much slower than NBN fibre and some other business servicesRecommended Where ADSL2+ isnrsquot available or is unreliable or slow For home office or small office where very high downloadupload speeds arenrsquot critical
NBN (SATELLITE)Speed Up to 6Mbps download up to 1Mbps upload (12Mbps download speeds planned for 2015)Pros Better speeds than some locations could otherwise getCons Top download speed relatively slow compared to NBN fibre and theoretical peak ADSL2+ download speed Upload speed much slower than download speed Higher latency than fixed line services Generally smaller download limits than ADSL2+ and fibreRecommended Locations that donrsquot have access to other broadband Where fast upload speeds arenrsquot needed Where latency-sensitive applications like VPNs arenrsquot required
26 bitcomau
My BookmarksFor more information on the best NBN plans and more click these links
Show me when I am getting connected
General NBN info
Show me all the NBN providers
Tell me if I can get NBN satellite
Give me more info on fibre NBN
I want more info on wireless NBN
I want more info about
the NBN fibre termination unit
Show me all the towns on
the current NBN rollout plan
Show me the NBN FAQ
27bitcomau
MORE INFO
Show me the best plans
Tell me about finding
a registered cabler
I want to try videoconferencing
Show me a list of cablers
I want Microsoft to host my servers
for me
Show me more about
getting connected
I want to read what users are
saying about Internet
providers
I want a web site
Help me make better
use of the NBN for
my business
Teach me about
online marketing
I want Google to
host my servers for me
28 bitcomau
The tech-talk in plain English
AnnexMrsaquorsaquo An add-on feature that some ADSL Internet providers offer to increase the speed of uploads iiNet for example says that customers will get a theoretical maximum upload speed of 275Mbps
ATArsaquorsaquo If you want to use a VOIP telephone service and donrsquot have a suitable VOIP router your VOIP provider can provide this adapter which you plug your telephone into
BondedDSLrsaquorsaquo By combining several phone lines higher broadband speeds are possible Unlike SHDSL upload speeds are still a lot slower than download speeds
Brownfieldrsaquorsaquo Premises that have already been built The focus is on connecting brownfields in regional areas to the NBN first so people currently with the worst broadband get it first
Businessgradebroadbandrsaquorsaquo Can cost more than home broadband but can include guaranteed uptime service agreements and sometimes your
data will travel over a separate network meaning less traffic congestion
Cat6rsaquorsaquo Category 6 cables are recommended for Gigabit Ethernet speeds in an office network
Cloudrsaquorsaquo Instead of buying and installing software on your own businessrsquos server a cloud company owns and runs the server hardware and software ndash you pay to access it over the Internet Examples include Microsoft Office 365 Salesforce Gmail and Dropbox
Contentionratiorsaquorsaquo A term used to indicate how many users have to share the same bandwidth Generally the lower the contention ratio the better Business grade broadband can sometimes have better contention ratios than home broadband
Copperrsaquorsaquo The public telephone lines also used for broadband services like ADSL SHDSL and Midband Ethernet Data services over copper reduce in speed the further your building is from your local telephone exchange
Dualbandwirelessrsaquorsaquo Dual band wireless routers can use two frequency bands (24GHz and 5GHz) to send and receive data unlike some wireless routers which can only use 24GHz This Brownfield
29bitcomau
JARGON BUSTER
can mean faster speeds but the tablet phone or laptop you are using needs to work on 5GHz or you wonrsquot see any difference
Ethernetrsaquorsaquo A network protocol often used for networks inside your building but can also be used for data services delivered over copper telephone lines or optical fibre cable Ethernet broadband services generally have same uploaddownload as opposed to ADSL
Exchangersaquorsaquo Can refer to Microsoft Exchange software which runs on a companyrsquos server and operates their company email or a telephone exchange
FSAMrsaquorsaquo A group of up to 3000 buildings connected to the NBN
GigabitEthernetrsaquorsaquo If you are using Ethernet cable to network your office Gigabit Ethernet will provide faster speeds (1Gbps) than Fast Ethernet (100Mbps)
Greenfieldrsaquorsaquo New housing developments Many of these streets will receive the NBN before Brownfield locations as they will be connected on a demand-driven basis Developers apply to have the NBN connected in their development
HostedITrsaquorsaquo Instead of buying and installing IT equipment yourself you can use another companyrsquos servers This can
include servers to run your email and website as well as hosted applications that users access over the network You can also hire a ldquomanaged service providerrdquo to setup and run your own IT
Latencyrsaquorsaquo Sometimes refers to the delay between sending data and receiving a response Higher latency is a disadvantage when using certain applications like videoconferencing Latency is generally higher on satellite and wireless networks such as 3G although 4G has a theoretical lower latency than 3G
LTErsaquorsaquo Higher speed wireless broadband used in the latest generation of smartphones and if you are getting the NBN via fixed wireless Much faster speeds than ADSL are possible but latency is much higher than optical fibre cable meaning itrsquos not suitable for videoconferencing Sometimes referred to as ldquo4Grdquo
Continued over page
Greenfield
LTE
WirelessRouter
30 bitcomau
MidbandEthernetrsaquorsaquo Provides up to 40Mbps over multiple copper lines Unlike ADSL you get the same upload and download speed but cost is usually several hundred dollars a month
NTDrsaquorsaquo Network Termination Device This is supplied free and is attached to a wall inside your building It takes the place of a modem when you get the NBN This is the box your router and phones will plug in to
Paymentgatewayrsaquorsaquo Used if you want to let customers buy products from your website When a customer buys a product on your website the transaction is sent to a third party the payment gateway which authorises the payment with the bank
PCDrsaquorsaquo Premises Connection Device This is a small box that is attached to an outside wall of your building when you are connected to the NBN via fibre cable The NBN fibre cable runs through this box to the inside of your building where it connects to the NTD
Powerlinenetworkrsaquorsaquo If a wireless router isnrsquot enough to spread your Internet connection
around your business (due to brick walls or multiple stories) and having Ethernet cables installed is too difficult another option is a powerline network An adaptor is plugged into each power point and data can be sent through the buildingrsquos internal wiring
PSTNrsaquorsaquo The public switched telephone network The copper network your analogue telephone connects to
RSPrsaquorsaquo Retail Service Provider Another name for an Internet provider such as Telstra Optus iiNet or Internode Once your building is connected you can contact an RSP to pay for an Internet plan and start using the NBN
Serverrsaquorsaquo A central computer that other computers on a network connect to A server might be in your own building providing a central location so all your staff can access the same files from their computers or an Internet server to which you connect to to access web sites or other services
SHDSLrsaquorsaquo Unlike ADSL SHDSL provides the same upload and download speeds Speeds up to 40Mbps are available by combining several phone lines in the form of Extreme SHDSL
SIPrsaquorsaquo A protocol used in devices for delivering multiple VOIP telephone calls at once
PCD
NTD
PCD
31bitcomau
JARGON BUSTER
SLArsaquorsaquo business-grade broadband contracts can include a Service Level Agreement ndash the provider commits to providing a certain level of service (995 Internet uptime for example)
Synchronousrsaquorsaquo The same upload and download speeds Midband Ethernet and SHDSL are synchronous but ADSL services are not meaning upload speeds are much slower than download speeds
UNI-Vportrsaquorsaquo A port on the NBN network termination device (NTD) where you plug in a telephone Alternatively if you use a VOIP telephone service your telephone can be plugged into a wireless router with a VOIP feature which then plugs into the data port on the NTD
Batterybackupunitrsaquorsaquo A separate box supplied free with your NBN connection that is installed alongside the NTD on a wall inside your building This unit lets you continue to make telephone calls during a blackout if you are using an analogue phone running through the UNI-V port
Uploadspeedrsaquorsaquo If you use applications that send data such as videoconferencing and sending large email attachments as opposed to downloading large files and watching videos then look for an Internet service with higher upload speeds
UPSrsaquorsaquo Uninterruptible Power Supply A device that plugs into your server or computer so that it can continue to run if the main power supply stops
VOIPrsaquorsaquo Voice over IP Unlike regular telephone services VOIP telephone calls are converted to data and travel over data networks Call rates can be much cheaper though call quality can suffer if your VOIP service and your broadband connection arenrsquot suitable
VPNrsaquorsaquo A secure way to upload and download files to and from your officersquos internal network drives and servers when you are not in the office (eg at a hotel or from another office)
WANrsaquorsaquo Wide Area Network Offices in different towns or cities can be connected via the same WAN
Wirelessextenderrsaquorsaquo If you already have a wireless router this is a separate device which plugs into a power point and extends the range of the signal
WirelessNrsaquorsaquo Compatible routers are recommended for spreading your Internet connection around your office wirelessly Will be superseded by the faster 80211ac standard but there are not currently many compatible laptops and devices that will connect at 80211ac speeds
Batterybackupunit
UNI-Vport
WirelessRouter
28bitcomau
Their small businesses have the technology edgeDoes yoursSometimes you can be so busy that keeping up with technology seems too much What you really want to know is what it can do for your business BIT will keep you up to date with the technology that can help you do your job and grow your business ndash whether you are a florist a plumber an accountant or any type of Australian small business
B U S I N E S S I T
Make technology work for your business
Click to return to
Bit
- 001
- 002-003
- 004-009
- 010-011
- 012-017
- 018-019
- 020-025
- 026-027
- 028-031
- 032
-
the Internet has trained us to expect instant service regardless of where we are
4 bitcomau
OUTLOOK
he National Broadband Network will take most of this decade
to roll out But even if your business is located in a region that is in the backend of that schedule it is important that you start thinking now about your businessrsquos high-speed broadband future Because even if a change of government results in a dramatically different scheme Australiarsquos love affair with the Internet shows no signs of slowing down and Australian
broadband speeds are only likely to get faster
Even if the NBN rollout were to stop dead there are some good reasons for investigating your businessrsquos broadband readiness According to Nielsenrsquos Australian Online Landscape Report 2012 92 per cent of online Australians have some sort of home internet connection and 93 per cent use the Internet daily Importantly as broadband speeds increase so too does
Why should I care about the NBNJust as there are many questions about the NBN there are many possibilities for your business WORDS BRAD HOWARTH
T
5bitcomau
OUTLOOK
time spent online which Nielsen estimates reached a weekly average of 21 hours and 54 minutes in 2011 And the things we do online ndash such as banking booking appointments and researching and buying products ndash are also increasing
Secondly the Internet is overpowering geography The worldrsquos stores are now available and customers no longer need depend on local suppliers That same principle now applies to almost every kind of product and the vast majority of information-based services such as business administration design or marketing You are not just competing with nearby
businesses you are competing with businesses around Australia and around the world Maybe your business once made good money printing business cards for local companies ndash now they get that done by VistaPrint
And thirdly the Internet has trained Australians to expect instant service regardless of when or where they are such as banking at midnight or shopping while on the bus Customers donrsquot keep to business hours any more
A presence on the webOf course all this is happening without the NBN being in place Which makes now the
6 bitcomau
OUTLOOK
perfect time to be thinking about the potential impact of the NBN because the NBN will accelerate the changes that are already happening and make the benefits of high-speed broadband available to all
That means all of your customers potentially interacting online Will you be there to greet them
The first place to start when planning for the NBN is to look at your companyrsquos web presence If you donrsquot have one ndash and roughly
half of Australian businesses donrsquot ndash then get one
A website is your billboard on the Internet Start by putting up basic information about your products and services ndash pictures descriptions rates etc ndash and provide a response form to collect feedback
Not all products can be sold online but the basic rule is that if you can ship it you can sell it online But this also applies to many services such as bookkeeping graphic design or secretarial services Adding ecommerce means adding a lsquoshopping cartrsquo to your site and there are hundreds to choose from Yoursquoll also need to incorporate a payment gateway which is available from numerous
more than one in five online Australians shops or browses online between 6 and 10pm
HOW CAN I GET A WEBSITESo you want to get your business online but yoursquore not sure where to start Here are 3 simple ways you can get yourself up and running quickly
MYOB and Google have teamed in an initiative called Getting Aussie Business Online that offers a free basic website
You can design your own using a simple publishing tool such as WordPress with hosting available for just dollars a month
Or get someone else to design one for you using a service such as 99designs or DesignCrowd ndash Prices start from under $500
7bitcomau
OUTLOOK
suppliers such as PayPal POLi Payments or eWAY
Even business that involve physical services such as pool cleaning fence repairs or hairdressing can benefit from an ecommerce site by allowing clients to book with you online outside of your business hours According to Nielsen more than one in five Australians shops or browses online between 6pm and 10pm
Put yourself in picturesWhile the NBN will encourage more Australians to spend more time online and hence do more online the higher data transfer speed it provides means businesses can start to invest in more bandwidth-heavy applications such as video Creating videos to showcase your products and services is cheap and easy ndash a high-definition video camera such as the Toshiba
Camileo H30 sells for less than $250 Hosting your video on YouTube or Vimeo is free ndash and YouTube even offers editing software Importantly Nielsen estimates that 59 per cent of the online population watch online videos to help inform their purchase choices
Finally even if your business wonrsquot be connected to the NBN for years you can still take advantage of it Many useful services are hosted on the Internet itself ndash these are often described as cloud services so even if your own Internet service is relatively slow it could well be faster for your customers
That also means you donrsquot have to own your own web server or hire a team of professionals ndash your service provider will generally take care of all the hard work and you can simply add more services as you need them
Payment Gateway
When a customer buys a product on your site the transaction is sent to a third party or payment gateway which authorises the payment In a few seconds they send the details to the bank then let your website know itrsquos ok to go ahead with the transaction
8 bitcomau
BENEFITS
CUT MY PHONE BILLLong distance call charges should be consigned to the history books Ways of making calls over the Internet (also called voice-over-IP or VOIP) such as Skype enable you to talk free-of-charge between users of the same service and to call regular telephone numbers in distant locations at greatly reduced charges The NBN will improve call quality and reliability
SLASH MY IT SERVICE CHARGES
Many of the NBN-enabled services will be based in the Cloud meaning that someone else pays for the hardware
(like servers) and operating costs All you pay for is the service and the
computers you use to access them such as your PC smartphone or tablet
IMPROVE MY ONLINE SALESThe NBN will make it easier for more customers to browse and buy online meaning yoursquoll need to be ready for them Take advantage of the NBNrsquos bandwidth and include high-resolution images and high-definition video so customers can really see what theyrsquore getting
2
3
1
5
9bitcomau
BENEFITS
WAYS THE NBN CAN HELP MY BUSINESS
SPREAD MY WINGSThe NBN will make it possible for more people to work from home or remote locations using the Internet Teleworking gives staff more flexibility and might enable you to employ workers with special skills who might otherwise be located too far away
TRIM MY TRAVEL COSTSOnce yoursquove used high-definition
videoconferencing yoursquoll start to question whether the business trips you make are actually worth the time and cost
of flying The NBN will make two-way HD videoconferencing possible ndash and
affordable ndash from your desktop and tools such as Cisco WebEx Meetings and Citrix
GoToMeeting are free to trial
Therersquos more to the NBN than faster InternetWORDS BRAD HOWARTH
4
55
10 bitcomau
here are expensive and cheap NBN plans ndash just like there are for
other types of broadband The cheapest plan in our table on the right is $35 at 12Mbps with 50GB of data per month
When you compare this with what yoursquore paying now remember a couple of things First you are more likely to get consistent speeds on the NBN Even for Fixed Wireless NBN the NBN Co promises yoursquoll get ldquorelatively steadyrdquo speeds unlike 3G or 4G wireless broadband Second some of these NBN plans have much faster upload speeds than ADSL
Even though data limits look small for some entry level plans they often jump up drastically on the next most expensive plan ndash from 50GB to 200GB in one example
Yoursquoll also need a telephone service You can get this over the NBN too from your Internet provider You can keep your copper line telephone service for a while but eventually it will be decommissioned in areas with the NBN over fibre cable (not in areas with NBN via wireless or satellite)
What will it costGetting the best value on the NBN WORDS WILLIAM MAHER
T 100Mbps 40Mbps 50Mbps 20Mbps 25Mbps 5Mbps 12Mbps 1MbpsPROVIDER Cost Data limit Cost Data limit Cost Data limit Cost Data limit
Internode $7495 30GB $6495 30GB $5495 30GB $4995 30GB
iiNet $6995 40GB $6495 40GB $5495 40GB $4995 40GB
Optus $7999 120GB $6999 120GB $5999 120GB $3999 40GB
iPrimus $7995 40GB $6995 40GB $5995 40GB $4995 40GB
Telstra $9190 50GBwith phone service
ndash ndash $8190 50GBwith phone service
ndash ndash
Exetel $4500 25GB $5000 50GB $4000 50GB $3500 50GB
MyNetFone $9995 1000GB $6995 500GB $5995 250GB $3995 20GB
(Satellite) Activ8me ndash ndash ndash ndash ndash ndash $3495 3GB6Mbps 1Mbps
(Fixed Wireless) iiNet ndash ndash ndash ndash ndash ndash $4995 40GB
100Mbps 40Mbps 50Mbps 20Mbps 25Mbps 5Mbps 12Mbps 1MbpsPROVIDER Cost Data limit Cost Data limit Cost Data limit Cost Data limit
Internode $10495 30GB $9495 30GB $8495 30GB $7995 30GB
iiNet $9995 40GB $9495 40GB $8495 40GB25Mbps 10Mbps
$7995 40GB
Optus $7900 100GB $6900 100GB $6400 100GB $5900 100GB
MyNetFone $9995 1000GB $6995 500GB $5995 250GB $3995 20GB
RESIDENTIAL PLANS PER MONTH
BUSINESS PLANS PER MONTH
Please note This is designed to be a general guide to the cost of NBN services For each speed tier we have picked the cheapest available plan from each provider
11bitcomau
PLANS amp PRICES
100Mbps 40Mbps 50Mbps 20Mbps 25Mbps 5Mbps 12Mbps 1MbpsPROVIDER Cost Data limit Cost Data limit Cost Data limit Cost Data limit
Internode $7495 30GB $6495 30GB $5495 30GB $4995 30GB
iiNet $6995 40GB $6495 40GB $5495 40GB $4995 40GB
Optus $7999 120GB $6999 120GB $5999 120GB $3999 40GB
iPrimus $7995 40GB $6995 40GB $5995 40GB $4995 40GB
Telstra $9190 50GBwith phone service
ndash ndash $8190 50GBwith phone service
ndash ndash
Exetel $4500 25GB $5000 50GB $4000 50GB $3500 50GB
MyNetFone $9995 1000GB $6995 500GB $5995 250GB $3995 20GB
(Satellite) Activ8me ndash ndash ndash ndash ndash ndash $3495 3GB6Mbps 1Mbps
(Fixed Wireless) iiNet ndash ndash ndash ndash ndash ndash $4995 40GB
100Mbps 40Mbps 50Mbps 20Mbps 25Mbps 5Mbps 12Mbps 1MbpsPROVIDER Cost Data limit Cost Data limit Cost Data limit Cost Data limit
Internode $10495 30GB $9495 30GB $8495 30GB $7995 30GB
iiNet $9995 40GB $9495 40GB $8495 40GB25Mbps 10Mbps
$7995 40GB
Optus $7900 100GB $6900 100GB $6400 100GB $5900 100GB
MyNetFone $9995 1000GB $6995 500GB $5995 250GB $3995 20GB
RESIDENTIAL PLANS PER MONTH
BUSINESS PLANS PER MONTH
Not all services and providers are listed Extra fees and conditions such as setup fees (where applicable) contract length peakoff-peak restrictions are not shown All prices correct at time of writing but may have changed Check with your provider for the latest details
Compare more pricesClick here for extra comparisons at the BIT website
12 bitcomau
1 Connecting my buildingHow does the NBN connect to my building and what does the NBN box look like p14
2 Inside my officeIs my office ready for the NBN and do I need a network p16
13bitcomau
Now that you know how the NBN might help you letrsquos get down to the nuts and bolts of connecting If you want the maximum speed and most value for your money there are a few important things to know ndash for example is your network up to scratchWORDS WILLIAM MAHER
CONNECTING MY OFFICE
3 Choosing my routerFrom routers to wireless extenders here are useful devices that will help you get more from the NBN p17
OFFICE READY
14 bitcomau
1 CONNECTING MY BUILDINGThis is the NBN box that is being installed in businesses and homes across the countryIf yoursquore being connected by fibre optic cable as opposed to wireless or satellite the cable will run down your street either in trenches or strung on overhead lines Your connection again either in a trench or via an overhead line will run to a box called the Premises Connection Device (PCD) which will be attached to an outside wall of your building ndash the fibre comes into your building via this box
The fibre then travels to the Network Termination Device (NTD) Thatrsquos the box you see on this page This is the box you might connect to your router computers and desk phones You wonrsquot use a DSL modem anymore ndash for the modem function at least This box replaces it
Letrsquos take a look at the box In the photo the incoming NBN cable connects to the box on the right [A] From here a cable connects the NTD to your router via the data port [B] Note there are four data ports For example it might be possible to get Internet access from one provider and perhaps
a video on demand service on a separate port
On the left are two voice ports [C] ndash once copper telephone lines are phased out all NBN fibre-connected buildings will have phones connected over the NBN If you have a landline telephone that should plug straight into the voice port on the box
Keep in mind that the NBN box gets installed by an NBN contractor
The NTD must be next to a power point which will be used for the battery backup unit ndash a separate box that sits next to this one so you can make phone calls if there is a blackout
For a standard installation the NTD will be attached to an exterior wall (inside the building but on an outer wall) If you need the box in another room where your router and other equipment are there is an option for a ldquonon-standardrdquo installation but you might have to pay
15bitcomau
OFFICE READY
The NBN Box comes with four data ports The battery backup
unit (not shown)will not power these ports in a blackout only the voice ports
[B]
You can request a voice service to be delivered through
these UNI-V voice ports Your corded telephone will plug straight in
[C]
This is where the incoming NBN fibre connects[A]
NBN Network Termination Device (NTD)PRICE FREE SUPPLIER NBN CO
16 bitcomau
2 INSIDE MY OFFICEHow will your computers desk phones and other devices connect to the NBN boxOnce the NBN is installed in your building and yoursquove signed up with your Internet provider for an NBN Internet plan yoursquoll need to connect your computers to the NBN box
If you have more than one computer one way of doing this is to connect them via Wi-Fi to a
wireless router you plug into the NBN box If all you need to do is browse the web send email
send documents and watch the occasional video then this might be ok If you are sending and
receiving a lot of very big files though or you need to regularly watch high definition video or backup large amounts of data using the NBN then therersquos
the possibility Wi-Fi might slow things down
WIRELESSROUTER[1]
Another option is to connect all your computers to the NBN box with network cable This will give you the fastest throughput from the NBN box to your computers Wersquore not about to go out on a limb and suggest everyone start planning when to get their floorboards ripped up for cabling though Not only is it an extra expense running cables throughout your building isnrsquot a simple job
NETWORKCABLE[2]
17bitcomau
OFFICE READY
Powerline networking is another option You plug network ports to the power points in your house The system uses the electricity wiring instead of network cables It should give you a better connection than Wi-Fi
WARNINGOne big surprise is that yoursquore not to install any data cabling yourself if it connects to the telecoms network A licensed professional is supposed to do the job badly installed network cable can result in slow speed dropouts or in extreme cases injury And while there might be electricians with excellent data expertise itrsquos a different set of skills and theyrsquore not always the best choice If in doubt ask for their registration card or check with the registrar yourself The ACMA web site has a fact sheet
POWERLINENETWORKING[3]
3 CHOOSING MY ROUTERWORDS JOHN GILLOOLY
Once you have the NBN you need a router to spread the Internet to each computer in your building
You might see lsquoNBN readyrsquo modem routers for sale ndash this means that the ADSL modem can be disabled once you get the NBN (because the NBN box takes care of that function) But these routers might be designed for low ADSL speeds and may not actually cope with the demands of the highest NBN speeds of 100Mbit download 40Mbit upload If your NBN plan isnrsquot that fast your router might cope ok but it is best to think of any lsquoNBN Readyrsquo ADSL modemrouter as a temporary solution We suggest looking for
Routers that can cope with sustained high-speed transfers We like ASUSrsquo RT-N56U the FritzBox Fon WLAN 7390 and Netgearrsquos DGND3700 N600
If yoursquore using Wi-Fi a dual band wireless router (these will work at the 5GHz band) is ideal but your Wi-Fi devices must be compatible
80211ac wireless routers will work better with Wi-Fi devices and have the fastest technology on the market but arenrsquot a must-have yet
If you have network cable installed a Gigabit Ethernet router is ideal
Want more Click to see photos of common wiring mistakes
Fritzbox Fon WLAN 7390
18 bitcomau
Tips and advice from real NBN usersWORDS WILLIAM MAHER
TOP
1 PLAN AHEAD
Itrsquos generally a good idea to have the NBN termination unit installed as close to your computers and router as possible ndash everything that connects to the Internet will need to connect to it This might cost extra
2 GET HERITAGE CLEARANCE
Installation will likely involve holes being drilled in your wall to attach equipment feeds to the cable If you work in a heritage building then this might not be allowed
4 DONrsquoT EXPECT THE INTERNET TO BE PERFECT ALL THE TIME
Yes despite all the hype some NBN users have told us that web browsing
on the NBN is sometimes not noticeably any faster than ADSL Your connection might be fast but web servers on the other side of the world can still struggle to cope with congestion On the upside it should cope much
better with several users uploads should be faster and it should be
less prone to dropouts
3 DONrsquoT RUSH IN
Just because your building gets connected doesnrsquot mean you have to start using the NBN straight away Generally the plan is for the copper telephone lines to be kept for 18 months after the NBN is rolled out before being disconnected Where the NBN is delivered by wireless or satellite telephone lines wonrsquot be disconnected for at least 10 years
19bitcomau
NEED TO KNOW
7 BE WARY OF CHEAP ROUTERS
Your router will need to be able to cope with NBN speeds as well as be able to spread the data around your building fast enough If it doesnrsquot have gigabit Ethernet (for wired networks) or dual band wireless (for wireless networks) you might want to think about upgrading See page 19
9 GET A BACKUP POWER SUPPLY
Even if you have a battery backup box supplied with the NBN connection it wonrsquot keep your Internet running during a blackout only your phone If data access is critical to your business even during a blackout get an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) for a few hundred dollars
8 COMPARE VOICE PLANS
The Internet provider you have a data plan with might give you a better deal on a UNI-V phone service than other providers But call rates might be cheaper on a phone plan through the UNI-D ports
6 REWIRE YOUR PHONES
If you have lots of phone extensions in different rooms itrsquos still possible to keep using them for phone calls but the wiring will need to be connected to the NBN box An alternative is to connect a cordless phone base station to the NBN box
10 WATCH FOR BOTTLENECKS
Wersquove heard stories of people complaining that the NBN isnrsquot any faster but in the end something on their network was limiting the speed ndash like a wireless router that was affected by interference Remember that your own network can cause problems if itrsquos not set up correctly Bad cabling can also cause problems
5 CHECK YOU HAVE ENOUGH PHONE PORTS
The NBN termination unit has two phone ports If you need more phone lines once the copper telephone lines are disconnected consider switching to a VOIP telephone plan This gives you lots of ldquovirtualrdquo lines which run through the data ports instead
20 bitcomau
o you donrsquot want to wait for the NBN to arrive You need faster
more reliable Internet now On these pages wersquove listed ways you can get it without waiting for the NBN
The cheapest broadband is a home plan and they can provide relatively fast speeds if you only have one or two computers But if your business has grown or you want to connect a small office full of people business-grade broadband might serve you better
Generally business-grade services cost more ndash anywhere from around the $100-a-month mark up to $1000 or more
Yes the more expensive services can be much faster than a home ADSL service but download speeds are only one benefit
Other benefits of a business data service might include
A commitment that the connection will be working for a certain amount of time Eg ldquo9995 uptimerdquo
Fewer customers to share the bandwidth with This means your connection is less likely to slow down when lots of other businesses are using the network too
Faster upload speeds than home ADSL Very important to prevent your connection slowing down if you have several people sending large files at the same time Upload speeds are very limited on home ADSL services
Some services include 24x7 technical support
NBN plans are generally shaping up to be good value compared to what you see on the following pages but not everyone wants to wait
What if I donrsquot have the NBN yetEven if the roll-out hasnrsquot reached your area yet there are still several other options to get better Internet performance nowWORDS WILLIAM MAHER
SSLA
A Service Level Agreement is offered with many business data plans It sets out formal responsibilities of the service provider covering things like how fast they should respond to you if there is a problem what hours of the day technical support is available a commitment that problems will be fixed within a certain number of hours and that the service will be running without problems for a certain amount of time
21bitcomau
OPTIONS
HOME ADSL2+Speed Up to 24Mbps download 1Mbps upload (theoretical peak speeds actual speeds will be slower)Pros Relatively cheap compared to business servicesCons Speed depends on distance from telephone exchange Slow upload speed Shared with other usersRecommended Home office 1-2 computers where upload speeds arenrsquot critical where consistent speed isnrsquot critical for day-to-day operations
HOME ADSL2+ WITH ANNEX MSpeed Up to 24Mbps download up to 25Mbps upload (theoretical peak speeds Actual speeds will be slower)Pros Relatively cheap compared to business services Faster upload speed than regular ADSL2+Cons Speed depends on distance from telephone exchange Shared with other usersRecommended Home office 1-2 computers where faster upload speeds are useful but not critical where consistent speed isnrsquot critical for day-to-day operations
CABLE INTERNETSpeed Up to 100Mbps download up to 2Mbps upload (theoretical peak speeds Actual
speeds will be slower)Pros Relatively cheap compared to business services Much faster potential download speeds than ADSL2+Cons Limited to certain cities upload speeds much slower than download shared with other usersRecommended Home office 1-2 computers where faster download speeds than ADSL2+ are needed where fast upload speeds are not necessary where consistent speed isnrsquot critical for day-to-day operations
WIRELESS 3G Speed ldquoTypicalrdquo speeds up to 20Mbps download up to 3Mbps upload (actual speeds could be much slower speed depends on network type)Pros You can use it on the moveCons Speed varies a lot depending on where you are Speed decreases as more users share network Latency generally higher than ADSL Upload speeds much lower than downloadRecommended Secondary connection for accessing email and websites while on the move and where fast upload speeds are not required Where a reliable connection and consistent speed isnrsquot important
WIRELESS 4GSpeed ldquoTypicalrdquo speeds up
22 bitcomau
to 40MBps download up to 10Mbps upload (actual speeds could be much slower)Pros You can use it on the move Higher upload speeds than ADSL2+ and 3G are possibleCons Speed varies a lot depending on where you are Speed decreases as more users share network Theoretical upload speeds slower than download (though not always the case in practice) Limited to Telstra and Optus at time of writing
Recommended Secondary connection while on the move and where faster upload speeds than 3G are required for transferring large files For connecting several gadgets (tablet and laptop) to the Internet at the same time Where a reliable connection and consistent speed isnrsquot important
BUSINESS ADSL2+Speed up to 24Mbps download up to 25Mbps upload
DATA SPEED COMPARISON DOWNLOADSUPLOADS
0Mbps 10Mbps 20Mbps 30Mbps 40Mbps 50Mbps 100Mbps 1000Mbps
HOME ADSL2+
HOME ADSL2+ WITH ANNEX M
CABLE INTERNET
WIRELESS 3G (PEAK ldquoTYPICALrdquo SPEED)
WIRELESS 4G (PEAK ldquoTYPICALrdquo SPEED)
BUSINESS ADSL2+
BONDED DSL
SHDSL
ETHERNET OVER COPPER
ETHERNET OVER FIBRE
NBN (FIBRE)
NBN (FIXED WIRELESS)
NBN (SATELLITE)
23bitcomau
OPTIONS
with Annex M (theoretical peak speeds Actual speeds will be slower)Pros Relatively cheap compared to other business broadband services Might include priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratioCons Speed depends on distance from telephone exchange Upload speed much slower than downloadRecommended Home office 1-3 computers where upload
speeds arenrsquot critical where consistent speed isnrsquot critical for day-to-day operations
BONDED DSLSpeed Typical speeds up to 30Mbps download up to 26Mbps upload with Annex M (by combining copper lines) (actual speeds could be slower)Pros Faster speeds than ADSL2+ possible Relatively cheap compared to other business broadband services
Please note The information on these pages is intended to be a general guide only Exact speeds and other factors can differ between providers Check these details with your provider before purchasing a data service Unless otherwise noted we have quoted maximum potential speeds real life speeds can be significantly slower (especially for wireless and ADSL) and maximum potential speeds can vary according to which technology variant your network uses Note For wireless 3G and 4G we have followed the lead of carriers and quoted the maximum ldquotypicalrdquo speed you are likely to achieve not the maximum theoretical speed
Some of these services will not be available at a certain point after the NBN is connected in your area For example in areas where fibre cable is installed to connect customers to the NBN copper telephone lines will be decommissioned 18 months after the fibre is connected HFC (cable Internet) networks are also expected to be decommissioned in each area once the NBN is rolled out
0Mbps 10Mbps 20Mbps 30Mbps 40Mbps 50Mbps 100Mbps 1000Mbps
DOWNLOADUPLOAD
24 bitcomau
Might include priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratioCons Speed depends on distance from telephone exchange Upload speed much slower than downloads Two telephone lines neededRecommended Homesmall office that needs faster speeds than ADSL2+ or canrsquot get fast enough ADSL2+ speeds because of distance from telephone exchange Where having the same uploaddownload speed isnrsquot necessary
SHDSLSpeed Up to 46Mbps download up to 46Mbps uploadPros Same upload and download speeds Speeds are guaranteed Usually includes priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratioCons More expensive than ADSL2+ Download speeds offered often slower than theoretical ADSL2+ peak speedsRecommende Office that needs faster speeds than ADSL2+ especially where upload speed is crucial for videoconferencing regularly sending large files multiple Voice over IP telephone lines or connecting several offices Where fibre isnrsquot available Where consistent speed is critical
ETHERNET OVER COPPER(MIDBAND ETHERNET)Speed Up to 40Mbps download up to 40Mbps upload (by combining copper lines)Pros Same upload and download speeds Much faster upload speeds than ADSL2+ available Usually includes priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratio Cheaper overall than fibreCons More expensive than ADSL2+Recommended Office with many people at the same time regularly sending large files videoconferencing backup hosted applications VPN using VOIP or connecting to servers in other offices Where fibre isnrsquot available or is too expensive
ETHERNET OVER FIBRESpeed Up to 1000Mbps download up to 1000 Mbps uploadPros Same upload and download speeds Much faster speeds available than other services Usually includes priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratioCons Generally the most expensive option ndash can cost several thousand dollars a month Limited availabilityRecommended Large offices with many people at the same time regularly sending large
Latency Sometimes
refers to the delay between sending data and receiving a response Higher latency is a disadvantage when using certain applications like video-conferencing Latency is generally higher on satellite and wireless networks such as 3G although 4G has a theoretical lower latency than 3G
25bitcomau
OPTIONS
files videoconferencing backup hosted applications VPN using VOIP or connecting to servers in other offices Where a reliable connection and consistent very high speed is critical for day to day operations
NBN (FIBRE)Speed Up to 100MBps download up to 40Mbps upload (fastest plans available at time of writing Faster speeds theoretically possible in future)Pros Much faster speeds available than ADSL2+ including much faster upload speeds Provides minimum peak speeds unlike ADSL2+ More reliable than ADSL Business plans can include priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) (though residential NBN plans might not include this) Generally much cheaper than other business services with comparable speedsCons Very limited availability at time of writingRecommended Where several users need to senddownload large files videoconference backup use hosted applications VPN use VOIP or connect to servers in other offices at the same time Where a reliable connection and consistent speeds are critical Where much faster downloadupload speeds than ADSL2+ are important
NBN (FIXED WIRELESS)Speed Minimum 12Mbps download up to 1Mbps upload (Faster speeds planned)Pros Unlike mobile 4G and 3G networks ldquorelatively steadyrdquo speeds are promisedCons Very limited availability at time of writing Upload speeds much slower than download Top download speed currently much slower than NBN fibre and some other business servicesRecommended Where ADSL2+ isnrsquot available or is unreliable or slow For home office or small office where very high downloadupload speeds arenrsquot critical
NBN (SATELLITE)Speed Up to 6Mbps download up to 1Mbps upload (12Mbps download speeds planned for 2015)Pros Better speeds than some locations could otherwise getCons Top download speed relatively slow compared to NBN fibre and theoretical peak ADSL2+ download speed Upload speed much slower than download speed Higher latency than fixed line services Generally smaller download limits than ADSL2+ and fibreRecommended Locations that donrsquot have access to other broadband Where fast upload speeds arenrsquot needed Where latency-sensitive applications like VPNs arenrsquot required
26 bitcomau
My BookmarksFor more information on the best NBN plans and more click these links
Show me when I am getting connected
General NBN info
Show me all the NBN providers
Tell me if I can get NBN satellite
Give me more info on fibre NBN
I want more info on wireless NBN
I want more info about
the NBN fibre termination unit
Show me all the towns on
the current NBN rollout plan
Show me the NBN FAQ
27bitcomau
MORE INFO
Show me the best plans
Tell me about finding
a registered cabler
I want to try videoconferencing
Show me a list of cablers
I want Microsoft to host my servers
for me
Show me more about
getting connected
I want to read what users are
saying about Internet
providers
I want a web site
Help me make better
use of the NBN for
my business
Teach me about
online marketing
I want Google to
host my servers for me
28 bitcomau
The tech-talk in plain English
AnnexMrsaquorsaquo An add-on feature that some ADSL Internet providers offer to increase the speed of uploads iiNet for example says that customers will get a theoretical maximum upload speed of 275Mbps
ATArsaquorsaquo If you want to use a VOIP telephone service and donrsquot have a suitable VOIP router your VOIP provider can provide this adapter which you plug your telephone into
BondedDSLrsaquorsaquo By combining several phone lines higher broadband speeds are possible Unlike SHDSL upload speeds are still a lot slower than download speeds
Brownfieldrsaquorsaquo Premises that have already been built The focus is on connecting brownfields in regional areas to the NBN first so people currently with the worst broadband get it first
Businessgradebroadbandrsaquorsaquo Can cost more than home broadband but can include guaranteed uptime service agreements and sometimes your
data will travel over a separate network meaning less traffic congestion
Cat6rsaquorsaquo Category 6 cables are recommended for Gigabit Ethernet speeds in an office network
Cloudrsaquorsaquo Instead of buying and installing software on your own businessrsquos server a cloud company owns and runs the server hardware and software ndash you pay to access it over the Internet Examples include Microsoft Office 365 Salesforce Gmail and Dropbox
Contentionratiorsaquorsaquo A term used to indicate how many users have to share the same bandwidth Generally the lower the contention ratio the better Business grade broadband can sometimes have better contention ratios than home broadband
Copperrsaquorsaquo The public telephone lines also used for broadband services like ADSL SHDSL and Midband Ethernet Data services over copper reduce in speed the further your building is from your local telephone exchange
Dualbandwirelessrsaquorsaquo Dual band wireless routers can use two frequency bands (24GHz and 5GHz) to send and receive data unlike some wireless routers which can only use 24GHz This Brownfield
29bitcomau
JARGON BUSTER
can mean faster speeds but the tablet phone or laptop you are using needs to work on 5GHz or you wonrsquot see any difference
Ethernetrsaquorsaquo A network protocol often used for networks inside your building but can also be used for data services delivered over copper telephone lines or optical fibre cable Ethernet broadband services generally have same uploaddownload as opposed to ADSL
Exchangersaquorsaquo Can refer to Microsoft Exchange software which runs on a companyrsquos server and operates their company email or a telephone exchange
FSAMrsaquorsaquo A group of up to 3000 buildings connected to the NBN
GigabitEthernetrsaquorsaquo If you are using Ethernet cable to network your office Gigabit Ethernet will provide faster speeds (1Gbps) than Fast Ethernet (100Mbps)
Greenfieldrsaquorsaquo New housing developments Many of these streets will receive the NBN before Brownfield locations as they will be connected on a demand-driven basis Developers apply to have the NBN connected in their development
HostedITrsaquorsaquo Instead of buying and installing IT equipment yourself you can use another companyrsquos servers This can
include servers to run your email and website as well as hosted applications that users access over the network You can also hire a ldquomanaged service providerrdquo to setup and run your own IT
Latencyrsaquorsaquo Sometimes refers to the delay between sending data and receiving a response Higher latency is a disadvantage when using certain applications like videoconferencing Latency is generally higher on satellite and wireless networks such as 3G although 4G has a theoretical lower latency than 3G
LTErsaquorsaquo Higher speed wireless broadband used in the latest generation of smartphones and if you are getting the NBN via fixed wireless Much faster speeds than ADSL are possible but latency is much higher than optical fibre cable meaning itrsquos not suitable for videoconferencing Sometimes referred to as ldquo4Grdquo
Continued over page
Greenfield
LTE
WirelessRouter
30 bitcomau
MidbandEthernetrsaquorsaquo Provides up to 40Mbps over multiple copper lines Unlike ADSL you get the same upload and download speed but cost is usually several hundred dollars a month
NTDrsaquorsaquo Network Termination Device This is supplied free and is attached to a wall inside your building It takes the place of a modem when you get the NBN This is the box your router and phones will plug in to
Paymentgatewayrsaquorsaquo Used if you want to let customers buy products from your website When a customer buys a product on your website the transaction is sent to a third party the payment gateway which authorises the payment with the bank
PCDrsaquorsaquo Premises Connection Device This is a small box that is attached to an outside wall of your building when you are connected to the NBN via fibre cable The NBN fibre cable runs through this box to the inside of your building where it connects to the NTD
Powerlinenetworkrsaquorsaquo If a wireless router isnrsquot enough to spread your Internet connection
around your business (due to brick walls or multiple stories) and having Ethernet cables installed is too difficult another option is a powerline network An adaptor is plugged into each power point and data can be sent through the buildingrsquos internal wiring
PSTNrsaquorsaquo The public switched telephone network The copper network your analogue telephone connects to
RSPrsaquorsaquo Retail Service Provider Another name for an Internet provider such as Telstra Optus iiNet or Internode Once your building is connected you can contact an RSP to pay for an Internet plan and start using the NBN
Serverrsaquorsaquo A central computer that other computers on a network connect to A server might be in your own building providing a central location so all your staff can access the same files from their computers or an Internet server to which you connect to to access web sites or other services
SHDSLrsaquorsaquo Unlike ADSL SHDSL provides the same upload and download speeds Speeds up to 40Mbps are available by combining several phone lines in the form of Extreme SHDSL
SIPrsaquorsaquo A protocol used in devices for delivering multiple VOIP telephone calls at once
PCD
NTD
PCD
31bitcomau
JARGON BUSTER
SLArsaquorsaquo business-grade broadband contracts can include a Service Level Agreement ndash the provider commits to providing a certain level of service (995 Internet uptime for example)
Synchronousrsaquorsaquo The same upload and download speeds Midband Ethernet and SHDSL are synchronous but ADSL services are not meaning upload speeds are much slower than download speeds
UNI-Vportrsaquorsaquo A port on the NBN network termination device (NTD) where you plug in a telephone Alternatively if you use a VOIP telephone service your telephone can be plugged into a wireless router with a VOIP feature which then plugs into the data port on the NTD
Batterybackupunitrsaquorsaquo A separate box supplied free with your NBN connection that is installed alongside the NTD on a wall inside your building This unit lets you continue to make telephone calls during a blackout if you are using an analogue phone running through the UNI-V port
Uploadspeedrsaquorsaquo If you use applications that send data such as videoconferencing and sending large email attachments as opposed to downloading large files and watching videos then look for an Internet service with higher upload speeds
UPSrsaquorsaquo Uninterruptible Power Supply A device that plugs into your server or computer so that it can continue to run if the main power supply stops
VOIPrsaquorsaquo Voice over IP Unlike regular telephone services VOIP telephone calls are converted to data and travel over data networks Call rates can be much cheaper though call quality can suffer if your VOIP service and your broadband connection arenrsquot suitable
VPNrsaquorsaquo A secure way to upload and download files to and from your officersquos internal network drives and servers when you are not in the office (eg at a hotel or from another office)
WANrsaquorsaquo Wide Area Network Offices in different towns or cities can be connected via the same WAN
Wirelessextenderrsaquorsaquo If you already have a wireless router this is a separate device which plugs into a power point and extends the range of the signal
WirelessNrsaquorsaquo Compatible routers are recommended for spreading your Internet connection around your office wirelessly Will be superseded by the faster 80211ac standard but there are not currently many compatible laptops and devices that will connect at 80211ac speeds
Batterybackupunit
UNI-Vport
WirelessRouter
28bitcomau
Their small businesses have the technology edgeDoes yoursSometimes you can be so busy that keeping up with technology seems too much What you really want to know is what it can do for your business BIT will keep you up to date with the technology that can help you do your job and grow your business ndash whether you are a florist a plumber an accountant or any type of Australian small business
B U S I N E S S I T
Make technology work for your business
Click to return to
Bit
- 001
- 002-003
- 004-009
- 010-011
- 012-017
- 018-019
- 020-025
- 026-027
- 028-031
- 032
-
5bitcomau
OUTLOOK
time spent online which Nielsen estimates reached a weekly average of 21 hours and 54 minutes in 2011 And the things we do online ndash such as banking booking appointments and researching and buying products ndash are also increasing
Secondly the Internet is overpowering geography The worldrsquos stores are now available and customers no longer need depend on local suppliers That same principle now applies to almost every kind of product and the vast majority of information-based services such as business administration design or marketing You are not just competing with nearby
businesses you are competing with businesses around Australia and around the world Maybe your business once made good money printing business cards for local companies ndash now they get that done by VistaPrint
And thirdly the Internet has trained Australians to expect instant service regardless of when or where they are such as banking at midnight or shopping while on the bus Customers donrsquot keep to business hours any more
A presence on the webOf course all this is happening without the NBN being in place Which makes now the
6 bitcomau
OUTLOOK
perfect time to be thinking about the potential impact of the NBN because the NBN will accelerate the changes that are already happening and make the benefits of high-speed broadband available to all
That means all of your customers potentially interacting online Will you be there to greet them
The first place to start when planning for the NBN is to look at your companyrsquos web presence If you donrsquot have one ndash and roughly
half of Australian businesses donrsquot ndash then get one
A website is your billboard on the Internet Start by putting up basic information about your products and services ndash pictures descriptions rates etc ndash and provide a response form to collect feedback
Not all products can be sold online but the basic rule is that if you can ship it you can sell it online But this also applies to many services such as bookkeeping graphic design or secretarial services Adding ecommerce means adding a lsquoshopping cartrsquo to your site and there are hundreds to choose from Yoursquoll also need to incorporate a payment gateway which is available from numerous
more than one in five online Australians shops or browses online between 6 and 10pm
HOW CAN I GET A WEBSITESo you want to get your business online but yoursquore not sure where to start Here are 3 simple ways you can get yourself up and running quickly
MYOB and Google have teamed in an initiative called Getting Aussie Business Online that offers a free basic website
You can design your own using a simple publishing tool such as WordPress with hosting available for just dollars a month
Or get someone else to design one for you using a service such as 99designs or DesignCrowd ndash Prices start from under $500
7bitcomau
OUTLOOK
suppliers such as PayPal POLi Payments or eWAY
Even business that involve physical services such as pool cleaning fence repairs or hairdressing can benefit from an ecommerce site by allowing clients to book with you online outside of your business hours According to Nielsen more than one in five Australians shops or browses online between 6pm and 10pm
Put yourself in picturesWhile the NBN will encourage more Australians to spend more time online and hence do more online the higher data transfer speed it provides means businesses can start to invest in more bandwidth-heavy applications such as video Creating videos to showcase your products and services is cheap and easy ndash a high-definition video camera such as the Toshiba
Camileo H30 sells for less than $250 Hosting your video on YouTube or Vimeo is free ndash and YouTube even offers editing software Importantly Nielsen estimates that 59 per cent of the online population watch online videos to help inform their purchase choices
Finally even if your business wonrsquot be connected to the NBN for years you can still take advantage of it Many useful services are hosted on the Internet itself ndash these are often described as cloud services so even if your own Internet service is relatively slow it could well be faster for your customers
That also means you donrsquot have to own your own web server or hire a team of professionals ndash your service provider will generally take care of all the hard work and you can simply add more services as you need them
Payment Gateway
When a customer buys a product on your site the transaction is sent to a third party or payment gateway which authorises the payment In a few seconds they send the details to the bank then let your website know itrsquos ok to go ahead with the transaction
8 bitcomau
BENEFITS
CUT MY PHONE BILLLong distance call charges should be consigned to the history books Ways of making calls over the Internet (also called voice-over-IP or VOIP) such as Skype enable you to talk free-of-charge between users of the same service and to call regular telephone numbers in distant locations at greatly reduced charges The NBN will improve call quality and reliability
SLASH MY IT SERVICE CHARGES
Many of the NBN-enabled services will be based in the Cloud meaning that someone else pays for the hardware
(like servers) and operating costs All you pay for is the service and the
computers you use to access them such as your PC smartphone or tablet
IMPROVE MY ONLINE SALESThe NBN will make it easier for more customers to browse and buy online meaning yoursquoll need to be ready for them Take advantage of the NBNrsquos bandwidth and include high-resolution images and high-definition video so customers can really see what theyrsquore getting
2
3
1
5
9bitcomau
BENEFITS
WAYS THE NBN CAN HELP MY BUSINESS
SPREAD MY WINGSThe NBN will make it possible for more people to work from home or remote locations using the Internet Teleworking gives staff more flexibility and might enable you to employ workers with special skills who might otherwise be located too far away
TRIM MY TRAVEL COSTSOnce yoursquove used high-definition
videoconferencing yoursquoll start to question whether the business trips you make are actually worth the time and cost
of flying The NBN will make two-way HD videoconferencing possible ndash and
affordable ndash from your desktop and tools such as Cisco WebEx Meetings and Citrix
GoToMeeting are free to trial
Therersquos more to the NBN than faster InternetWORDS BRAD HOWARTH
4
55
10 bitcomau
here are expensive and cheap NBN plans ndash just like there are for
other types of broadband The cheapest plan in our table on the right is $35 at 12Mbps with 50GB of data per month
When you compare this with what yoursquore paying now remember a couple of things First you are more likely to get consistent speeds on the NBN Even for Fixed Wireless NBN the NBN Co promises yoursquoll get ldquorelatively steadyrdquo speeds unlike 3G or 4G wireless broadband Second some of these NBN plans have much faster upload speeds than ADSL
Even though data limits look small for some entry level plans they often jump up drastically on the next most expensive plan ndash from 50GB to 200GB in one example
Yoursquoll also need a telephone service You can get this over the NBN too from your Internet provider You can keep your copper line telephone service for a while but eventually it will be decommissioned in areas with the NBN over fibre cable (not in areas with NBN via wireless or satellite)
What will it costGetting the best value on the NBN WORDS WILLIAM MAHER
T 100Mbps 40Mbps 50Mbps 20Mbps 25Mbps 5Mbps 12Mbps 1MbpsPROVIDER Cost Data limit Cost Data limit Cost Data limit Cost Data limit
Internode $7495 30GB $6495 30GB $5495 30GB $4995 30GB
iiNet $6995 40GB $6495 40GB $5495 40GB $4995 40GB
Optus $7999 120GB $6999 120GB $5999 120GB $3999 40GB
iPrimus $7995 40GB $6995 40GB $5995 40GB $4995 40GB
Telstra $9190 50GBwith phone service
ndash ndash $8190 50GBwith phone service
ndash ndash
Exetel $4500 25GB $5000 50GB $4000 50GB $3500 50GB
MyNetFone $9995 1000GB $6995 500GB $5995 250GB $3995 20GB
(Satellite) Activ8me ndash ndash ndash ndash ndash ndash $3495 3GB6Mbps 1Mbps
(Fixed Wireless) iiNet ndash ndash ndash ndash ndash ndash $4995 40GB
100Mbps 40Mbps 50Mbps 20Mbps 25Mbps 5Mbps 12Mbps 1MbpsPROVIDER Cost Data limit Cost Data limit Cost Data limit Cost Data limit
Internode $10495 30GB $9495 30GB $8495 30GB $7995 30GB
iiNet $9995 40GB $9495 40GB $8495 40GB25Mbps 10Mbps
$7995 40GB
Optus $7900 100GB $6900 100GB $6400 100GB $5900 100GB
MyNetFone $9995 1000GB $6995 500GB $5995 250GB $3995 20GB
RESIDENTIAL PLANS PER MONTH
BUSINESS PLANS PER MONTH
Please note This is designed to be a general guide to the cost of NBN services For each speed tier we have picked the cheapest available plan from each provider
11bitcomau
PLANS amp PRICES
100Mbps 40Mbps 50Mbps 20Mbps 25Mbps 5Mbps 12Mbps 1MbpsPROVIDER Cost Data limit Cost Data limit Cost Data limit Cost Data limit
Internode $7495 30GB $6495 30GB $5495 30GB $4995 30GB
iiNet $6995 40GB $6495 40GB $5495 40GB $4995 40GB
Optus $7999 120GB $6999 120GB $5999 120GB $3999 40GB
iPrimus $7995 40GB $6995 40GB $5995 40GB $4995 40GB
Telstra $9190 50GBwith phone service
ndash ndash $8190 50GBwith phone service
ndash ndash
Exetel $4500 25GB $5000 50GB $4000 50GB $3500 50GB
MyNetFone $9995 1000GB $6995 500GB $5995 250GB $3995 20GB
(Satellite) Activ8me ndash ndash ndash ndash ndash ndash $3495 3GB6Mbps 1Mbps
(Fixed Wireless) iiNet ndash ndash ndash ndash ndash ndash $4995 40GB
100Mbps 40Mbps 50Mbps 20Mbps 25Mbps 5Mbps 12Mbps 1MbpsPROVIDER Cost Data limit Cost Data limit Cost Data limit Cost Data limit
Internode $10495 30GB $9495 30GB $8495 30GB $7995 30GB
iiNet $9995 40GB $9495 40GB $8495 40GB25Mbps 10Mbps
$7995 40GB
Optus $7900 100GB $6900 100GB $6400 100GB $5900 100GB
MyNetFone $9995 1000GB $6995 500GB $5995 250GB $3995 20GB
RESIDENTIAL PLANS PER MONTH
BUSINESS PLANS PER MONTH
Not all services and providers are listed Extra fees and conditions such as setup fees (where applicable) contract length peakoff-peak restrictions are not shown All prices correct at time of writing but may have changed Check with your provider for the latest details
Compare more pricesClick here for extra comparisons at the BIT website
12 bitcomau
1 Connecting my buildingHow does the NBN connect to my building and what does the NBN box look like p14
2 Inside my officeIs my office ready for the NBN and do I need a network p16
13bitcomau
Now that you know how the NBN might help you letrsquos get down to the nuts and bolts of connecting If you want the maximum speed and most value for your money there are a few important things to know ndash for example is your network up to scratchWORDS WILLIAM MAHER
CONNECTING MY OFFICE
3 Choosing my routerFrom routers to wireless extenders here are useful devices that will help you get more from the NBN p17
OFFICE READY
14 bitcomau
1 CONNECTING MY BUILDINGThis is the NBN box that is being installed in businesses and homes across the countryIf yoursquore being connected by fibre optic cable as opposed to wireless or satellite the cable will run down your street either in trenches or strung on overhead lines Your connection again either in a trench or via an overhead line will run to a box called the Premises Connection Device (PCD) which will be attached to an outside wall of your building ndash the fibre comes into your building via this box
The fibre then travels to the Network Termination Device (NTD) Thatrsquos the box you see on this page This is the box you might connect to your router computers and desk phones You wonrsquot use a DSL modem anymore ndash for the modem function at least This box replaces it
Letrsquos take a look at the box In the photo the incoming NBN cable connects to the box on the right [A] From here a cable connects the NTD to your router via the data port [B] Note there are four data ports For example it might be possible to get Internet access from one provider and perhaps
a video on demand service on a separate port
On the left are two voice ports [C] ndash once copper telephone lines are phased out all NBN fibre-connected buildings will have phones connected over the NBN If you have a landline telephone that should plug straight into the voice port on the box
Keep in mind that the NBN box gets installed by an NBN contractor
The NTD must be next to a power point which will be used for the battery backup unit ndash a separate box that sits next to this one so you can make phone calls if there is a blackout
For a standard installation the NTD will be attached to an exterior wall (inside the building but on an outer wall) If you need the box in another room where your router and other equipment are there is an option for a ldquonon-standardrdquo installation but you might have to pay
15bitcomau
OFFICE READY
The NBN Box comes with four data ports The battery backup
unit (not shown)will not power these ports in a blackout only the voice ports
[B]
You can request a voice service to be delivered through
these UNI-V voice ports Your corded telephone will plug straight in
[C]
This is where the incoming NBN fibre connects[A]
NBN Network Termination Device (NTD)PRICE FREE SUPPLIER NBN CO
16 bitcomau
2 INSIDE MY OFFICEHow will your computers desk phones and other devices connect to the NBN boxOnce the NBN is installed in your building and yoursquove signed up with your Internet provider for an NBN Internet plan yoursquoll need to connect your computers to the NBN box
If you have more than one computer one way of doing this is to connect them via Wi-Fi to a
wireless router you plug into the NBN box If all you need to do is browse the web send email
send documents and watch the occasional video then this might be ok If you are sending and
receiving a lot of very big files though or you need to regularly watch high definition video or backup large amounts of data using the NBN then therersquos
the possibility Wi-Fi might slow things down
WIRELESSROUTER[1]
Another option is to connect all your computers to the NBN box with network cable This will give you the fastest throughput from the NBN box to your computers Wersquore not about to go out on a limb and suggest everyone start planning when to get their floorboards ripped up for cabling though Not only is it an extra expense running cables throughout your building isnrsquot a simple job
NETWORKCABLE[2]
17bitcomau
OFFICE READY
Powerline networking is another option You plug network ports to the power points in your house The system uses the electricity wiring instead of network cables It should give you a better connection than Wi-Fi
WARNINGOne big surprise is that yoursquore not to install any data cabling yourself if it connects to the telecoms network A licensed professional is supposed to do the job badly installed network cable can result in slow speed dropouts or in extreme cases injury And while there might be electricians with excellent data expertise itrsquos a different set of skills and theyrsquore not always the best choice If in doubt ask for their registration card or check with the registrar yourself The ACMA web site has a fact sheet
POWERLINENETWORKING[3]
3 CHOOSING MY ROUTERWORDS JOHN GILLOOLY
Once you have the NBN you need a router to spread the Internet to each computer in your building
You might see lsquoNBN readyrsquo modem routers for sale ndash this means that the ADSL modem can be disabled once you get the NBN (because the NBN box takes care of that function) But these routers might be designed for low ADSL speeds and may not actually cope with the demands of the highest NBN speeds of 100Mbit download 40Mbit upload If your NBN plan isnrsquot that fast your router might cope ok but it is best to think of any lsquoNBN Readyrsquo ADSL modemrouter as a temporary solution We suggest looking for
Routers that can cope with sustained high-speed transfers We like ASUSrsquo RT-N56U the FritzBox Fon WLAN 7390 and Netgearrsquos DGND3700 N600
If yoursquore using Wi-Fi a dual band wireless router (these will work at the 5GHz band) is ideal but your Wi-Fi devices must be compatible
80211ac wireless routers will work better with Wi-Fi devices and have the fastest technology on the market but arenrsquot a must-have yet
If you have network cable installed a Gigabit Ethernet router is ideal
Want more Click to see photos of common wiring mistakes
Fritzbox Fon WLAN 7390
18 bitcomau
Tips and advice from real NBN usersWORDS WILLIAM MAHER
TOP
1 PLAN AHEAD
Itrsquos generally a good idea to have the NBN termination unit installed as close to your computers and router as possible ndash everything that connects to the Internet will need to connect to it This might cost extra
2 GET HERITAGE CLEARANCE
Installation will likely involve holes being drilled in your wall to attach equipment feeds to the cable If you work in a heritage building then this might not be allowed
4 DONrsquoT EXPECT THE INTERNET TO BE PERFECT ALL THE TIME
Yes despite all the hype some NBN users have told us that web browsing
on the NBN is sometimes not noticeably any faster than ADSL Your connection might be fast but web servers on the other side of the world can still struggle to cope with congestion On the upside it should cope much
better with several users uploads should be faster and it should be
less prone to dropouts
3 DONrsquoT RUSH IN
Just because your building gets connected doesnrsquot mean you have to start using the NBN straight away Generally the plan is for the copper telephone lines to be kept for 18 months after the NBN is rolled out before being disconnected Where the NBN is delivered by wireless or satellite telephone lines wonrsquot be disconnected for at least 10 years
19bitcomau
NEED TO KNOW
7 BE WARY OF CHEAP ROUTERS
Your router will need to be able to cope with NBN speeds as well as be able to spread the data around your building fast enough If it doesnrsquot have gigabit Ethernet (for wired networks) or dual band wireless (for wireless networks) you might want to think about upgrading See page 19
9 GET A BACKUP POWER SUPPLY
Even if you have a battery backup box supplied with the NBN connection it wonrsquot keep your Internet running during a blackout only your phone If data access is critical to your business even during a blackout get an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) for a few hundred dollars
8 COMPARE VOICE PLANS
The Internet provider you have a data plan with might give you a better deal on a UNI-V phone service than other providers But call rates might be cheaper on a phone plan through the UNI-D ports
6 REWIRE YOUR PHONES
If you have lots of phone extensions in different rooms itrsquos still possible to keep using them for phone calls but the wiring will need to be connected to the NBN box An alternative is to connect a cordless phone base station to the NBN box
10 WATCH FOR BOTTLENECKS
Wersquove heard stories of people complaining that the NBN isnrsquot any faster but in the end something on their network was limiting the speed ndash like a wireless router that was affected by interference Remember that your own network can cause problems if itrsquos not set up correctly Bad cabling can also cause problems
5 CHECK YOU HAVE ENOUGH PHONE PORTS
The NBN termination unit has two phone ports If you need more phone lines once the copper telephone lines are disconnected consider switching to a VOIP telephone plan This gives you lots of ldquovirtualrdquo lines which run through the data ports instead
20 bitcomau
o you donrsquot want to wait for the NBN to arrive You need faster
more reliable Internet now On these pages wersquove listed ways you can get it without waiting for the NBN
The cheapest broadband is a home plan and they can provide relatively fast speeds if you only have one or two computers But if your business has grown or you want to connect a small office full of people business-grade broadband might serve you better
Generally business-grade services cost more ndash anywhere from around the $100-a-month mark up to $1000 or more
Yes the more expensive services can be much faster than a home ADSL service but download speeds are only one benefit
Other benefits of a business data service might include
A commitment that the connection will be working for a certain amount of time Eg ldquo9995 uptimerdquo
Fewer customers to share the bandwidth with This means your connection is less likely to slow down when lots of other businesses are using the network too
Faster upload speeds than home ADSL Very important to prevent your connection slowing down if you have several people sending large files at the same time Upload speeds are very limited on home ADSL services
Some services include 24x7 technical support
NBN plans are generally shaping up to be good value compared to what you see on the following pages but not everyone wants to wait
What if I donrsquot have the NBN yetEven if the roll-out hasnrsquot reached your area yet there are still several other options to get better Internet performance nowWORDS WILLIAM MAHER
SSLA
A Service Level Agreement is offered with many business data plans It sets out formal responsibilities of the service provider covering things like how fast they should respond to you if there is a problem what hours of the day technical support is available a commitment that problems will be fixed within a certain number of hours and that the service will be running without problems for a certain amount of time
21bitcomau
OPTIONS
HOME ADSL2+Speed Up to 24Mbps download 1Mbps upload (theoretical peak speeds actual speeds will be slower)Pros Relatively cheap compared to business servicesCons Speed depends on distance from telephone exchange Slow upload speed Shared with other usersRecommended Home office 1-2 computers where upload speeds arenrsquot critical where consistent speed isnrsquot critical for day-to-day operations
HOME ADSL2+ WITH ANNEX MSpeed Up to 24Mbps download up to 25Mbps upload (theoretical peak speeds Actual speeds will be slower)Pros Relatively cheap compared to business services Faster upload speed than regular ADSL2+Cons Speed depends on distance from telephone exchange Shared with other usersRecommended Home office 1-2 computers where faster upload speeds are useful but not critical where consistent speed isnrsquot critical for day-to-day operations
CABLE INTERNETSpeed Up to 100Mbps download up to 2Mbps upload (theoretical peak speeds Actual
speeds will be slower)Pros Relatively cheap compared to business services Much faster potential download speeds than ADSL2+Cons Limited to certain cities upload speeds much slower than download shared with other usersRecommended Home office 1-2 computers where faster download speeds than ADSL2+ are needed where fast upload speeds are not necessary where consistent speed isnrsquot critical for day-to-day operations
WIRELESS 3G Speed ldquoTypicalrdquo speeds up to 20Mbps download up to 3Mbps upload (actual speeds could be much slower speed depends on network type)Pros You can use it on the moveCons Speed varies a lot depending on where you are Speed decreases as more users share network Latency generally higher than ADSL Upload speeds much lower than downloadRecommended Secondary connection for accessing email and websites while on the move and where fast upload speeds are not required Where a reliable connection and consistent speed isnrsquot important
WIRELESS 4GSpeed ldquoTypicalrdquo speeds up
22 bitcomau
to 40MBps download up to 10Mbps upload (actual speeds could be much slower)Pros You can use it on the move Higher upload speeds than ADSL2+ and 3G are possibleCons Speed varies a lot depending on where you are Speed decreases as more users share network Theoretical upload speeds slower than download (though not always the case in practice) Limited to Telstra and Optus at time of writing
Recommended Secondary connection while on the move and where faster upload speeds than 3G are required for transferring large files For connecting several gadgets (tablet and laptop) to the Internet at the same time Where a reliable connection and consistent speed isnrsquot important
BUSINESS ADSL2+Speed up to 24Mbps download up to 25Mbps upload
DATA SPEED COMPARISON DOWNLOADSUPLOADS
0Mbps 10Mbps 20Mbps 30Mbps 40Mbps 50Mbps 100Mbps 1000Mbps
HOME ADSL2+
HOME ADSL2+ WITH ANNEX M
CABLE INTERNET
WIRELESS 3G (PEAK ldquoTYPICALrdquo SPEED)
WIRELESS 4G (PEAK ldquoTYPICALrdquo SPEED)
BUSINESS ADSL2+
BONDED DSL
SHDSL
ETHERNET OVER COPPER
ETHERNET OVER FIBRE
NBN (FIBRE)
NBN (FIXED WIRELESS)
NBN (SATELLITE)
23bitcomau
OPTIONS
with Annex M (theoretical peak speeds Actual speeds will be slower)Pros Relatively cheap compared to other business broadband services Might include priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratioCons Speed depends on distance from telephone exchange Upload speed much slower than downloadRecommended Home office 1-3 computers where upload
speeds arenrsquot critical where consistent speed isnrsquot critical for day-to-day operations
BONDED DSLSpeed Typical speeds up to 30Mbps download up to 26Mbps upload with Annex M (by combining copper lines) (actual speeds could be slower)Pros Faster speeds than ADSL2+ possible Relatively cheap compared to other business broadband services
Please note The information on these pages is intended to be a general guide only Exact speeds and other factors can differ between providers Check these details with your provider before purchasing a data service Unless otherwise noted we have quoted maximum potential speeds real life speeds can be significantly slower (especially for wireless and ADSL) and maximum potential speeds can vary according to which technology variant your network uses Note For wireless 3G and 4G we have followed the lead of carriers and quoted the maximum ldquotypicalrdquo speed you are likely to achieve not the maximum theoretical speed
Some of these services will not be available at a certain point after the NBN is connected in your area For example in areas where fibre cable is installed to connect customers to the NBN copper telephone lines will be decommissioned 18 months after the fibre is connected HFC (cable Internet) networks are also expected to be decommissioned in each area once the NBN is rolled out
0Mbps 10Mbps 20Mbps 30Mbps 40Mbps 50Mbps 100Mbps 1000Mbps
DOWNLOADUPLOAD
24 bitcomau
Might include priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratioCons Speed depends on distance from telephone exchange Upload speed much slower than downloads Two telephone lines neededRecommended Homesmall office that needs faster speeds than ADSL2+ or canrsquot get fast enough ADSL2+ speeds because of distance from telephone exchange Where having the same uploaddownload speed isnrsquot necessary
SHDSLSpeed Up to 46Mbps download up to 46Mbps uploadPros Same upload and download speeds Speeds are guaranteed Usually includes priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratioCons More expensive than ADSL2+ Download speeds offered often slower than theoretical ADSL2+ peak speedsRecommende Office that needs faster speeds than ADSL2+ especially where upload speed is crucial for videoconferencing regularly sending large files multiple Voice over IP telephone lines or connecting several offices Where fibre isnrsquot available Where consistent speed is critical
ETHERNET OVER COPPER(MIDBAND ETHERNET)Speed Up to 40Mbps download up to 40Mbps upload (by combining copper lines)Pros Same upload and download speeds Much faster upload speeds than ADSL2+ available Usually includes priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratio Cheaper overall than fibreCons More expensive than ADSL2+Recommended Office with many people at the same time regularly sending large files videoconferencing backup hosted applications VPN using VOIP or connecting to servers in other offices Where fibre isnrsquot available or is too expensive
ETHERNET OVER FIBRESpeed Up to 1000Mbps download up to 1000 Mbps uploadPros Same upload and download speeds Much faster speeds available than other services Usually includes priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratioCons Generally the most expensive option ndash can cost several thousand dollars a month Limited availabilityRecommended Large offices with many people at the same time regularly sending large
Latency Sometimes
refers to the delay between sending data and receiving a response Higher latency is a disadvantage when using certain applications like video-conferencing Latency is generally higher on satellite and wireless networks such as 3G although 4G has a theoretical lower latency than 3G
25bitcomau
OPTIONS
files videoconferencing backup hosted applications VPN using VOIP or connecting to servers in other offices Where a reliable connection and consistent very high speed is critical for day to day operations
NBN (FIBRE)Speed Up to 100MBps download up to 40Mbps upload (fastest plans available at time of writing Faster speeds theoretically possible in future)Pros Much faster speeds available than ADSL2+ including much faster upload speeds Provides minimum peak speeds unlike ADSL2+ More reliable than ADSL Business plans can include priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) (though residential NBN plans might not include this) Generally much cheaper than other business services with comparable speedsCons Very limited availability at time of writingRecommended Where several users need to senddownload large files videoconference backup use hosted applications VPN use VOIP or connect to servers in other offices at the same time Where a reliable connection and consistent speeds are critical Where much faster downloadupload speeds than ADSL2+ are important
NBN (FIXED WIRELESS)Speed Minimum 12Mbps download up to 1Mbps upload (Faster speeds planned)Pros Unlike mobile 4G and 3G networks ldquorelatively steadyrdquo speeds are promisedCons Very limited availability at time of writing Upload speeds much slower than download Top download speed currently much slower than NBN fibre and some other business servicesRecommended Where ADSL2+ isnrsquot available or is unreliable or slow For home office or small office where very high downloadupload speeds arenrsquot critical
NBN (SATELLITE)Speed Up to 6Mbps download up to 1Mbps upload (12Mbps download speeds planned for 2015)Pros Better speeds than some locations could otherwise getCons Top download speed relatively slow compared to NBN fibre and theoretical peak ADSL2+ download speed Upload speed much slower than download speed Higher latency than fixed line services Generally smaller download limits than ADSL2+ and fibreRecommended Locations that donrsquot have access to other broadband Where fast upload speeds arenrsquot needed Where latency-sensitive applications like VPNs arenrsquot required
26 bitcomau
My BookmarksFor more information on the best NBN plans and more click these links
Show me when I am getting connected
General NBN info
Show me all the NBN providers
Tell me if I can get NBN satellite
Give me more info on fibre NBN
I want more info on wireless NBN
I want more info about
the NBN fibre termination unit
Show me all the towns on
the current NBN rollout plan
Show me the NBN FAQ
27bitcomau
MORE INFO
Show me the best plans
Tell me about finding
a registered cabler
I want to try videoconferencing
Show me a list of cablers
I want Microsoft to host my servers
for me
Show me more about
getting connected
I want to read what users are
saying about Internet
providers
I want a web site
Help me make better
use of the NBN for
my business
Teach me about
online marketing
I want Google to
host my servers for me
28 bitcomau
The tech-talk in plain English
AnnexMrsaquorsaquo An add-on feature that some ADSL Internet providers offer to increase the speed of uploads iiNet for example says that customers will get a theoretical maximum upload speed of 275Mbps
ATArsaquorsaquo If you want to use a VOIP telephone service and donrsquot have a suitable VOIP router your VOIP provider can provide this adapter which you plug your telephone into
BondedDSLrsaquorsaquo By combining several phone lines higher broadband speeds are possible Unlike SHDSL upload speeds are still a lot slower than download speeds
Brownfieldrsaquorsaquo Premises that have already been built The focus is on connecting brownfields in regional areas to the NBN first so people currently with the worst broadband get it first
Businessgradebroadbandrsaquorsaquo Can cost more than home broadband but can include guaranteed uptime service agreements and sometimes your
data will travel over a separate network meaning less traffic congestion
Cat6rsaquorsaquo Category 6 cables are recommended for Gigabit Ethernet speeds in an office network
Cloudrsaquorsaquo Instead of buying and installing software on your own businessrsquos server a cloud company owns and runs the server hardware and software ndash you pay to access it over the Internet Examples include Microsoft Office 365 Salesforce Gmail and Dropbox
Contentionratiorsaquorsaquo A term used to indicate how many users have to share the same bandwidth Generally the lower the contention ratio the better Business grade broadband can sometimes have better contention ratios than home broadband
Copperrsaquorsaquo The public telephone lines also used for broadband services like ADSL SHDSL and Midband Ethernet Data services over copper reduce in speed the further your building is from your local telephone exchange
Dualbandwirelessrsaquorsaquo Dual band wireless routers can use two frequency bands (24GHz and 5GHz) to send and receive data unlike some wireless routers which can only use 24GHz This Brownfield
29bitcomau
JARGON BUSTER
can mean faster speeds but the tablet phone or laptop you are using needs to work on 5GHz or you wonrsquot see any difference
Ethernetrsaquorsaquo A network protocol often used for networks inside your building but can also be used for data services delivered over copper telephone lines or optical fibre cable Ethernet broadband services generally have same uploaddownload as opposed to ADSL
Exchangersaquorsaquo Can refer to Microsoft Exchange software which runs on a companyrsquos server and operates their company email or a telephone exchange
FSAMrsaquorsaquo A group of up to 3000 buildings connected to the NBN
GigabitEthernetrsaquorsaquo If you are using Ethernet cable to network your office Gigabit Ethernet will provide faster speeds (1Gbps) than Fast Ethernet (100Mbps)
Greenfieldrsaquorsaquo New housing developments Many of these streets will receive the NBN before Brownfield locations as they will be connected on a demand-driven basis Developers apply to have the NBN connected in their development
HostedITrsaquorsaquo Instead of buying and installing IT equipment yourself you can use another companyrsquos servers This can
include servers to run your email and website as well as hosted applications that users access over the network You can also hire a ldquomanaged service providerrdquo to setup and run your own IT
Latencyrsaquorsaquo Sometimes refers to the delay between sending data and receiving a response Higher latency is a disadvantage when using certain applications like videoconferencing Latency is generally higher on satellite and wireless networks such as 3G although 4G has a theoretical lower latency than 3G
LTErsaquorsaquo Higher speed wireless broadband used in the latest generation of smartphones and if you are getting the NBN via fixed wireless Much faster speeds than ADSL are possible but latency is much higher than optical fibre cable meaning itrsquos not suitable for videoconferencing Sometimes referred to as ldquo4Grdquo
Continued over page
Greenfield
LTE
WirelessRouter
30 bitcomau
MidbandEthernetrsaquorsaquo Provides up to 40Mbps over multiple copper lines Unlike ADSL you get the same upload and download speed but cost is usually several hundred dollars a month
NTDrsaquorsaquo Network Termination Device This is supplied free and is attached to a wall inside your building It takes the place of a modem when you get the NBN This is the box your router and phones will plug in to
Paymentgatewayrsaquorsaquo Used if you want to let customers buy products from your website When a customer buys a product on your website the transaction is sent to a third party the payment gateway which authorises the payment with the bank
PCDrsaquorsaquo Premises Connection Device This is a small box that is attached to an outside wall of your building when you are connected to the NBN via fibre cable The NBN fibre cable runs through this box to the inside of your building where it connects to the NTD
Powerlinenetworkrsaquorsaquo If a wireless router isnrsquot enough to spread your Internet connection
around your business (due to brick walls or multiple stories) and having Ethernet cables installed is too difficult another option is a powerline network An adaptor is plugged into each power point and data can be sent through the buildingrsquos internal wiring
PSTNrsaquorsaquo The public switched telephone network The copper network your analogue telephone connects to
RSPrsaquorsaquo Retail Service Provider Another name for an Internet provider such as Telstra Optus iiNet or Internode Once your building is connected you can contact an RSP to pay for an Internet plan and start using the NBN
Serverrsaquorsaquo A central computer that other computers on a network connect to A server might be in your own building providing a central location so all your staff can access the same files from their computers or an Internet server to which you connect to to access web sites or other services
SHDSLrsaquorsaquo Unlike ADSL SHDSL provides the same upload and download speeds Speeds up to 40Mbps are available by combining several phone lines in the form of Extreme SHDSL
SIPrsaquorsaquo A protocol used in devices for delivering multiple VOIP telephone calls at once
PCD
NTD
PCD
31bitcomau
JARGON BUSTER
SLArsaquorsaquo business-grade broadband contracts can include a Service Level Agreement ndash the provider commits to providing a certain level of service (995 Internet uptime for example)
Synchronousrsaquorsaquo The same upload and download speeds Midband Ethernet and SHDSL are synchronous but ADSL services are not meaning upload speeds are much slower than download speeds
UNI-Vportrsaquorsaquo A port on the NBN network termination device (NTD) where you plug in a telephone Alternatively if you use a VOIP telephone service your telephone can be plugged into a wireless router with a VOIP feature which then plugs into the data port on the NTD
Batterybackupunitrsaquorsaquo A separate box supplied free with your NBN connection that is installed alongside the NTD on a wall inside your building This unit lets you continue to make telephone calls during a blackout if you are using an analogue phone running through the UNI-V port
Uploadspeedrsaquorsaquo If you use applications that send data such as videoconferencing and sending large email attachments as opposed to downloading large files and watching videos then look for an Internet service with higher upload speeds
UPSrsaquorsaquo Uninterruptible Power Supply A device that plugs into your server or computer so that it can continue to run if the main power supply stops
VOIPrsaquorsaquo Voice over IP Unlike regular telephone services VOIP telephone calls are converted to data and travel over data networks Call rates can be much cheaper though call quality can suffer if your VOIP service and your broadband connection arenrsquot suitable
VPNrsaquorsaquo A secure way to upload and download files to and from your officersquos internal network drives and servers when you are not in the office (eg at a hotel or from another office)
WANrsaquorsaquo Wide Area Network Offices in different towns or cities can be connected via the same WAN
Wirelessextenderrsaquorsaquo If you already have a wireless router this is a separate device which plugs into a power point and extends the range of the signal
WirelessNrsaquorsaquo Compatible routers are recommended for spreading your Internet connection around your office wirelessly Will be superseded by the faster 80211ac standard but there are not currently many compatible laptops and devices that will connect at 80211ac speeds
Batterybackupunit
UNI-Vport
WirelessRouter
28bitcomau
Their small businesses have the technology edgeDoes yoursSometimes you can be so busy that keeping up with technology seems too much What you really want to know is what it can do for your business BIT will keep you up to date with the technology that can help you do your job and grow your business ndash whether you are a florist a plumber an accountant or any type of Australian small business
B U S I N E S S I T
Make technology work for your business
Click to return to
Bit
- 001
- 002-003
- 004-009
- 010-011
- 012-017
- 018-019
- 020-025
- 026-027
- 028-031
- 032
-
6 bitcomau
OUTLOOK
perfect time to be thinking about the potential impact of the NBN because the NBN will accelerate the changes that are already happening and make the benefits of high-speed broadband available to all
That means all of your customers potentially interacting online Will you be there to greet them
The first place to start when planning for the NBN is to look at your companyrsquos web presence If you donrsquot have one ndash and roughly
half of Australian businesses donrsquot ndash then get one
A website is your billboard on the Internet Start by putting up basic information about your products and services ndash pictures descriptions rates etc ndash and provide a response form to collect feedback
Not all products can be sold online but the basic rule is that if you can ship it you can sell it online But this also applies to many services such as bookkeeping graphic design or secretarial services Adding ecommerce means adding a lsquoshopping cartrsquo to your site and there are hundreds to choose from Yoursquoll also need to incorporate a payment gateway which is available from numerous
more than one in five online Australians shops or browses online between 6 and 10pm
HOW CAN I GET A WEBSITESo you want to get your business online but yoursquore not sure where to start Here are 3 simple ways you can get yourself up and running quickly
MYOB and Google have teamed in an initiative called Getting Aussie Business Online that offers a free basic website
You can design your own using a simple publishing tool such as WordPress with hosting available for just dollars a month
Or get someone else to design one for you using a service such as 99designs or DesignCrowd ndash Prices start from under $500
7bitcomau
OUTLOOK
suppliers such as PayPal POLi Payments or eWAY
Even business that involve physical services such as pool cleaning fence repairs or hairdressing can benefit from an ecommerce site by allowing clients to book with you online outside of your business hours According to Nielsen more than one in five Australians shops or browses online between 6pm and 10pm
Put yourself in picturesWhile the NBN will encourage more Australians to spend more time online and hence do more online the higher data transfer speed it provides means businesses can start to invest in more bandwidth-heavy applications such as video Creating videos to showcase your products and services is cheap and easy ndash a high-definition video camera such as the Toshiba
Camileo H30 sells for less than $250 Hosting your video on YouTube or Vimeo is free ndash and YouTube even offers editing software Importantly Nielsen estimates that 59 per cent of the online population watch online videos to help inform their purchase choices
Finally even if your business wonrsquot be connected to the NBN for years you can still take advantage of it Many useful services are hosted on the Internet itself ndash these are often described as cloud services so even if your own Internet service is relatively slow it could well be faster for your customers
That also means you donrsquot have to own your own web server or hire a team of professionals ndash your service provider will generally take care of all the hard work and you can simply add more services as you need them
Payment Gateway
When a customer buys a product on your site the transaction is sent to a third party or payment gateway which authorises the payment In a few seconds they send the details to the bank then let your website know itrsquos ok to go ahead with the transaction
8 bitcomau
BENEFITS
CUT MY PHONE BILLLong distance call charges should be consigned to the history books Ways of making calls over the Internet (also called voice-over-IP or VOIP) such as Skype enable you to talk free-of-charge between users of the same service and to call regular telephone numbers in distant locations at greatly reduced charges The NBN will improve call quality and reliability
SLASH MY IT SERVICE CHARGES
Many of the NBN-enabled services will be based in the Cloud meaning that someone else pays for the hardware
(like servers) and operating costs All you pay for is the service and the
computers you use to access them such as your PC smartphone or tablet
IMPROVE MY ONLINE SALESThe NBN will make it easier for more customers to browse and buy online meaning yoursquoll need to be ready for them Take advantage of the NBNrsquos bandwidth and include high-resolution images and high-definition video so customers can really see what theyrsquore getting
2
3
1
5
9bitcomau
BENEFITS
WAYS THE NBN CAN HELP MY BUSINESS
SPREAD MY WINGSThe NBN will make it possible for more people to work from home or remote locations using the Internet Teleworking gives staff more flexibility and might enable you to employ workers with special skills who might otherwise be located too far away
TRIM MY TRAVEL COSTSOnce yoursquove used high-definition
videoconferencing yoursquoll start to question whether the business trips you make are actually worth the time and cost
of flying The NBN will make two-way HD videoconferencing possible ndash and
affordable ndash from your desktop and tools such as Cisco WebEx Meetings and Citrix
GoToMeeting are free to trial
Therersquos more to the NBN than faster InternetWORDS BRAD HOWARTH
4
55
10 bitcomau
here are expensive and cheap NBN plans ndash just like there are for
other types of broadband The cheapest plan in our table on the right is $35 at 12Mbps with 50GB of data per month
When you compare this with what yoursquore paying now remember a couple of things First you are more likely to get consistent speeds on the NBN Even for Fixed Wireless NBN the NBN Co promises yoursquoll get ldquorelatively steadyrdquo speeds unlike 3G or 4G wireless broadband Second some of these NBN plans have much faster upload speeds than ADSL
Even though data limits look small for some entry level plans they often jump up drastically on the next most expensive plan ndash from 50GB to 200GB in one example
Yoursquoll also need a telephone service You can get this over the NBN too from your Internet provider You can keep your copper line telephone service for a while but eventually it will be decommissioned in areas with the NBN over fibre cable (not in areas with NBN via wireless or satellite)
What will it costGetting the best value on the NBN WORDS WILLIAM MAHER
T 100Mbps 40Mbps 50Mbps 20Mbps 25Mbps 5Mbps 12Mbps 1MbpsPROVIDER Cost Data limit Cost Data limit Cost Data limit Cost Data limit
Internode $7495 30GB $6495 30GB $5495 30GB $4995 30GB
iiNet $6995 40GB $6495 40GB $5495 40GB $4995 40GB
Optus $7999 120GB $6999 120GB $5999 120GB $3999 40GB
iPrimus $7995 40GB $6995 40GB $5995 40GB $4995 40GB
Telstra $9190 50GBwith phone service
ndash ndash $8190 50GBwith phone service
ndash ndash
Exetel $4500 25GB $5000 50GB $4000 50GB $3500 50GB
MyNetFone $9995 1000GB $6995 500GB $5995 250GB $3995 20GB
(Satellite) Activ8me ndash ndash ndash ndash ndash ndash $3495 3GB6Mbps 1Mbps
(Fixed Wireless) iiNet ndash ndash ndash ndash ndash ndash $4995 40GB
100Mbps 40Mbps 50Mbps 20Mbps 25Mbps 5Mbps 12Mbps 1MbpsPROVIDER Cost Data limit Cost Data limit Cost Data limit Cost Data limit
Internode $10495 30GB $9495 30GB $8495 30GB $7995 30GB
iiNet $9995 40GB $9495 40GB $8495 40GB25Mbps 10Mbps
$7995 40GB
Optus $7900 100GB $6900 100GB $6400 100GB $5900 100GB
MyNetFone $9995 1000GB $6995 500GB $5995 250GB $3995 20GB
RESIDENTIAL PLANS PER MONTH
BUSINESS PLANS PER MONTH
Please note This is designed to be a general guide to the cost of NBN services For each speed tier we have picked the cheapest available plan from each provider
11bitcomau
PLANS amp PRICES
100Mbps 40Mbps 50Mbps 20Mbps 25Mbps 5Mbps 12Mbps 1MbpsPROVIDER Cost Data limit Cost Data limit Cost Data limit Cost Data limit
Internode $7495 30GB $6495 30GB $5495 30GB $4995 30GB
iiNet $6995 40GB $6495 40GB $5495 40GB $4995 40GB
Optus $7999 120GB $6999 120GB $5999 120GB $3999 40GB
iPrimus $7995 40GB $6995 40GB $5995 40GB $4995 40GB
Telstra $9190 50GBwith phone service
ndash ndash $8190 50GBwith phone service
ndash ndash
Exetel $4500 25GB $5000 50GB $4000 50GB $3500 50GB
MyNetFone $9995 1000GB $6995 500GB $5995 250GB $3995 20GB
(Satellite) Activ8me ndash ndash ndash ndash ndash ndash $3495 3GB6Mbps 1Mbps
(Fixed Wireless) iiNet ndash ndash ndash ndash ndash ndash $4995 40GB
100Mbps 40Mbps 50Mbps 20Mbps 25Mbps 5Mbps 12Mbps 1MbpsPROVIDER Cost Data limit Cost Data limit Cost Data limit Cost Data limit
Internode $10495 30GB $9495 30GB $8495 30GB $7995 30GB
iiNet $9995 40GB $9495 40GB $8495 40GB25Mbps 10Mbps
$7995 40GB
Optus $7900 100GB $6900 100GB $6400 100GB $5900 100GB
MyNetFone $9995 1000GB $6995 500GB $5995 250GB $3995 20GB
RESIDENTIAL PLANS PER MONTH
BUSINESS PLANS PER MONTH
Not all services and providers are listed Extra fees and conditions such as setup fees (where applicable) contract length peakoff-peak restrictions are not shown All prices correct at time of writing but may have changed Check with your provider for the latest details
Compare more pricesClick here for extra comparisons at the BIT website
12 bitcomau
1 Connecting my buildingHow does the NBN connect to my building and what does the NBN box look like p14
2 Inside my officeIs my office ready for the NBN and do I need a network p16
13bitcomau
Now that you know how the NBN might help you letrsquos get down to the nuts and bolts of connecting If you want the maximum speed and most value for your money there are a few important things to know ndash for example is your network up to scratchWORDS WILLIAM MAHER
CONNECTING MY OFFICE
3 Choosing my routerFrom routers to wireless extenders here are useful devices that will help you get more from the NBN p17
OFFICE READY
14 bitcomau
1 CONNECTING MY BUILDINGThis is the NBN box that is being installed in businesses and homes across the countryIf yoursquore being connected by fibre optic cable as opposed to wireless or satellite the cable will run down your street either in trenches or strung on overhead lines Your connection again either in a trench or via an overhead line will run to a box called the Premises Connection Device (PCD) which will be attached to an outside wall of your building ndash the fibre comes into your building via this box
The fibre then travels to the Network Termination Device (NTD) Thatrsquos the box you see on this page This is the box you might connect to your router computers and desk phones You wonrsquot use a DSL modem anymore ndash for the modem function at least This box replaces it
Letrsquos take a look at the box In the photo the incoming NBN cable connects to the box on the right [A] From here a cable connects the NTD to your router via the data port [B] Note there are four data ports For example it might be possible to get Internet access from one provider and perhaps
a video on demand service on a separate port
On the left are two voice ports [C] ndash once copper telephone lines are phased out all NBN fibre-connected buildings will have phones connected over the NBN If you have a landline telephone that should plug straight into the voice port on the box
Keep in mind that the NBN box gets installed by an NBN contractor
The NTD must be next to a power point which will be used for the battery backup unit ndash a separate box that sits next to this one so you can make phone calls if there is a blackout
For a standard installation the NTD will be attached to an exterior wall (inside the building but on an outer wall) If you need the box in another room where your router and other equipment are there is an option for a ldquonon-standardrdquo installation but you might have to pay
15bitcomau
OFFICE READY
The NBN Box comes with four data ports The battery backup
unit (not shown)will not power these ports in a blackout only the voice ports
[B]
You can request a voice service to be delivered through
these UNI-V voice ports Your corded telephone will plug straight in
[C]
This is where the incoming NBN fibre connects[A]
NBN Network Termination Device (NTD)PRICE FREE SUPPLIER NBN CO
16 bitcomau
2 INSIDE MY OFFICEHow will your computers desk phones and other devices connect to the NBN boxOnce the NBN is installed in your building and yoursquove signed up with your Internet provider for an NBN Internet plan yoursquoll need to connect your computers to the NBN box
If you have more than one computer one way of doing this is to connect them via Wi-Fi to a
wireless router you plug into the NBN box If all you need to do is browse the web send email
send documents and watch the occasional video then this might be ok If you are sending and
receiving a lot of very big files though or you need to regularly watch high definition video or backup large amounts of data using the NBN then therersquos
the possibility Wi-Fi might slow things down
WIRELESSROUTER[1]
Another option is to connect all your computers to the NBN box with network cable This will give you the fastest throughput from the NBN box to your computers Wersquore not about to go out on a limb and suggest everyone start planning when to get their floorboards ripped up for cabling though Not only is it an extra expense running cables throughout your building isnrsquot a simple job
NETWORKCABLE[2]
17bitcomau
OFFICE READY
Powerline networking is another option You plug network ports to the power points in your house The system uses the electricity wiring instead of network cables It should give you a better connection than Wi-Fi
WARNINGOne big surprise is that yoursquore not to install any data cabling yourself if it connects to the telecoms network A licensed professional is supposed to do the job badly installed network cable can result in slow speed dropouts or in extreme cases injury And while there might be electricians with excellent data expertise itrsquos a different set of skills and theyrsquore not always the best choice If in doubt ask for their registration card or check with the registrar yourself The ACMA web site has a fact sheet
POWERLINENETWORKING[3]
3 CHOOSING MY ROUTERWORDS JOHN GILLOOLY
Once you have the NBN you need a router to spread the Internet to each computer in your building
You might see lsquoNBN readyrsquo modem routers for sale ndash this means that the ADSL modem can be disabled once you get the NBN (because the NBN box takes care of that function) But these routers might be designed for low ADSL speeds and may not actually cope with the demands of the highest NBN speeds of 100Mbit download 40Mbit upload If your NBN plan isnrsquot that fast your router might cope ok but it is best to think of any lsquoNBN Readyrsquo ADSL modemrouter as a temporary solution We suggest looking for
Routers that can cope with sustained high-speed transfers We like ASUSrsquo RT-N56U the FritzBox Fon WLAN 7390 and Netgearrsquos DGND3700 N600
If yoursquore using Wi-Fi a dual band wireless router (these will work at the 5GHz band) is ideal but your Wi-Fi devices must be compatible
80211ac wireless routers will work better with Wi-Fi devices and have the fastest technology on the market but arenrsquot a must-have yet
If you have network cable installed a Gigabit Ethernet router is ideal
Want more Click to see photos of common wiring mistakes
Fritzbox Fon WLAN 7390
18 bitcomau
Tips and advice from real NBN usersWORDS WILLIAM MAHER
TOP
1 PLAN AHEAD
Itrsquos generally a good idea to have the NBN termination unit installed as close to your computers and router as possible ndash everything that connects to the Internet will need to connect to it This might cost extra
2 GET HERITAGE CLEARANCE
Installation will likely involve holes being drilled in your wall to attach equipment feeds to the cable If you work in a heritage building then this might not be allowed
4 DONrsquoT EXPECT THE INTERNET TO BE PERFECT ALL THE TIME
Yes despite all the hype some NBN users have told us that web browsing
on the NBN is sometimes not noticeably any faster than ADSL Your connection might be fast but web servers on the other side of the world can still struggle to cope with congestion On the upside it should cope much
better with several users uploads should be faster and it should be
less prone to dropouts
3 DONrsquoT RUSH IN
Just because your building gets connected doesnrsquot mean you have to start using the NBN straight away Generally the plan is for the copper telephone lines to be kept for 18 months after the NBN is rolled out before being disconnected Where the NBN is delivered by wireless or satellite telephone lines wonrsquot be disconnected for at least 10 years
19bitcomau
NEED TO KNOW
7 BE WARY OF CHEAP ROUTERS
Your router will need to be able to cope with NBN speeds as well as be able to spread the data around your building fast enough If it doesnrsquot have gigabit Ethernet (for wired networks) or dual band wireless (for wireless networks) you might want to think about upgrading See page 19
9 GET A BACKUP POWER SUPPLY
Even if you have a battery backup box supplied with the NBN connection it wonrsquot keep your Internet running during a blackout only your phone If data access is critical to your business even during a blackout get an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) for a few hundred dollars
8 COMPARE VOICE PLANS
The Internet provider you have a data plan with might give you a better deal on a UNI-V phone service than other providers But call rates might be cheaper on a phone plan through the UNI-D ports
6 REWIRE YOUR PHONES
If you have lots of phone extensions in different rooms itrsquos still possible to keep using them for phone calls but the wiring will need to be connected to the NBN box An alternative is to connect a cordless phone base station to the NBN box
10 WATCH FOR BOTTLENECKS
Wersquove heard stories of people complaining that the NBN isnrsquot any faster but in the end something on their network was limiting the speed ndash like a wireless router that was affected by interference Remember that your own network can cause problems if itrsquos not set up correctly Bad cabling can also cause problems
5 CHECK YOU HAVE ENOUGH PHONE PORTS
The NBN termination unit has two phone ports If you need more phone lines once the copper telephone lines are disconnected consider switching to a VOIP telephone plan This gives you lots of ldquovirtualrdquo lines which run through the data ports instead
20 bitcomau
o you donrsquot want to wait for the NBN to arrive You need faster
more reliable Internet now On these pages wersquove listed ways you can get it without waiting for the NBN
The cheapest broadband is a home plan and they can provide relatively fast speeds if you only have one or two computers But if your business has grown or you want to connect a small office full of people business-grade broadband might serve you better
Generally business-grade services cost more ndash anywhere from around the $100-a-month mark up to $1000 or more
Yes the more expensive services can be much faster than a home ADSL service but download speeds are only one benefit
Other benefits of a business data service might include
A commitment that the connection will be working for a certain amount of time Eg ldquo9995 uptimerdquo
Fewer customers to share the bandwidth with This means your connection is less likely to slow down when lots of other businesses are using the network too
Faster upload speeds than home ADSL Very important to prevent your connection slowing down if you have several people sending large files at the same time Upload speeds are very limited on home ADSL services
Some services include 24x7 technical support
NBN plans are generally shaping up to be good value compared to what you see on the following pages but not everyone wants to wait
What if I donrsquot have the NBN yetEven if the roll-out hasnrsquot reached your area yet there are still several other options to get better Internet performance nowWORDS WILLIAM MAHER
SSLA
A Service Level Agreement is offered with many business data plans It sets out formal responsibilities of the service provider covering things like how fast they should respond to you if there is a problem what hours of the day technical support is available a commitment that problems will be fixed within a certain number of hours and that the service will be running without problems for a certain amount of time
21bitcomau
OPTIONS
HOME ADSL2+Speed Up to 24Mbps download 1Mbps upload (theoretical peak speeds actual speeds will be slower)Pros Relatively cheap compared to business servicesCons Speed depends on distance from telephone exchange Slow upload speed Shared with other usersRecommended Home office 1-2 computers where upload speeds arenrsquot critical where consistent speed isnrsquot critical for day-to-day operations
HOME ADSL2+ WITH ANNEX MSpeed Up to 24Mbps download up to 25Mbps upload (theoretical peak speeds Actual speeds will be slower)Pros Relatively cheap compared to business services Faster upload speed than regular ADSL2+Cons Speed depends on distance from telephone exchange Shared with other usersRecommended Home office 1-2 computers where faster upload speeds are useful but not critical where consistent speed isnrsquot critical for day-to-day operations
CABLE INTERNETSpeed Up to 100Mbps download up to 2Mbps upload (theoretical peak speeds Actual
speeds will be slower)Pros Relatively cheap compared to business services Much faster potential download speeds than ADSL2+Cons Limited to certain cities upload speeds much slower than download shared with other usersRecommended Home office 1-2 computers where faster download speeds than ADSL2+ are needed where fast upload speeds are not necessary where consistent speed isnrsquot critical for day-to-day operations
WIRELESS 3G Speed ldquoTypicalrdquo speeds up to 20Mbps download up to 3Mbps upload (actual speeds could be much slower speed depends on network type)Pros You can use it on the moveCons Speed varies a lot depending on where you are Speed decreases as more users share network Latency generally higher than ADSL Upload speeds much lower than downloadRecommended Secondary connection for accessing email and websites while on the move and where fast upload speeds are not required Where a reliable connection and consistent speed isnrsquot important
WIRELESS 4GSpeed ldquoTypicalrdquo speeds up
22 bitcomau
to 40MBps download up to 10Mbps upload (actual speeds could be much slower)Pros You can use it on the move Higher upload speeds than ADSL2+ and 3G are possibleCons Speed varies a lot depending on where you are Speed decreases as more users share network Theoretical upload speeds slower than download (though not always the case in practice) Limited to Telstra and Optus at time of writing
Recommended Secondary connection while on the move and where faster upload speeds than 3G are required for transferring large files For connecting several gadgets (tablet and laptop) to the Internet at the same time Where a reliable connection and consistent speed isnrsquot important
BUSINESS ADSL2+Speed up to 24Mbps download up to 25Mbps upload
DATA SPEED COMPARISON DOWNLOADSUPLOADS
0Mbps 10Mbps 20Mbps 30Mbps 40Mbps 50Mbps 100Mbps 1000Mbps
HOME ADSL2+
HOME ADSL2+ WITH ANNEX M
CABLE INTERNET
WIRELESS 3G (PEAK ldquoTYPICALrdquo SPEED)
WIRELESS 4G (PEAK ldquoTYPICALrdquo SPEED)
BUSINESS ADSL2+
BONDED DSL
SHDSL
ETHERNET OVER COPPER
ETHERNET OVER FIBRE
NBN (FIBRE)
NBN (FIXED WIRELESS)
NBN (SATELLITE)
23bitcomau
OPTIONS
with Annex M (theoretical peak speeds Actual speeds will be slower)Pros Relatively cheap compared to other business broadband services Might include priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratioCons Speed depends on distance from telephone exchange Upload speed much slower than downloadRecommended Home office 1-3 computers where upload
speeds arenrsquot critical where consistent speed isnrsquot critical for day-to-day operations
BONDED DSLSpeed Typical speeds up to 30Mbps download up to 26Mbps upload with Annex M (by combining copper lines) (actual speeds could be slower)Pros Faster speeds than ADSL2+ possible Relatively cheap compared to other business broadband services
Please note The information on these pages is intended to be a general guide only Exact speeds and other factors can differ between providers Check these details with your provider before purchasing a data service Unless otherwise noted we have quoted maximum potential speeds real life speeds can be significantly slower (especially for wireless and ADSL) and maximum potential speeds can vary according to which technology variant your network uses Note For wireless 3G and 4G we have followed the lead of carriers and quoted the maximum ldquotypicalrdquo speed you are likely to achieve not the maximum theoretical speed
Some of these services will not be available at a certain point after the NBN is connected in your area For example in areas where fibre cable is installed to connect customers to the NBN copper telephone lines will be decommissioned 18 months after the fibre is connected HFC (cable Internet) networks are also expected to be decommissioned in each area once the NBN is rolled out
0Mbps 10Mbps 20Mbps 30Mbps 40Mbps 50Mbps 100Mbps 1000Mbps
DOWNLOADUPLOAD
24 bitcomau
Might include priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratioCons Speed depends on distance from telephone exchange Upload speed much slower than downloads Two telephone lines neededRecommended Homesmall office that needs faster speeds than ADSL2+ or canrsquot get fast enough ADSL2+ speeds because of distance from telephone exchange Where having the same uploaddownload speed isnrsquot necessary
SHDSLSpeed Up to 46Mbps download up to 46Mbps uploadPros Same upload and download speeds Speeds are guaranteed Usually includes priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratioCons More expensive than ADSL2+ Download speeds offered often slower than theoretical ADSL2+ peak speedsRecommende Office that needs faster speeds than ADSL2+ especially where upload speed is crucial for videoconferencing regularly sending large files multiple Voice over IP telephone lines or connecting several offices Where fibre isnrsquot available Where consistent speed is critical
ETHERNET OVER COPPER(MIDBAND ETHERNET)Speed Up to 40Mbps download up to 40Mbps upload (by combining copper lines)Pros Same upload and download speeds Much faster upload speeds than ADSL2+ available Usually includes priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratio Cheaper overall than fibreCons More expensive than ADSL2+Recommended Office with many people at the same time regularly sending large files videoconferencing backup hosted applications VPN using VOIP or connecting to servers in other offices Where fibre isnrsquot available or is too expensive
ETHERNET OVER FIBRESpeed Up to 1000Mbps download up to 1000 Mbps uploadPros Same upload and download speeds Much faster speeds available than other services Usually includes priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratioCons Generally the most expensive option ndash can cost several thousand dollars a month Limited availabilityRecommended Large offices with many people at the same time regularly sending large
Latency Sometimes
refers to the delay between sending data and receiving a response Higher latency is a disadvantage when using certain applications like video-conferencing Latency is generally higher on satellite and wireless networks such as 3G although 4G has a theoretical lower latency than 3G
25bitcomau
OPTIONS
files videoconferencing backup hosted applications VPN using VOIP or connecting to servers in other offices Where a reliable connection and consistent very high speed is critical for day to day operations
NBN (FIBRE)Speed Up to 100MBps download up to 40Mbps upload (fastest plans available at time of writing Faster speeds theoretically possible in future)Pros Much faster speeds available than ADSL2+ including much faster upload speeds Provides minimum peak speeds unlike ADSL2+ More reliable than ADSL Business plans can include priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) (though residential NBN plans might not include this) Generally much cheaper than other business services with comparable speedsCons Very limited availability at time of writingRecommended Where several users need to senddownload large files videoconference backup use hosted applications VPN use VOIP or connect to servers in other offices at the same time Where a reliable connection and consistent speeds are critical Where much faster downloadupload speeds than ADSL2+ are important
NBN (FIXED WIRELESS)Speed Minimum 12Mbps download up to 1Mbps upload (Faster speeds planned)Pros Unlike mobile 4G and 3G networks ldquorelatively steadyrdquo speeds are promisedCons Very limited availability at time of writing Upload speeds much slower than download Top download speed currently much slower than NBN fibre and some other business servicesRecommended Where ADSL2+ isnrsquot available or is unreliable or slow For home office or small office where very high downloadupload speeds arenrsquot critical
NBN (SATELLITE)Speed Up to 6Mbps download up to 1Mbps upload (12Mbps download speeds planned for 2015)Pros Better speeds than some locations could otherwise getCons Top download speed relatively slow compared to NBN fibre and theoretical peak ADSL2+ download speed Upload speed much slower than download speed Higher latency than fixed line services Generally smaller download limits than ADSL2+ and fibreRecommended Locations that donrsquot have access to other broadband Where fast upload speeds arenrsquot needed Where latency-sensitive applications like VPNs arenrsquot required
26 bitcomau
My BookmarksFor more information on the best NBN plans and more click these links
Show me when I am getting connected
General NBN info
Show me all the NBN providers
Tell me if I can get NBN satellite
Give me more info on fibre NBN
I want more info on wireless NBN
I want more info about
the NBN fibre termination unit
Show me all the towns on
the current NBN rollout plan
Show me the NBN FAQ
27bitcomau
MORE INFO
Show me the best plans
Tell me about finding
a registered cabler
I want to try videoconferencing
Show me a list of cablers
I want Microsoft to host my servers
for me
Show me more about
getting connected
I want to read what users are
saying about Internet
providers
I want a web site
Help me make better
use of the NBN for
my business
Teach me about
online marketing
I want Google to
host my servers for me
28 bitcomau
The tech-talk in plain English
AnnexMrsaquorsaquo An add-on feature that some ADSL Internet providers offer to increase the speed of uploads iiNet for example says that customers will get a theoretical maximum upload speed of 275Mbps
ATArsaquorsaquo If you want to use a VOIP telephone service and donrsquot have a suitable VOIP router your VOIP provider can provide this adapter which you plug your telephone into
BondedDSLrsaquorsaquo By combining several phone lines higher broadband speeds are possible Unlike SHDSL upload speeds are still a lot slower than download speeds
Brownfieldrsaquorsaquo Premises that have already been built The focus is on connecting brownfields in regional areas to the NBN first so people currently with the worst broadband get it first
Businessgradebroadbandrsaquorsaquo Can cost more than home broadband but can include guaranteed uptime service agreements and sometimes your
data will travel over a separate network meaning less traffic congestion
Cat6rsaquorsaquo Category 6 cables are recommended for Gigabit Ethernet speeds in an office network
Cloudrsaquorsaquo Instead of buying and installing software on your own businessrsquos server a cloud company owns and runs the server hardware and software ndash you pay to access it over the Internet Examples include Microsoft Office 365 Salesforce Gmail and Dropbox
Contentionratiorsaquorsaquo A term used to indicate how many users have to share the same bandwidth Generally the lower the contention ratio the better Business grade broadband can sometimes have better contention ratios than home broadband
Copperrsaquorsaquo The public telephone lines also used for broadband services like ADSL SHDSL and Midband Ethernet Data services over copper reduce in speed the further your building is from your local telephone exchange
Dualbandwirelessrsaquorsaquo Dual band wireless routers can use two frequency bands (24GHz and 5GHz) to send and receive data unlike some wireless routers which can only use 24GHz This Brownfield
29bitcomau
JARGON BUSTER
can mean faster speeds but the tablet phone or laptop you are using needs to work on 5GHz or you wonrsquot see any difference
Ethernetrsaquorsaquo A network protocol often used for networks inside your building but can also be used for data services delivered over copper telephone lines or optical fibre cable Ethernet broadband services generally have same uploaddownload as opposed to ADSL
Exchangersaquorsaquo Can refer to Microsoft Exchange software which runs on a companyrsquos server and operates their company email or a telephone exchange
FSAMrsaquorsaquo A group of up to 3000 buildings connected to the NBN
GigabitEthernetrsaquorsaquo If you are using Ethernet cable to network your office Gigabit Ethernet will provide faster speeds (1Gbps) than Fast Ethernet (100Mbps)
Greenfieldrsaquorsaquo New housing developments Many of these streets will receive the NBN before Brownfield locations as they will be connected on a demand-driven basis Developers apply to have the NBN connected in their development
HostedITrsaquorsaquo Instead of buying and installing IT equipment yourself you can use another companyrsquos servers This can
include servers to run your email and website as well as hosted applications that users access over the network You can also hire a ldquomanaged service providerrdquo to setup and run your own IT
Latencyrsaquorsaquo Sometimes refers to the delay between sending data and receiving a response Higher latency is a disadvantage when using certain applications like videoconferencing Latency is generally higher on satellite and wireless networks such as 3G although 4G has a theoretical lower latency than 3G
LTErsaquorsaquo Higher speed wireless broadband used in the latest generation of smartphones and if you are getting the NBN via fixed wireless Much faster speeds than ADSL are possible but latency is much higher than optical fibre cable meaning itrsquos not suitable for videoconferencing Sometimes referred to as ldquo4Grdquo
Continued over page
Greenfield
LTE
WirelessRouter
30 bitcomau
MidbandEthernetrsaquorsaquo Provides up to 40Mbps over multiple copper lines Unlike ADSL you get the same upload and download speed but cost is usually several hundred dollars a month
NTDrsaquorsaquo Network Termination Device This is supplied free and is attached to a wall inside your building It takes the place of a modem when you get the NBN This is the box your router and phones will plug in to
Paymentgatewayrsaquorsaquo Used if you want to let customers buy products from your website When a customer buys a product on your website the transaction is sent to a third party the payment gateway which authorises the payment with the bank
PCDrsaquorsaquo Premises Connection Device This is a small box that is attached to an outside wall of your building when you are connected to the NBN via fibre cable The NBN fibre cable runs through this box to the inside of your building where it connects to the NTD
Powerlinenetworkrsaquorsaquo If a wireless router isnrsquot enough to spread your Internet connection
around your business (due to brick walls or multiple stories) and having Ethernet cables installed is too difficult another option is a powerline network An adaptor is plugged into each power point and data can be sent through the buildingrsquos internal wiring
PSTNrsaquorsaquo The public switched telephone network The copper network your analogue telephone connects to
RSPrsaquorsaquo Retail Service Provider Another name for an Internet provider such as Telstra Optus iiNet or Internode Once your building is connected you can contact an RSP to pay for an Internet plan and start using the NBN
Serverrsaquorsaquo A central computer that other computers on a network connect to A server might be in your own building providing a central location so all your staff can access the same files from their computers or an Internet server to which you connect to to access web sites or other services
SHDSLrsaquorsaquo Unlike ADSL SHDSL provides the same upload and download speeds Speeds up to 40Mbps are available by combining several phone lines in the form of Extreme SHDSL
SIPrsaquorsaquo A protocol used in devices for delivering multiple VOIP telephone calls at once
PCD
NTD
PCD
31bitcomau
JARGON BUSTER
SLArsaquorsaquo business-grade broadband contracts can include a Service Level Agreement ndash the provider commits to providing a certain level of service (995 Internet uptime for example)
Synchronousrsaquorsaquo The same upload and download speeds Midband Ethernet and SHDSL are synchronous but ADSL services are not meaning upload speeds are much slower than download speeds
UNI-Vportrsaquorsaquo A port on the NBN network termination device (NTD) where you plug in a telephone Alternatively if you use a VOIP telephone service your telephone can be plugged into a wireless router with a VOIP feature which then plugs into the data port on the NTD
Batterybackupunitrsaquorsaquo A separate box supplied free with your NBN connection that is installed alongside the NTD on a wall inside your building This unit lets you continue to make telephone calls during a blackout if you are using an analogue phone running through the UNI-V port
Uploadspeedrsaquorsaquo If you use applications that send data such as videoconferencing and sending large email attachments as opposed to downloading large files and watching videos then look for an Internet service with higher upload speeds
UPSrsaquorsaquo Uninterruptible Power Supply A device that plugs into your server or computer so that it can continue to run if the main power supply stops
VOIPrsaquorsaquo Voice over IP Unlike regular telephone services VOIP telephone calls are converted to data and travel over data networks Call rates can be much cheaper though call quality can suffer if your VOIP service and your broadband connection arenrsquot suitable
VPNrsaquorsaquo A secure way to upload and download files to and from your officersquos internal network drives and servers when you are not in the office (eg at a hotel or from another office)
WANrsaquorsaquo Wide Area Network Offices in different towns or cities can be connected via the same WAN
Wirelessextenderrsaquorsaquo If you already have a wireless router this is a separate device which plugs into a power point and extends the range of the signal
WirelessNrsaquorsaquo Compatible routers are recommended for spreading your Internet connection around your office wirelessly Will be superseded by the faster 80211ac standard but there are not currently many compatible laptops and devices that will connect at 80211ac speeds
Batterybackupunit
UNI-Vport
WirelessRouter
28bitcomau
Their small businesses have the technology edgeDoes yoursSometimes you can be so busy that keeping up with technology seems too much What you really want to know is what it can do for your business BIT will keep you up to date with the technology that can help you do your job and grow your business ndash whether you are a florist a plumber an accountant or any type of Australian small business
B U S I N E S S I T
Make technology work for your business
Click to return to
Bit
- 001
- 002-003
- 004-009
- 010-011
- 012-017
- 018-019
- 020-025
- 026-027
- 028-031
- 032
-
7bitcomau
OUTLOOK
suppliers such as PayPal POLi Payments or eWAY
Even business that involve physical services such as pool cleaning fence repairs or hairdressing can benefit from an ecommerce site by allowing clients to book with you online outside of your business hours According to Nielsen more than one in five Australians shops or browses online between 6pm and 10pm
Put yourself in picturesWhile the NBN will encourage more Australians to spend more time online and hence do more online the higher data transfer speed it provides means businesses can start to invest in more bandwidth-heavy applications such as video Creating videos to showcase your products and services is cheap and easy ndash a high-definition video camera such as the Toshiba
Camileo H30 sells for less than $250 Hosting your video on YouTube or Vimeo is free ndash and YouTube even offers editing software Importantly Nielsen estimates that 59 per cent of the online population watch online videos to help inform their purchase choices
Finally even if your business wonrsquot be connected to the NBN for years you can still take advantage of it Many useful services are hosted on the Internet itself ndash these are often described as cloud services so even if your own Internet service is relatively slow it could well be faster for your customers
That also means you donrsquot have to own your own web server or hire a team of professionals ndash your service provider will generally take care of all the hard work and you can simply add more services as you need them
Payment Gateway
When a customer buys a product on your site the transaction is sent to a third party or payment gateway which authorises the payment In a few seconds they send the details to the bank then let your website know itrsquos ok to go ahead with the transaction
8 bitcomau
BENEFITS
CUT MY PHONE BILLLong distance call charges should be consigned to the history books Ways of making calls over the Internet (also called voice-over-IP or VOIP) such as Skype enable you to talk free-of-charge between users of the same service and to call regular telephone numbers in distant locations at greatly reduced charges The NBN will improve call quality and reliability
SLASH MY IT SERVICE CHARGES
Many of the NBN-enabled services will be based in the Cloud meaning that someone else pays for the hardware
(like servers) and operating costs All you pay for is the service and the
computers you use to access them such as your PC smartphone or tablet
IMPROVE MY ONLINE SALESThe NBN will make it easier for more customers to browse and buy online meaning yoursquoll need to be ready for them Take advantage of the NBNrsquos bandwidth and include high-resolution images and high-definition video so customers can really see what theyrsquore getting
2
3
1
5
9bitcomau
BENEFITS
WAYS THE NBN CAN HELP MY BUSINESS
SPREAD MY WINGSThe NBN will make it possible for more people to work from home or remote locations using the Internet Teleworking gives staff more flexibility and might enable you to employ workers with special skills who might otherwise be located too far away
TRIM MY TRAVEL COSTSOnce yoursquove used high-definition
videoconferencing yoursquoll start to question whether the business trips you make are actually worth the time and cost
of flying The NBN will make two-way HD videoconferencing possible ndash and
affordable ndash from your desktop and tools such as Cisco WebEx Meetings and Citrix
GoToMeeting are free to trial
Therersquos more to the NBN than faster InternetWORDS BRAD HOWARTH
4
55
10 bitcomau
here are expensive and cheap NBN plans ndash just like there are for
other types of broadband The cheapest plan in our table on the right is $35 at 12Mbps with 50GB of data per month
When you compare this with what yoursquore paying now remember a couple of things First you are more likely to get consistent speeds on the NBN Even for Fixed Wireless NBN the NBN Co promises yoursquoll get ldquorelatively steadyrdquo speeds unlike 3G or 4G wireless broadband Second some of these NBN plans have much faster upload speeds than ADSL
Even though data limits look small for some entry level plans they often jump up drastically on the next most expensive plan ndash from 50GB to 200GB in one example
Yoursquoll also need a telephone service You can get this over the NBN too from your Internet provider You can keep your copper line telephone service for a while but eventually it will be decommissioned in areas with the NBN over fibre cable (not in areas with NBN via wireless or satellite)
What will it costGetting the best value on the NBN WORDS WILLIAM MAHER
T 100Mbps 40Mbps 50Mbps 20Mbps 25Mbps 5Mbps 12Mbps 1MbpsPROVIDER Cost Data limit Cost Data limit Cost Data limit Cost Data limit
Internode $7495 30GB $6495 30GB $5495 30GB $4995 30GB
iiNet $6995 40GB $6495 40GB $5495 40GB $4995 40GB
Optus $7999 120GB $6999 120GB $5999 120GB $3999 40GB
iPrimus $7995 40GB $6995 40GB $5995 40GB $4995 40GB
Telstra $9190 50GBwith phone service
ndash ndash $8190 50GBwith phone service
ndash ndash
Exetel $4500 25GB $5000 50GB $4000 50GB $3500 50GB
MyNetFone $9995 1000GB $6995 500GB $5995 250GB $3995 20GB
(Satellite) Activ8me ndash ndash ndash ndash ndash ndash $3495 3GB6Mbps 1Mbps
(Fixed Wireless) iiNet ndash ndash ndash ndash ndash ndash $4995 40GB
100Mbps 40Mbps 50Mbps 20Mbps 25Mbps 5Mbps 12Mbps 1MbpsPROVIDER Cost Data limit Cost Data limit Cost Data limit Cost Data limit
Internode $10495 30GB $9495 30GB $8495 30GB $7995 30GB
iiNet $9995 40GB $9495 40GB $8495 40GB25Mbps 10Mbps
$7995 40GB
Optus $7900 100GB $6900 100GB $6400 100GB $5900 100GB
MyNetFone $9995 1000GB $6995 500GB $5995 250GB $3995 20GB
RESIDENTIAL PLANS PER MONTH
BUSINESS PLANS PER MONTH
Please note This is designed to be a general guide to the cost of NBN services For each speed tier we have picked the cheapest available plan from each provider
11bitcomau
PLANS amp PRICES
100Mbps 40Mbps 50Mbps 20Mbps 25Mbps 5Mbps 12Mbps 1MbpsPROVIDER Cost Data limit Cost Data limit Cost Data limit Cost Data limit
Internode $7495 30GB $6495 30GB $5495 30GB $4995 30GB
iiNet $6995 40GB $6495 40GB $5495 40GB $4995 40GB
Optus $7999 120GB $6999 120GB $5999 120GB $3999 40GB
iPrimus $7995 40GB $6995 40GB $5995 40GB $4995 40GB
Telstra $9190 50GBwith phone service
ndash ndash $8190 50GBwith phone service
ndash ndash
Exetel $4500 25GB $5000 50GB $4000 50GB $3500 50GB
MyNetFone $9995 1000GB $6995 500GB $5995 250GB $3995 20GB
(Satellite) Activ8me ndash ndash ndash ndash ndash ndash $3495 3GB6Mbps 1Mbps
(Fixed Wireless) iiNet ndash ndash ndash ndash ndash ndash $4995 40GB
100Mbps 40Mbps 50Mbps 20Mbps 25Mbps 5Mbps 12Mbps 1MbpsPROVIDER Cost Data limit Cost Data limit Cost Data limit Cost Data limit
Internode $10495 30GB $9495 30GB $8495 30GB $7995 30GB
iiNet $9995 40GB $9495 40GB $8495 40GB25Mbps 10Mbps
$7995 40GB
Optus $7900 100GB $6900 100GB $6400 100GB $5900 100GB
MyNetFone $9995 1000GB $6995 500GB $5995 250GB $3995 20GB
RESIDENTIAL PLANS PER MONTH
BUSINESS PLANS PER MONTH
Not all services and providers are listed Extra fees and conditions such as setup fees (where applicable) contract length peakoff-peak restrictions are not shown All prices correct at time of writing but may have changed Check with your provider for the latest details
Compare more pricesClick here for extra comparisons at the BIT website
12 bitcomau
1 Connecting my buildingHow does the NBN connect to my building and what does the NBN box look like p14
2 Inside my officeIs my office ready for the NBN and do I need a network p16
13bitcomau
Now that you know how the NBN might help you letrsquos get down to the nuts and bolts of connecting If you want the maximum speed and most value for your money there are a few important things to know ndash for example is your network up to scratchWORDS WILLIAM MAHER
CONNECTING MY OFFICE
3 Choosing my routerFrom routers to wireless extenders here are useful devices that will help you get more from the NBN p17
OFFICE READY
14 bitcomau
1 CONNECTING MY BUILDINGThis is the NBN box that is being installed in businesses and homes across the countryIf yoursquore being connected by fibre optic cable as opposed to wireless or satellite the cable will run down your street either in trenches or strung on overhead lines Your connection again either in a trench or via an overhead line will run to a box called the Premises Connection Device (PCD) which will be attached to an outside wall of your building ndash the fibre comes into your building via this box
The fibre then travels to the Network Termination Device (NTD) Thatrsquos the box you see on this page This is the box you might connect to your router computers and desk phones You wonrsquot use a DSL modem anymore ndash for the modem function at least This box replaces it
Letrsquos take a look at the box In the photo the incoming NBN cable connects to the box on the right [A] From here a cable connects the NTD to your router via the data port [B] Note there are four data ports For example it might be possible to get Internet access from one provider and perhaps
a video on demand service on a separate port
On the left are two voice ports [C] ndash once copper telephone lines are phased out all NBN fibre-connected buildings will have phones connected over the NBN If you have a landline telephone that should plug straight into the voice port on the box
Keep in mind that the NBN box gets installed by an NBN contractor
The NTD must be next to a power point which will be used for the battery backup unit ndash a separate box that sits next to this one so you can make phone calls if there is a blackout
For a standard installation the NTD will be attached to an exterior wall (inside the building but on an outer wall) If you need the box in another room where your router and other equipment are there is an option for a ldquonon-standardrdquo installation but you might have to pay
15bitcomau
OFFICE READY
The NBN Box comes with four data ports The battery backup
unit (not shown)will not power these ports in a blackout only the voice ports
[B]
You can request a voice service to be delivered through
these UNI-V voice ports Your corded telephone will plug straight in
[C]
This is where the incoming NBN fibre connects[A]
NBN Network Termination Device (NTD)PRICE FREE SUPPLIER NBN CO
16 bitcomau
2 INSIDE MY OFFICEHow will your computers desk phones and other devices connect to the NBN boxOnce the NBN is installed in your building and yoursquove signed up with your Internet provider for an NBN Internet plan yoursquoll need to connect your computers to the NBN box
If you have more than one computer one way of doing this is to connect them via Wi-Fi to a
wireless router you plug into the NBN box If all you need to do is browse the web send email
send documents and watch the occasional video then this might be ok If you are sending and
receiving a lot of very big files though or you need to regularly watch high definition video or backup large amounts of data using the NBN then therersquos
the possibility Wi-Fi might slow things down
WIRELESSROUTER[1]
Another option is to connect all your computers to the NBN box with network cable This will give you the fastest throughput from the NBN box to your computers Wersquore not about to go out on a limb and suggest everyone start planning when to get their floorboards ripped up for cabling though Not only is it an extra expense running cables throughout your building isnrsquot a simple job
NETWORKCABLE[2]
17bitcomau
OFFICE READY
Powerline networking is another option You plug network ports to the power points in your house The system uses the electricity wiring instead of network cables It should give you a better connection than Wi-Fi
WARNINGOne big surprise is that yoursquore not to install any data cabling yourself if it connects to the telecoms network A licensed professional is supposed to do the job badly installed network cable can result in slow speed dropouts or in extreme cases injury And while there might be electricians with excellent data expertise itrsquos a different set of skills and theyrsquore not always the best choice If in doubt ask for their registration card or check with the registrar yourself The ACMA web site has a fact sheet
POWERLINENETWORKING[3]
3 CHOOSING MY ROUTERWORDS JOHN GILLOOLY
Once you have the NBN you need a router to spread the Internet to each computer in your building
You might see lsquoNBN readyrsquo modem routers for sale ndash this means that the ADSL modem can be disabled once you get the NBN (because the NBN box takes care of that function) But these routers might be designed for low ADSL speeds and may not actually cope with the demands of the highest NBN speeds of 100Mbit download 40Mbit upload If your NBN plan isnrsquot that fast your router might cope ok but it is best to think of any lsquoNBN Readyrsquo ADSL modemrouter as a temporary solution We suggest looking for
Routers that can cope with sustained high-speed transfers We like ASUSrsquo RT-N56U the FritzBox Fon WLAN 7390 and Netgearrsquos DGND3700 N600
If yoursquore using Wi-Fi a dual band wireless router (these will work at the 5GHz band) is ideal but your Wi-Fi devices must be compatible
80211ac wireless routers will work better with Wi-Fi devices and have the fastest technology on the market but arenrsquot a must-have yet
If you have network cable installed a Gigabit Ethernet router is ideal
Want more Click to see photos of common wiring mistakes
Fritzbox Fon WLAN 7390
18 bitcomau
Tips and advice from real NBN usersWORDS WILLIAM MAHER
TOP
1 PLAN AHEAD
Itrsquos generally a good idea to have the NBN termination unit installed as close to your computers and router as possible ndash everything that connects to the Internet will need to connect to it This might cost extra
2 GET HERITAGE CLEARANCE
Installation will likely involve holes being drilled in your wall to attach equipment feeds to the cable If you work in a heritage building then this might not be allowed
4 DONrsquoT EXPECT THE INTERNET TO BE PERFECT ALL THE TIME
Yes despite all the hype some NBN users have told us that web browsing
on the NBN is sometimes not noticeably any faster than ADSL Your connection might be fast but web servers on the other side of the world can still struggle to cope with congestion On the upside it should cope much
better with several users uploads should be faster and it should be
less prone to dropouts
3 DONrsquoT RUSH IN
Just because your building gets connected doesnrsquot mean you have to start using the NBN straight away Generally the plan is for the copper telephone lines to be kept for 18 months after the NBN is rolled out before being disconnected Where the NBN is delivered by wireless or satellite telephone lines wonrsquot be disconnected for at least 10 years
19bitcomau
NEED TO KNOW
7 BE WARY OF CHEAP ROUTERS
Your router will need to be able to cope with NBN speeds as well as be able to spread the data around your building fast enough If it doesnrsquot have gigabit Ethernet (for wired networks) or dual band wireless (for wireless networks) you might want to think about upgrading See page 19
9 GET A BACKUP POWER SUPPLY
Even if you have a battery backup box supplied with the NBN connection it wonrsquot keep your Internet running during a blackout only your phone If data access is critical to your business even during a blackout get an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) for a few hundred dollars
8 COMPARE VOICE PLANS
The Internet provider you have a data plan with might give you a better deal on a UNI-V phone service than other providers But call rates might be cheaper on a phone plan through the UNI-D ports
6 REWIRE YOUR PHONES
If you have lots of phone extensions in different rooms itrsquos still possible to keep using them for phone calls but the wiring will need to be connected to the NBN box An alternative is to connect a cordless phone base station to the NBN box
10 WATCH FOR BOTTLENECKS
Wersquove heard stories of people complaining that the NBN isnrsquot any faster but in the end something on their network was limiting the speed ndash like a wireless router that was affected by interference Remember that your own network can cause problems if itrsquos not set up correctly Bad cabling can also cause problems
5 CHECK YOU HAVE ENOUGH PHONE PORTS
The NBN termination unit has two phone ports If you need more phone lines once the copper telephone lines are disconnected consider switching to a VOIP telephone plan This gives you lots of ldquovirtualrdquo lines which run through the data ports instead
20 bitcomau
o you donrsquot want to wait for the NBN to arrive You need faster
more reliable Internet now On these pages wersquove listed ways you can get it without waiting for the NBN
The cheapest broadband is a home plan and they can provide relatively fast speeds if you only have one or two computers But if your business has grown or you want to connect a small office full of people business-grade broadband might serve you better
Generally business-grade services cost more ndash anywhere from around the $100-a-month mark up to $1000 or more
Yes the more expensive services can be much faster than a home ADSL service but download speeds are only one benefit
Other benefits of a business data service might include
A commitment that the connection will be working for a certain amount of time Eg ldquo9995 uptimerdquo
Fewer customers to share the bandwidth with This means your connection is less likely to slow down when lots of other businesses are using the network too
Faster upload speeds than home ADSL Very important to prevent your connection slowing down if you have several people sending large files at the same time Upload speeds are very limited on home ADSL services
Some services include 24x7 technical support
NBN plans are generally shaping up to be good value compared to what you see on the following pages but not everyone wants to wait
What if I donrsquot have the NBN yetEven if the roll-out hasnrsquot reached your area yet there are still several other options to get better Internet performance nowWORDS WILLIAM MAHER
SSLA
A Service Level Agreement is offered with many business data plans It sets out formal responsibilities of the service provider covering things like how fast they should respond to you if there is a problem what hours of the day technical support is available a commitment that problems will be fixed within a certain number of hours and that the service will be running without problems for a certain amount of time
21bitcomau
OPTIONS
HOME ADSL2+Speed Up to 24Mbps download 1Mbps upload (theoretical peak speeds actual speeds will be slower)Pros Relatively cheap compared to business servicesCons Speed depends on distance from telephone exchange Slow upload speed Shared with other usersRecommended Home office 1-2 computers where upload speeds arenrsquot critical where consistent speed isnrsquot critical for day-to-day operations
HOME ADSL2+ WITH ANNEX MSpeed Up to 24Mbps download up to 25Mbps upload (theoretical peak speeds Actual speeds will be slower)Pros Relatively cheap compared to business services Faster upload speed than regular ADSL2+Cons Speed depends on distance from telephone exchange Shared with other usersRecommended Home office 1-2 computers where faster upload speeds are useful but not critical where consistent speed isnrsquot critical for day-to-day operations
CABLE INTERNETSpeed Up to 100Mbps download up to 2Mbps upload (theoretical peak speeds Actual
speeds will be slower)Pros Relatively cheap compared to business services Much faster potential download speeds than ADSL2+Cons Limited to certain cities upload speeds much slower than download shared with other usersRecommended Home office 1-2 computers where faster download speeds than ADSL2+ are needed where fast upload speeds are not necessary where consistent speed isnrsquot critical for day-to-day operations
WIRELESS 3G Speed ldquoTypicalrdquo speeds up to 20Mbps download up to 3Mbps upload (actual speeds could be much slower speed depends on network type)Pros You can use it on the moveCons Speed varies a lot depending on where you are Speed decreases as more users share network Latency generally higher than ADSL Upload speeds much lower than downloadRecommended Secondary connection for accessing email and websites while on the move and where fast upload speeds are not required Where a reliable connection and consistent speed isnrsquot important
WIRELESS 4GSpeed ldquoTypicalrdquo speeds up
22 bitcomau
to 40MBps download up to 10Mbps upload (actual speeds could be much slower)Pros You can use it on the move Higher upload speeds than ADSL2+ and 3G are possibleCons Speed varies a lot depending on where you are Speed decreases as more users share network Theoretical upload speeds slower than download (though not always the case in practice) Limited to Telstra and Optus at time of writing
Recommended Secondary connection while on the move and where faster upload speeds than 3G are required for transferring large files For connecting several gadgets (tablet and laptop) to the Internet at the same time Where a reliable connection and consistent speed isnrsquot important
BUSINESS ADSL2+Speed up to 24Mbps download up to 25Mbps upload
DATA SPEED COMPARISON DOWNLOADSUPLOADS
0Mbps 10Mbps 20Mbps 30Mbps 40Mbps 50Mbps 100Mbps 1000Mbps
HOME ADSL2+
HOME ADSL2+ WITH ANNEX M
CABLE INTERNET
WIRELESS 3G (PEAK ldquoTYPICALrdquo SPEED)
WIRELESS 4G (PEAK ldquoTYPICALrdquo SPEED)
BUSINESS ADSL2+
BONDED DSL
SHDSL
ETHERNET OVER COPPER
ETHERNET OVER FIBRE
NBN (FIBRE)
NBN (FIXED WIRELESS)
NBN (SATELLITE)
23bitcomau
OPTIONS
with Annex M (theoretical peak speeds Actual speeds will be slower)Pros Relatively cheap compared to other business broadband services Might include priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratioCons Speed depends on distance from telephone exchange Upload speed much slower than downloadRecommended Home office 1-3 computers where upload
speeds arenrsquot critical where consistent speed isnrsquot critical for day-to-day operations
BONDED DSLSpeed Typical speeds up to 30Mbps download up to 26Mbps upload with Annex M (by combining copper lines) (actual speeds could be slower)Pros Faster speeds than ADSL2+ possible Relatively cheap compared to other business broadband services
Please note The information on these pages is intended to be a general guide only Exact speeds and other factors can differ between providers Check these details with your provider before purchasing a data service Unless otherwise noted we have quoted maximum potential speeds real life speeds can be significantly slower (especially for wireless and ADSL) and maximum potential speeds can vary according to which technology variant your network uses Note For wireless 3G and 4G we have followed the lead of carriers and quoted the maximum ldquotypicalrdquo speed you are likely to achieve not the maximum theoretical speed
Some of these services will not be available at a certain point after the NBN is connected in your area For example in areas where fibre cable is installed to connect customers to the NBN copper telephone lines will be decommissioned 18 months after the fibre is connected HFC (cable Internet) networks are also expected to be decommissioned in each area once the NBN is rolled out
0Mbps 10Mbps 20Mbps 30Mbps 40Mbps 50Mbps 100Mbps 1000Mbps
DOWNLOADUPLOAD
24 bitcomau
Might include priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratioCons Speed depends on distance from telephone exchange Upload speed much slower than downloads Two telephone lines neededRecommended Homesmall office that needs faster speeds than ADSL2+ or canrsquot get fast enough ADSL2+ speeds because of distance from telephone exchange Where having the same uploaddownload speed isnrsquot necessary
SHDSLSpeed Up to 46Mbps download up to 46Mbps uploadPros Same upload and download speeds Speeds are guaranteed Usually includes priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratioCons More expensive than ADSL2+ Download speeds offered often slower than theoretical ADSL2+ peak speedsRecommende Office that needs faster speeds than ADSL2+ especially where upload speed is crucial for videoconferencing regularly sending large files multiple Voice over IP telephone lines or connecting several offices Where fibre isnrsquot available Where consistent speed is critical
ETHERNET OVER COPPER(MIDBAND ETHERNET)Speed Up to 40Mbps download up to 40Mbps upload (by combining copper lines)Pros Same upload and download speeds Much faster upload speeds than ADSL2+ available Usually includes priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratio Cheaper overall than fibreCons More expensive than ADSL2+Recommended Office with many people at the same time regularly sending large files videoconferencing backup hosted applications VPN using VOIP or connecting to servers in other offices Where fibre isnrsquot available or is too expensive
ETHERNET OVER FIBRESpeed Up to 1000Mbps download up to 1000 Mbps uploadPros Same upload and download speeds Much faster speeds available than other services Usually includes priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratioCons Generally the most expensive option ndash can cost several thousand dollars a month Limited availabilityRecommended Large offices with many people at the same time regularly sending large
Latency Sometimes
refers to the delay between sending data and receiving a response Higher latency is a disadvantage when using certain applications like video-conferencing Latency is generally higher on satellite and wireless networks such as 3G although 4G has a theoretical lower latency than 3G
25bitcomau
OPTIONS
files videoconferencing backup hosted applications VPN using VOIP or connecting to servers in other offices Where a reliable connection and consistent very high speed is critical for day to day operations
NBN (FIBRE)Speed Up to 100MBps download up to 40Mbps upload (fastest plans available at time of writing Faster speeds theoretically possible in future)Pros Much faster speeds available than ADSL2+ including much faster upload speeds Provides minimum peak speeds unlike ADSL2+ More reliable than ADSL Business plans can include priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) (though residential NBN plans might not include this) Generally much cheaper than other business services with comparable speedsCons Very limited availability at time of writingRecommended Where several users need to senddownload large files videoconference backup use hosted applications VPN use VOIP or connect to servers in other offices at the same time Where a reliable connection and consistent speeds are critical Where much faster downloadupload speeds than ADSL2+ are important
NBN (FIXED WIRELESS)Speed Minimum 12Mbps download up to 1Mbps upload (Faster speeds planned)Pros Unlike mobile 4G and 3G networks ldquorelatively steadyrdquo speeds are promisedCons Very limited availability at time of writing Upload speeds much slower than download Top download speed currently much slower than NBN fibre and some other business servicesRecommended Where ADSL2+ isnrsquot available or is unreliable or slow For home office or small office where very high downloadupload speeds arenrsquot critical
NBN (SATELLITE)Speed Up to 6Mbps download up to 1Mbps upload (12Mbps download speeds planned for 2015)Pros Better speeds than some locations could otherwise getCons Top download speed relatively slow compared to NBN fibre and theoretical peak ADSL2+ download speed Upload speed much slower than download speed Higher latency than fixed line services Generally smaller download limits than ADSL2+ and fibreRecommended Locations that donrsquot have access to other broadband Where fast upload speeds arenrsquot needed Where latency-sensitive applications like VPNs arenrsquot required
26 bitcomau
My BookmarksFor more information on the best NBN plans and more click these links
Show me when I am getting connected
General NBN info
Show me all the NBN providers
Tell me if I can get NBN satellite
Give me more info on fibre NBN
I want more info on wireless NBN
I want more info about
the NBN fibre termination unit
Show me all the towns on
the current NBN rollout plan
Show me the NBN FAQ
27bitcomau
MORE INFO
Show me the best plans
Tell me about finding
a registered cabler
I want to try videoconferencing
Show me a list of cablers
I want Microsoft to host my servers
for me
Show me more about
getting connected
I want to read what users are
saying about Internet
providers
I want a web site
Help me make better
use of the NBN for
my business
Teach me about
online marketing
I want Google to
host my servers for me
28 bitcomau
The tech-talk in plain English
AnnexMrsaquorsaquo An add-on feature that some ADSL Internet providers offer to increase the speed of uploads iiNet for example says that customers will get a theoretical maximum upload speed of 275Mbps
ATArsaquorsaquo If you want to use a VOIP telephone service and donrsquot have a suitable VOIP router your VOIP provider can provide this adapter which you plug your telephone into
BondedDSLrsaquorsaquo By combining several phone lines higher broadband speeds are possible Unlike SHDSL upload speeds are still a lot slower than download speeds
Brownfieldrsaquorsaquo Premises that have already been built The focus is on connecting brownfields in regional areas to the NBN first so people currently with the worst broadband get it first
Businessgradebroadbandrsaquorsaquo Can cost more than home broadband but can include guaranteed uptime service agreements and sometimes your
data will travel over a separate network meaning less traffic congestion
Cat6rsaquorsaquo Category 6 cables are recommended for Gigabit Ethernet speeds in an office network
Cloudrsaquorsaquo Instead of buying and installing software on your own businessrsquos server a cloud company owns and runs the server hardware and software ndash you pay to access it over the Internet Examples include Microsoft Office 365 Salesforce Gmail and Dropbox
Contentionratiorsaquorsaquo A term used to indicate how many users have to share the same bandwidth Generally the lower the contention ratio the better Business grade broadband can sometimes have better contention ratios than home broadband
Copperrsaquorsaquo The public telephone lines also used for broadband services like ADSL SHDSL and Midband Ethernet Data services over copper reduce in speed the further your building is from your local telephone exchange
Dualbandwirelessrsaquorsaquo Dual band wireless routers can use two frequency bands (24GHz and 5GHz) to send and receive data unlike some wireless routers which can only use 24GHz This Brownfield
29bitcomau
JARGON BUSTER
can mean faster speeds but the tablet phone or laptop you are using needs to work on 5GHz or you wonrsquot see any difference
Ethernetrsaquorsaquo A network protocol often used for networks inside your building but can also be used for data services delivered over copper telephone lines or optical fibre cable Ethernet broadband services generally have same uploaddownload as opposed to ADSL
Exchangersaquorsaquo Can refer to Microsoft Exchange software which runs on a companyrsquos server and operates their company email or a telephone exchange
FSAMrsaquorsaquo A group of up to 3000 buildings connected to the NBN
GigabitEthernetrsaquorsaquo If you are using Ethernet cable to network your office Gigabit Ethernet will provide faster speeds (1Gbps) than Fast Ethernet (100Mbps)
Greenfieldrsaquorsaquo New housing developments Many of these streets will receive the NBN before Brownfield locations as they will be connected on a demand-driven basis Developers apply to have the NBN connected in their development
HostedITrsaquorsaquo Instead of buying and installing IT equipment yourself you can use another companyrsquos servers This can
include servers to run your email and website as well as hosted applications that users access over the network You can also hire a ldquomanaged service providerrdquo to setup and run your own IT
Latencyrsaquorsaquo Sometimes refers to the delay between sending data and receiving a response Higher latency is a disadvantage when using certain applications like videoconferencing Latency is generally higher on satellite and wireless networks such as 3G although 4G has a theoretical lower latency than 3G
LTErsaquorsaquo Higher speed wireless broadband used in the latest generation of smartphones and if you are getting the NBN via fixed wireless Much faster speeds than ADSL are possible but latency is much higher than optical fibre cable meaning itrsquos not suitable for videoconferencing Sometimes referred to as ldquo4Grdquo
Continued over page
Greenfield
LTE
WirelessRouter
30 bitcomau
MidbandEthernetrsaquorsaquo Provides up to 40Mbps over multiple copper lines Unlike ADSL you get the same upload and download speed but cost is usually several hundred dollars a month
NTDrsaquorsaquo Network Termination Device This is supplied free and is attached to a wall inside your building It takes the place of a modem when you get the NBN This is the box your router and phones will plug in to
Paymentgatewayrsaquorsaquo Used if you want to let customers buy products from your website When a customer buys a product on your website the transaction is sent to a third party the payment gateway which authorises the payment with the bank
PCDrsaquorsaquo Premises Connection Device This is a small box that is attached to an outside wall of your building when you are connected to the NBN via fibre cable The NBN fibre cable runs through this box to the inside of your building where it connects to the NTD
Powerlinenetworkrsaquorsaquo If a wireless router isnrsquot enough to spread your Internet connection
around your business (due to brick walls or multiple stories) and having Ethernet cables installed is too difficult another option is a powerline network An adaptor is plugged into each power point and data can be sent through the buildingrsquos internal wiring
PSTNrsaquorsaquo The public switched telephone network The copper network your analogue telephone connects to
RSPrsaquorsaquo Retail Service Provider Another name for an Internet provider such as Telstra Optus iiNet or Internode Once your building is connected you can contact an RSP to pay for an Internet plan and start using the NBN
Serverrsaquorsaquo A central computer that other computers on a network connect to A server might be in your own building providing a central location so all your staff can access the same files from their computers or an Internet server to which you connect to to access web sites or other services
SHDSLrsaquorsaquo Unlike ADSL SHDSL provides the same upload and download speeds Speeds up to 40Mbps are available by combining several phone lines in the form of Extreme SHDSL
SIPrsaquorsaquo A protocol used in devices for delivering multiple VOIP telephone calls at once
PCD
NTD
PCD
31bitcomau
JARGON BUSTER
SLArsaquorsaquo business-grade broadband contracts can include a Service Level Agreement ndash the provider commits to providing a certain level of service (995 Internet uptime for example)
Synchronousrsaquorsaquo The same upload and download speeds Midband Ethernet and SHDSL are synchronous but ADSL services are not meaning upload speeds are much slower than download speeds
UNI-Vportrsaquorsaquo A port on the NBN network termination device (NTD) where you plug in a telephone Alternatively if you use a VOIP telephone service your telephone can be plugged into a wireless router with a VOIP feature which then plugs into the data port on the NTD
Batterybackupunitrsaquorsaquo A separate box supplied free with your NBN connection that is installed alongside the NTD on a wall inside your building This unit lets you continue to make telephone calls during a blackout if you are using an analogue phone running through the UNI-V port
Uploadspeedrsaquorsaquo If you use applications that send data such as videoconferencing and sending large email attachments as opposed to downloading large files and watching videos then look for an Internet service with higher upload speeds
UPSrsaquorsaquo Uninterruptible Power Supply A device that plugs into your server or computer so that it can continue to run if the main power supply stops
VOIPrsaquorsaquo Voice over IP Unlike regular telephone services VOIP telephone calls are converted to data and travel over data networks Call rates can be much cheaper though call quality can suffer if your VOIP service and your broadband connection arenrsquot suitable
VPNrsaquorsaquo A secure way to upload and download files to and from your officersquos internal network drives and servers when you are not in the office (eg at a hotel or from another office)
WANrsaquorsaquo Wide Area Network Offices in different towns or cities can be connected via the same WAN
Wirelessextenderrsaquorsaquo If you already have a wireless router this is a separate device which plugs into a power point and extends the range of the signal
WirelessNrsaquorsaquo Compatible routers are recommended for spreading your Internet connection around your office wirelessly Will be superseded by the faster 80211ac standard but there are not currently many compatible laptops and devices that will connect at 80211ac speeds
Batterybackupunit
UNI-Vport
WirelessRouter
28bitcomau
Their small businesses have the technology edgeDoes yoursSometimes you can be so busy that keeping up with technology seems too much What you really want to know is what it can do for your business BIT will keep you up to date with the technology that can help you do your job and grow your business ndash whether you are a florist a plumber an accountant or any type of Australian small business
B U S I N E S S I T
Make technology work for your business
Click to return to
Bit
- 001
- 002-003
- 004-009
- 010-011
- 012-017
- 018-019
- 020-025
- 026-027
- 028-031
- 032
-
8 bitcomau
BENEFITS
CUT MY PHONE BILLLong distance call charges should be consigned to the history books Ways of making calls over the Internet (also called voice-over-IP or VOIP) such as Skype enable you to talk free-of-charge between users of the same service and to call regular telephone numbers in distant locations at greatly reduced charges The NBN will improve call quality and reliability
SLASH MY IT SERVICE CHARGES
Many of the NBN-enabled services will be based in the Cloud meaning that someone else pays for the hardware
(like servers) and operating costs All you pay for is the service and the
computers you use to access them such as your PC smartphone or tablet
IMPROVE MY ONLINE SALESThe NBN will make it easier for more customers to browse and buy online meaning yoursquoll need to be ready for them Take advantage of the NBNrsquos bandwidth and include high-resolution images and high-definition video so customers can really see what theyrsquore getting
2
3
1
5
9bitcomau
BENEFITS
WAYS THE NBN CAN HELP MY BUSINESS
SPREAD MY WINGSThe NBN will make it possible for more people to work from home or remote locations using the Internet Teleworking gives staff more flexibility and might enable you to employ workers with special skills who might otherwise be located too far away
TRIM MY TRAVEL COSTSOnce yoursquove used high-definition
videoconferencing yoursquoll start to question whether the business trips you make are actually worth the time and cost
of flying The NBN will make two-way HD videoconferencing possible ndash and
affordable ndash from your desktop and tools such as Cisco WebEx Meetings and Citrix
GoToMeeting are free to trial
Therersquos more to the NBN than faster InternetWORDS BRAD HOWARTH
4
55
10 bitcomau
here are expensive and cheap NBN plans ndash just like there are for
other types of broadband The cheapest plan in our table on the right is $35 at 12Mbps with 50GB of data per month
When you compare this with what yoursquore paying now remember a couple of things First you are more likely to get consistent speeds on the NBN Even for Fixed Wireless NBN the NBN Co promises yoursquoll get ldquorelatively steadyrdquo speeds unlike 3G or 4G wireless broadband Second some of these NBN plans have much faster upload speeds than ADSL
Even though data limits look small for some entry level plans they often jump up drastically on the next most expensive plan ndash from 50GB to 200GB in one example
Yoursquoll also need a telephone service You can get this over the NBN too from your Internet provider You can keep your copper line telephone service for a while but eventually it will be decommissioned in areas with the NBN over fibre cable (not in areas with NBN via wireless or satellite)
What will it costGetting the best value on the NBN WORDS WILLIAM MAHER
T 100Mbps 40Mbps 50Mbps 20Mbps 25Mbps 5Mbps 12Mbps 1MbpsPROVIDER Cost Data limit Cost Data limit Cost Data limit Cost Data limit
Internode $7495 30GB $6495 30GB $5495 30GB $4995 30GB
iiNet $6995 40GB $6495 40GB $5495 40GB $4995 40GB
Optus $7999 120GB $6999 120GB $5999 120GB $3999 40GB
iPrimus $7995 40GB $6995 40GB $5995 40GB $4995 40GB
Telstra $9190 50GBwith phone service
ndash ndash $8190 50GBwith phone service
ndash ndash
Exetel $4500 25GB $5000 50GB $4000 50GB $3500 50GB
MyNetFone $9995 1000GB $6995 500GB $5995 250GB $3995 20GB
(Satellite) Activ8me ndash ndash ndash ndash ndash ndash $3495 3GB6Mbps 1Mbps
(Fixed Wireless) iiNet ndash ndash ndash ndash ndash ndash $4995 40GB
100Mbps 40Mbps 50Mbps 20Mbps 25Mbps 5Mbps 12Mbps 1MbpsPROVIDER Cost Data limit Cost Data limit Cost Data limit Cost Data limit
Internode $10495 30GB $9495 30GB $8495 30GB $7995 30GB
iiNet $9995 40GB $9495 40GB $8495 40GB25Mbps 10Mbps
$7995 40GB
Optus $7900 100GB $6900 100GB $6400 100GB $5900 100GB
MyNetFone $9995 1000GB $6995 500GB $5995 250GB $3995 20GB
RESIDENTIAL PLANS PER MONTH
BUSINESS PLANS PER MONTH
Please note This is designed to be a general guide to the cost of NBN services For each speed tier we have picked the cheapest available plan from each provider
11bitcomau
PLANS amp PRICES
100Mbps 40Mbps 50Mbps 20Mbps 25Mbps 5Mbps 12Mbps 1MbpsPROVIDER Cost Data limit Cost Data limit Cost Data limit Cost Data limit
Internode $7495 30GB $6495 30GB $5495 30GB $4995 30GB
iiNet $6995 40GB $6495 40GB $5495 40GB $4995 40GB
Optus $7999 120GB $6999 120GB $5999 120GB $3999 40GB
iPrimus $7995 40GB $6995 40GB $5995 40GB $4995 40GB
Telstra $9190 50GBwith phone service
ndash ndash $8190 50GBwith phone service
ndash ndash
Exetel $4500 25GB $5000 50GB $4000 50GB $3500 50GB
MyNetFone $9995 1000GB $6995 500GB $5995 250GB $3995 20GB
(Satellite) Activ8me ndash ndash ndash ndash ndash ndash $3495 3GB6Mbps 1Mbps
(Fixed Wireless) iiNet ndash ndash ndash ndash ndash ndash $4995 40GB
100Mbps 40Mbps 50Mbps 20Mbps 25Mbps 5Mbps 12Mbps 1MbpsPROVIDER Cost Data limit Cost Data limit Cost Data limit Cost Data limit
Internode $10495 30GB $9495 30GB $8495 30GB $7995 30GB
iiNet $9995 40GB $9495 40GB $8495 40GB25Mbps 10Mbps
$7995 40GB
Optus $7900 100GB $6900 100GB $6400 100GB $5900 100GB
MyNetFone $9995 1000GB $6995 500GB $5995 250GB $3995 20GB
RESIDENTIAL PLANS PER MONTH
BUSINESS PLANS PER MONTH
Not all services and providers are listed Extra fees and conditions such as setup fees (where applicable) contract length peakoff-peak restrictions are not shown All prices correct at time of writing but may have changed Check with your provider for the latest details
Compare more pricesClick here for extra comparisons at the BIT website
12 bitcomau
1 Connecting my buildingHow does the NBN connect to my building and what does the NBN box look like p14
2 Inside my officeIs my office ready for the NBN and do I need a network p16
13bitcomau
Now that you know how the NBN might help you letrsquos get down to the nuts and bolts of connecting If you want the maximum speed and most value for your money there are a few important things to know ndash for example is your network up to scratchWORDS WILLIAM MAHER
CONNECTING MY OFFICE
3 Choosing my routerFrom routers to wireless extenders here are useful devices that will help you get more from the NBN p17
OFFICE READY
14 bitcomau
1 CONNECTING MY BUILDINGThis is the NBN box that is being installed in businesses and homes across the countryIf yoursquore being connected by fibre optic cable as opposed to wireless or satellite the cable will run down your street either in trenches or strung on overhead lines Your connection again either in a trench or via an overhead line will run to a box called the Premises Connection Device (PCD) which will be attached to an outside wall of your building ndash the fibre comes into your building via this box
The fibre then travels to the Network Termination Device (NTD) Thatrsquos the box you see on this page This is the box you might connect to your router computers and desk phones You wonrsquot use a DSL modem anymore ndash for the modem function at least This box replaces it
Letrsquos take a look at the box In the photo the incoming NBN cable connects to the box on the right [A] From here a cable connects the NTD to your router via the data port [B] Note there are four data ports For example it might be possible to get Internet access from one provider and perhaps
a video on demand service on a separate port
On the left are two voice ports [C] ndash once copper telephone lines are phased out all NBN fibre-connected buildings will have phones connected over the NBN If you have a landline telephone that should plug straight into the voice port on the box
Keep in mind that the NBN box gets installed by an NBN contractor
The NTD must be next to a power point which will be used for the battery backup unit ndash a separate box that sits next to this one so you can make phone calls if there is a blackout
For a standard installation the NTD will be attached to an exterior wall (inside the building but on an outer wall) If you need the box in another room where your router and other equipment are there is an option for a ldquonon-standardrdquo installation but you might have to pay
15bitcomau
OFFICE READY
The NBN Box comes with four data ports The battery backup
unit (not shown)will not power these ports in a blackout only the voice ports
[B]
You can request a voice service to be delivered through
these UNI-V voice ports Your corded telephone will plug straight in
[C]
This is where the incoming NBN fibre connects[A]
NBN Network Termination Device (NTD)PRICE FREE SUPPLIER NBN CO
16 bitcomau
2 INSIDE MY OFFICEHow will your computers desk phones and other devices connect to the NBN boxOnce the NBN is installed in your building and yoursquove signed up with your Internet provider for an NBN Internet plan yoursquoll need to connect your computers to the NBN box
If you have more than one computer one way of doing this is to connect them via Wi-Fi to a
wireless router you plug into the NBN box If all you need to do is browse the web send email
send documents and watch the occasional video then this might be ok If you are sending and
receiving a lot of very big files though or you need to regularly watch high definition video or backup large amounts of data using the NBN then therersquos
the possibility Wi-Fi might slow things down
WIRELESSROUTER[1]
Another option is to connect all your computers to the NBN box with network cable This will give you the fastest throughput from the NBN box to your computers Wersquore not about to go out on a limb and suggest everyone start planning when to get their floorboards ripped up for cabling though Not only is it an extra expense running cables throughout your building isnrsquot a simple job
NETWORKCABLE[2]
17bitcomau
OFFICE READY
Powerline networking is another option You plug network ports to the power points in your house The system uses the electricity wiring instead of network cables It should give you a better connection than Wi-Fi
WARNINGOne big surprise is that yoursquore not to install any data cabling yourself if it connects to the telecoms network A licensed professional is supposed to do the job badly installed network cable can result in slow speed dropouts or in extreme cases injury And while there might be electricians with excellent data expertise itrsquos a different set of skills and theyrsquore not always the best choice If in doubt ask for their registration card or check with the registrar yourself The ACMA web site has a fact sheet
POWERLINENETWORKING[3]
3 CHOOSING MY ROUTERWORDS JOHN GILLOOLY
Once you have the NBN you need a router to spread the Internet to each computer in your building
You might see lsquoNBN readyrsquo modem routers for sale ndash this means that the ADSL modem can be disabled once you get the NBN (because the NBN box takes care of that function) But these routers might be designed for low ADSL speeds and may not actually cope with the demands of the highest NBN speeds of 100Mbit download 40Mbit upload If your NBN plan isnrsquot that fast your router might cope ok but it is best to think of any lsquoNBN Readyrsquo ADSL modemrouter as a temporary solution We suggest looking for
Routers that can cope with sustained high-speed transfers We like ASUSrsquo RT-N56U the FritzBox Fon WLAN 7390 and Netgearrsquos DGND3700 N600
If yoursquore using Wi-Fi a dual band wireless router (these will work at the 5GHz band) is ideal but your Wi-Fi devices must be compatible
80211ac wireless routers will work better with Wi-Fi devices and have the fastest technology on the market but arenrsquot a must-have yet
If you have network cable installed a Gigabit Ethernet router is ideal
Want more Click to see photos of common wiring mistakes
Fritzbox Fon WLAN 7390
18 bitcomau
Tips and advice from real NBN usersWORDS WILLIAM MAHER
TOP
1 PLAN AHEAD
Itrsquos generally a good idea to have the NBN termination unit installed as close to your computers and router as possible ndash everything that connects to the Internet will need to connect to it This might cost extra
2 GET HERITAGE CLEARANCE
Installation will likely involve holes being drilled in your wall to attach equipment feeds to the cable If you work in a heritage building then this might not be allowed
4 DONrsquoT EXPECT THE INTERNET TO BE PERFECT ALL THE TIME
Yes despite all the hype some NBN users have told us that web browsing
on the NBN is sometimes not noticeably any faster than ADSL Your connection might be fast but web servers on the other side of the world can still struggle to cope with congestion On the upside it should cope much
better with several users uploads should be faster and it should be
less prone to dropouts
3 DONrsquoT RUSH IN
Just because your building gets connected doesnrsquot mean you have to start using the NBN straight away Generally the plan is for the copper telephone lines to be kept for 18 months after the NBN is rolled out before being disconnected Where the NBN is delivered by wireless or satellite telephone lines wonrsquot be disconnected for at least 10 years
19bitcomau
NEED TO KNOW
7 BE WARY OF CHEAP ROUTERS
Your router will need to be able to cope with NBN speeds as well as be able to spread the data around your building fast enough If it doesnrsquot have gigabit Ethernet (for wired networks) or dual band wireless (for wireless networks) you might want to think about upgrading See page 19
9 GET A BACKUP POWER SUPPLY
Even if you have a battery backup box supplied with the NBN connection it wonrsquot keep your Internet running during a blackout only your phone If data access is critical to your business even during a blackout get an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) for a few hundred dollars
8 COMPARE VOICE PLANS
The Internet provider you have a data plan with might give you a better deal on a UNI-V phone service than other providers But call rates might be cheaper on a phone plan through the UNI-D ports
6 REWIRE YOUR PHONES
If you have lots of phone extensions in different rooms itrsquos still possible to keep using them for phone calls but the wiring will need to be connected to the NBN box An alternative is to connect a cordless phone base station to the NBN box
10 WATCH FOR BOTTLENECKS
Wersquove heard stories of people complaining that the NBN isnrsquot any faster but in the end something on their network was limiting the speed ndash like a wireless router that was affected by interference Remember that your own network can cause problems if itrsquos not set up correctly Bad cabling can also cause problems
5 CHECK YOU HAVE ENOUGH PHONE PORTS
The NBN termination unit has two phone ports If you need more phone lines once the copper telephone lines are disconnected consider switching to a VOIP telephone plan This gives you lots of ldquovirtualrdquo lines which run through the data ports instead
20 bitcomau
o you donrsquot want to wait for the NBN to arrive You need faster
more reliable Internet now On these pages wersquove listed ways you can get it without waiting for the NBN
The cheapest broadband is a home plan and they can provide relatively fast speeds if you only have one or two computers But if your business has grown or you want to connect a small office full of people business-grade broadband might serve you better
Generally business-grade services cost more ndash anywhere from around the $100-a-month mark up to $1000 or more
Yes the more expensive services can be much faster than a home ADSL service but download speeds are only one benefit
Other benefits of a business data service might include
A commitment that the connection will be working for a certain amount of time Eg ldquo9995 uptimerdquo
Fewer customers to share the bandwidth with This means your connection is less likely to slow down when lots of other businesses are using the network too
Faster upload speeds than home ADSL Very important to prevent your connection slowing down if you have several people sending large files at the same time Upload speeds are very limited on home ADSL services
Some services include 24x7 technical support
NBN plans are generally shaping up to be good value compared to what you see on the following pages but not everyone wants to wait
What if I donrsquot have the NBN yetEven if the roll-out hasnrsquot reached your area yet there are still several other options to get better Internet performance nowWORDS WILLIAM MAHER
SSLA
A Service Level Agreement is offered with many business data plans It sets out formal responsibilities of the service provider covering things like how fast they should respond to you if there is a problem what hours of the day technical support is available a commitment that problems will be fixed within a certain number of hours and that the service will be running without problems for a certain amount of time
21bitcomau
OPTIONS
HOME ADSL2+Speed Up to 24Mbps download 1Mbps upload (theoretical peak speeds actual speeds will be slower)Pros Relatively cheap compared to business servicesCons Speed depends on distance from telephone exchange Slow upload speed Shared with other usersRecommended Home office 1-2 computers where upload speeds arenrsquot critical where consistent speed isnrsquot critical for day-to-day operations
HOME ADSL2+ WITH ANNEX MSpeed Up to 24Mbps download up to 25Mbps upload (theoretical peak speeds Actual speeds will be slower)Pros Relatively cheap compared to business services Faster upload speed than regular ADSL2+Cons Speed depends on distance from telephone exchange Shared with other usersRecommended Home office 1-2 computers where faster upload speeds are useful but not critical where consistent speed isnrsquot critical for day-to-day operations
CABLE INTERNETSpeed Up to 100Mbps download up to 2Mbps upload (theoretical peak speeds Actual
speeds will be slower)Pros Relatively cheap compared to business services Much faster potential download speeds than ADSL2+Cons Limited to certain cities upload speeds much slower than download shared with other usersRecommended Home office 1-2 computers where faster download speeds than ADSL2+ are needed where fast upload speeds are not necessary where consistent speed isnrsquot critical for day-to-day operations
WIRELESS 3G Speed ldquoTypicalrdquo speeds up to 20Mbps download up to 3Mbps upload (actual speeds could be much slower speed depends on network type)Pros You can use it on the moveCons Speed varies a lot depending on where you are Speed decreases as more users share network Latency generally higher than ADSL Upload speeds much lower than downloadRecommended Secondary connection for accessing email and websites while on the move and where fast upload speeds are not required Where a reliable connection and consistent speed isnrsquot important
WIRELESS 4GSpeed ldquoTypicalrdquo speeds up
22 bitcomau
to 40MBps download up to 10Mbps upload (actual speeds could be much slower)Pros You can use it on the move Higher upload speeds than ADSL2+ and 3G are possibleCons Speed varies a lot depending on where you are Speed decreases as more users share network Theoretical upload speeds slower than download (though not always the case in practice) Limited to Telstra and Optus at time of writing
Recommended Secondary connection while on the move and where faster upload speeds than 3G are required for transferring large files For connecting several gadgets (tablet and laptop) to the Internet at the same time Where a reliable connection and consistent speed isnrsquot important
BUSINESS ADSL2+Speed up to 24Mbps download up to 25Mbps upload
DATA SPEED COMPARISON DOWNLOADSUPLOADS
0Mbps 10Mbps 20Mbps 30Mbps 40Mbps 50Mbps 100Mbps 1000Mbps
HOME ADSL2+
HOME ADSL2+ WITH ANNEX M
CABLE INTERNET
WIRELESS 3G (PEAK ldquoTYPICALrdquo SPEED)
WIRELESS 4G (PEAK ldquoTYPICALrdquo SPEED)
BUSINESS ADSL2+
BONDED DSL
SHDSL
ETHERNET OVER COPPER
ETHERNET OVER FIBRE
NBN (FIBRE)
NBN (FIXED WIRELESS)
NBN (SATELLITE)
23bitcomau
OPTIONS
with Annex M (theoretical peak speeds Actual speeds will be slower)Pros Relatively cheap compared to other business broadband services Might include priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratioCons Speed depends on distance from telephone exchange Upload speed much slower than downloadRecommended Home office 1-3 computers where upload
speeds arenrsquot critical where consistent speed isnrsquot critical for day-to-day operations
BONDED DSLSpeed Typical speeds up to 30Mbps download up to 26Mbps upload with Annex M (by combining copper lines) (actual speeds could be slower)Pros Faster speeds than ADSL2+ possible Relatively cheap compared to other business broadband services
Please note The information on these pages is intended to be a general guide only Exact speeds and other factors can differ between providers Check these details with your provider before purchasing a data service Unless otherwise noted we have quoted maximum potential speeds real life speeds can be significantly slower (especially for wireless and ADSL) and maximum potential speeds can vary according to which technology variant your network uses Note For wireless 3G and 4G we have followed the lead of carriers and quoted the maximum ldquotypicalrdquo speed you are likely to achieve not the maximum theoretical speed
Some of these services will not be available at a certain point after the NBN is connected in your area For example in areas where fibre cable is installed to connect customers to the NBN copper telephone lines will be decommissioned 18 months after the fibre is connected HFC (cable Internet) networks are also expected to be decommissioned in each area once the NBN is rolled out
0Mbps 10Mbps 20Mbps 30Mbps 40Mbps 50Mbps 100Mbps 1000Mbps
DOWNLOADUPLOAD
24 bitcomau
Might include priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratioCons Speed depends on distance from telephone exchange Upload speed much slower than downloads Two telephone lines neededRecommended Homesmall office that needs faster speeds than ADSL2+ or canrsquot get fast enough ADSL2+ speeds because of distance from telephone exchange Where having the same uploaddownload speed isnrsquot necessary
SHDSLSpeed Up to 46Mbps download up to 46Mbps uploadPros Same upload and download speeds Speeds are guaranteed Usually includes priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratioCons More expensive than ADSL2+ Download speeds offered often slower than theoretical ADSL2+ peak speedsRecommende Office that needs faster speeds than ADSL2+ especially where upload speed is crucial for videoconferencing regularly sending large files multiple Voice over IP telephone lines or connecting several offices Where fibre isnrsquot available Where consistent speed is critical
ETHERNET OVER COPPER(MIDBAND ETHERNET)Speed Up to 40Mbps download up to 40Mbps upload (by combining copper lines)Pros Same upload and download speeds Much faster upload speeds than ADSL2+ available Usually includes priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratio Cheaper overall than fibreCons More expensive than ADSL2+Recommended Office with many people at the same time regularly sending large files videoconferencing backup hosted applications VPN using VOIP or connecting to servers in other offices Where fibre isnrsquot available or is too expensive
ETHERNET OVER FIBRESpeed Up to 1000Mbps download up to 1000 Mbps uploadPros Same upload and download speeds Much faster speeds available than other services Usually includes priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratioCons Generally the most expensive option ndash can cost several thousand dollars a month Limited availabilityRecommended Large offices with many people at the same time regularly sending large
Latency Sometimes
refers to the delay between sending data and receiving a response Higher latency is a disadvantage when using certain applications like video-conferencing Latency is generally higher on satellite and wireless networks such as 3G although 4G has a theoretical lower latency than 3G
25bitcomau
OPTIONS
files videoconferencing backup hosted applications VPN using VOIP or connecting to servers in other offices Where a reliable connection and consistent very high speed is critical for day to day operations
NBN (FIBRE)Speed Up to 100MBps download up to 40Mbps upload (fastest plans available at time of writing Faster speeds theoretically possible in future)Pros Much faster speeds available than ADSL2+ including much faster upload speeds Provides minimum peak speeds unlike ADSL2+ More reliable than ADSL Business plans can include priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) (though residential NBN plans might not include this) Generally much cheaper than other business services with comparable speedsCons Very limited availability at time of writingRecommended Where several users need to senddownload large files videoconference backup use hosted applications VPN use VOIP or connect to servers in other offices at the same time Where a reliable connection and consistent speeds are critical Where much faster downloadupload speeds than ADSL2+ are important
NBN (FIXED WIRELESS)Speed Minimum 12Mbps download up to 1Mbps upload (Faster speeds planned)Pros Unlike mobile 4G and 3G networks ldquorelatively steadyrdquo speeds are promisedCons Very limited availability at time of writing Upload speeds much slower than download Top download speed currently much slower than NBN fibre and some other business servicesRecommended Where ADSL2+ isnrsquot available or is unreliable or slow For home office or small office where very high downloadupload speeds arenrsquot critical
NBN (SATELLITE)Speed Up to 6Mbps download up to 1Mbps upload (12Mbps download speeds planned for 2015)Pros Better speeds than some locations could otherwise getCons Top download speed relatively slow compared to NBN fibre and theoretical peak ADSL2+ download speed Upload speed much slower than download speed Higher latency than fixed line services Generally smaller download limits than ADSL2+ and fibreRecommended Locations that donrsquot have access to other broadband Where fast upload speeds arenrsquot needed Where latency-sensitive applications like VPNs arenrsquot required
26 bitcomau
My BookmarksFor more information on the best NBN plans and more click these links
Show me when I am getting connected
General NBN info
Show me all the NBN providers
Tell me if I can get NBN satellite
Give me more info on fibre NBN
I want more info on wireless NBN
I want more info about
the NBN fibre termination unit
Show me all the towns on
the current NBN rollout plan
Show me the NBN FAQ
27bitcomau
MORE INFO
Show me the best plans
Tell me about finding
a registered cabler
I want to try videoconferencing
Show me a list of cablers
I want Microsoft to host my servers
for me
Show me more about
getting connected
I want to read what users are
saying about Internet
providers
I want a web site
Help me make better
use of the NBN for
my business
Teach me about
online marketing
I want Google to
host my servers for me
28 bitcomau
The tech-talk in plain English
AnnexMrsaquorsaquo An add-on feature that some ADSL Internet providers offer to increase the speed of uploads iiNet for example says that customers will get a theoretical maximum upload speed of 275Mbps
ATArsaquorsaquo If you want to use a VOIP telephone service and donrsquot have a suitable VOIP router your VOIP provider can provide this adapter which you plug your telephone into
BondedDSLrsaquorsaquo By combining several phone lines higher broadband speeds are possible Unlike SHDSL upload speeds are still a lot slower than download speeds
Brownfieldrsaquorsaquo Premises that have already been built The focus is on connecting brownfields in regional areas to the NBN first so people currently with the worst broadband get it first
Businessgradebroadbandrsaquorsaquo Can cost more than home broadband but can include guaranteed uptime service agreements and sometimes your
data will travel over a separate network meaning less traffic congestion
Cat6rsaquorsaquo Category 6 cables are recommended for Gigabit Ethernet speeds in an office network
Cloudrsaquorsaquo Instead of buying and installing software on your own businessrsquos server a cloud company owns and runs the server hardware and software ndash you pay to access it over the Internet Examples include Microsoft Office 365 Salesforce Gmail and Dropbox
Contentionratiorsaquorsaquo A term used to indicate how many users have to share the same bandwidth Generally the lower the contention ratio the better Business grade broadband can sometimes have better contention ratios than home broadband
Copperrsaquorsaquo The public telephone lines also used for broadband services like ADSL SHDSL and Midband Ethernet Data services over copper reduce in speed the further your building is from your local telephone exchange
Dualbandwirelessrsaquorsaquo Dual band wireless routers can use two frequency bands (24GHz and 5GHz) to send and receive data unlike some wireless routers which can only use 24GHz This Brownfield
29bitcomau
JARGON BUSTER
can mean faster speeds but the tablet phone or laptop you are using needs to work on 5GHz or you wonrsquot see any difference
Ethernetrsaquorsaquo A network protocol often used for networks inside your building but can also be used for data services delivered over copper telephone lines or optical fibre cable Ethernet broadband services generally have same uploaddownload as opposed to ADSL
Exchangersaquorsaquo Can refer to Microsoft Exchange software which runs on a companyrsquos server and operates their company email or a telephone exchange
FSAMrsaquorsaquo A group of up to 3000 buildings connected to the NBN
GigabitEthernetrsaquorsaquo If you are using Ethernet cable to network your office Gigabit Ethernet will provide faster speeds (1Gbps) than Fast Ethernet (100Mbps)
Greenfieldrsaquorsaquo New housing developments Many of these streets will receive the NBN before Brownfield locations as they will be connected on a demand-driven basis Developers apply to have the NBN connected in their development
HostedITrsaquorsaquo Instead of buying and installing IT equipment yourself you can use another companyrsquos servers This can
include servers to run your email and website as well as hosted applications that users access over the network You can also hire a ldquomanaged service providerrdquo to setup and run your own IT
Latencyrsaquorsaquo Sometimes refers to the delay between sending data and receiving a response Higher latency is a disadvantage when using certain applications like videoconferencing Latency is generally higher on satellite and wireless networks such as 3G although 4G has a theoretical lower latency than 3G
LTErsaquorsaquo Higher speed wireless broadband used in the latest generation of smartphones and if you are getting the NBN via fixed wireless Much faster speeds than ADSL are possible but latency is much higher than optical fibre cable meaning itrsquos not suitable for videoconferencing Sometimes referred to as ldquo4Grdquo
Continued over page
Greenfield
LTE
WirelessRouter
30 bitcomau
MidbandEthernetrsaquorsaquo Provides up to 40Mbps over multiple copper lines Unlike ADSL you get the same upload and download speed but cost is usually several hundred dollars a month
NTDrsaquorsaquo Network Termination Device This is supplied free and is attached to a wall inside your building It takes the place of a modem when you get the NBN This is the box your router and phones will plug in to
Paymentgatewayrsaquorsaquo Used if you want to let customers buy products from your website When a customer buys a product on your website the transaction is sent to a third party the payment gateway which authorises the payment with the bank
PCDrsaquorsaquo Premises Connection Device This is a small box that is attached to an outside wall of your building when you are connected to the NBN via fibre cable The NBN fibre cable runs through this box to the inside of your building where it connects to the NTD
Powerlinenetworkrsaquorsaquo If a wireless router isnrsquot enough to spread your Internet connection
around your business (due to brick walls or multiple stories) and having Ethernet cables installed is too difficult another option is a powerline network An adaptor is plugged into each power point and data can be sent through the buildingrsquos internal wiring
PSTNrsaquorsaquo The public switched telephone network The copper network your analogue telephone connects to
RSPrsaquorsaquo Retail Service Provider Another name for an Internet provider such as Telstra Optus iiNet or Internode Once your building is connected you can contact an RSP to pay for an Internet plan and start using the NBN
Serverrsaquorsaquo A central computer that other computers on a network connect to A server might be in your own building providing a central location so all your staff can access the same files from their computers or an Internet server to which you connect to to access web sites or other services
SHDSLrsaquorsaquo Unlike ADSL SHDSL provides the same upload and download speeds Speeds up to 40Mbps are available by combining several phone lines in the form of Extreme SHDSL
SIPrsaquorsaquo A protocol used in devices for delivering multiple VOIP telephone calls at once
PCD
NTD
PCD
31bitcomau
JARGON BUSTER
SLArsaquorsaquo business-grade broadband contracts can include a Service Level Agreement ndash the provider commits to providing a certain level of service (995 Internet uptime for example)
Synchronousrsaquorsaquo The same upload and download speeds Midband Ethernet and SHDSL are synchronous but ADSL services are not meaning upload speeds are much slower than download speeds
UNI-Vportrsaquorsaquo A port on the NBN network termination device (NTD) where you plug in a telephone Alternatively if you use a VOIP telephone service your telephone can be plugged into a wireless router with a VOIP feature which then plugs into the data port on the NTD
Batterybackupunitrsaquorsaquo A separate box supplied free with your NBN connection that is installed alongside the NTD on a wall inside your building This unit lets you continue to make telephone calls during a blackout if you are using an analogue phone running through the UNI-V port
Uploadspeedrsaquorsaquo If you use applications that send data such as videoconferencing and sending large email attachments as opposed to downloading large files and watching videos then look for an Internet service with higher upload speeds
UPSrsaquorsaquo Uninterruptible Power Supply A device that plugs into your server or computer so that it can continue to run if the main power supply stops
VOIPrsaquorsaquo Voice over IP Unlike regular telephone services VOIP telephone calls are converted to data and travel over data networks Call rates can be much cheaper though call quality can suffer if your VOIP service and your broadband connection arenrsquot suitable
VPNrsaquorsaquo A secure way to upload and download files to and from your officersquos internal network drives and servers when you are not in the office (eg at a hotel or from another office)
WANrsaquorsaquo Wide Area Network Offices in different towns or cities can be connected via the same WAN
Wirelessextenderrsaquorsaquo If you already have a wireless router this is a separate device which plugs into a power point and extends the range of the signal
WirelessNrsaquorsaquo Compatible routers are recommended for spreading your Internet connection around your office wirelessly Will be superseded by the faster 80211ac standard but there are not currently many compatible laptops and devices that will connect at 80211ac speeds
Batterybackupunit
UNI-Vport
WirelessRouter
28bitcomau
Their small businesses have the technology edgeDoes yoursSometimes you can be so busy that keeping up with technology seems too much What you really want to know is what it can do for your business BIT will keep you up to date with the technology that can help you do your job and grow your business ndash whether you are a florist a plumber an accountant or any type of Australian small business
B U S I N E S S I T
Make technology work for your business
Click to return to
Bit
- 001
- 002-003
- 004-009
- 010-011
- 012-017
- 018-019
- 020-025
- 026-027
- 028-031
- 032
-
9bitcomau
BENEFITS
WAYS THE NBN CAN HELP MY BUSINESS
SPREAD MY WINGSThe NBN will make it possible for more people to work from home or remote locations using the Internet Teleworking gives staff more flexibility and might enable you to employ workers with special skills who might otherwise be located too far away
TRIM MY TRAVEL COSTSOnce yoursquove used high-definition
videoconferencing yoursquoll start to question whether the business trips you make are actually worth the time and cost
of flying The NBN will make two-way HD videoconferencing possible ndash and
affordable ndash from your desktop and tools such as Cisco WebEx Meetings and Citrix
GoToMeeting are free to trial
Therersquos more to the NBN than faster InternetWORDS BRAD HOWARTH
4
55
10 bitcomau
here are expensive and cheap NBN plans ndash just like there are for
other types of broadband The cheapest plan in our table on the right is $35 at 12Mbps with 50GB of data per month
When you compare this with what yoursquore paying now remember a couple of things First you are more likely to get consistent speeds on the NBN Even for Fixed Wireless NBN the NBN Co promises yoursquoll get ldquorelatively steadyrdquo speeds unlike 3G or 4G wireless broadband Second some of these NBN plans have much faster upload speeds than ADSL
Even though data limits look small for some entry level plans they often jump up drastically on the next most expensive plan ndash from 50GB to 200GB in one example
Yoursquoll also need a telephone service You can get this over the NBN too from your Internet provider You can keep your copper line telephone service for a while but eventually it will be decommissioned in areas with the NBN over fibre cable (not in areas with NBN via wireless or satellite)
What will it costGetting the best value on the NBN WORDS WILLIAM MAHER
T 100Mbps 40Mbps 50Mbps 20Mbps 25Mbps 5Mbps 12Mbps 1MbpsPROVIDER Cost Data limit Cost Data limit Cost Data limit Cost Data limit
Internode $7495 30GB $6495 30GB $5495 30GB $4995 30GB
iiNet $6995 40GB $6495 40GB $5495 40GB $4995 40GB
Optus $7999 120GB $6999 120GB $5999 120GB $3999 40GB
iPrimus $7995 40GB $6995 40GB $5995 40GB $4995 40GB
Telstra $9190 50GBwith phone service
ndash ndash $8190 50GBwith phone service
ndash ndash
Exetel $4500 25GB $5000 50GB $4000 50GB $3500 50GB
MyNetFone $9995 1000GB $6995 500GB $5995 250GB $3995 20GB
(Satellite) Activ8me ndash ndash ndash ndash ndash ndash $3495 3GB6Mbps 1Mbps
(Fixed Wireless) iiNet ndash ndash ndash ndash ndash ndash $4995 40GB
100Mbps 40Mbps 50Mbps 20Mbps 25Mbps 5Mbps 12Mbps 1MbpsPROVIDER Cost Data limit Cost Data limit Cost Data limit Cost Data limit
Internode $10495 30GB $9495 30GB $8495 30GB $7995 30GB
iiNet $9995 40GB $9495 40GB $8495 40GB25Mbps 10Mbps
$7995 40GB
Optus $7900 100GB $6900 100GB $6400 100GB $5900 100GB
MyNetFone $9995 1000GB $6995 500GB $5995 250GB $3995 20GB
RESIDENTIAL PLANS PER MONTH
BUSINESS PLANS PER MONTH
Please note This is designed to be a general guide to the cost of NBN services For each speed tier we have picked the cheapest available plan from each provider
11bitcomau
PLANS amp PRICES
100Mbps 40Mbps 50Mbps 20Mbps 25Mbps 5Mbps 12Mbps 1MbpsPROVIDER Cost Data limit Cost Data limit Cost Data limit Cost Data limit
Internode $7495 30GB $6495 30GB $5495 30GB $4995 30GB
iiNet $6995 40GB $6495 40GB $5495 40GB $4995 40GB
Optus $7999 120GB $6999 120GB $5999 120GB $3999 40GB
iPrimus $7995 40GB $6995 40GB $5995 40GB $4995 40GB
Telstra $9190 50GBwith phone service
ndash ndash $8190 50GBwith phone service
ndash ndash
Exetel $4500 25GB $5000 50GB $4000 50GB $3500 50GB
MyNetFone $9995 1000GB $6995 500GB $5995 250GB $3995 20GB
(Satellite) Activ8me ndash ndash ndash ndash ndash ndash $3495 3GB6Mbps 1Mbps
(Fixed Wireless) iiNet ndash ndash ndash ndash ndash ndash $4995 40GB
100Mbps 40Mbps 50Mbps 20Mbps 25Mbps 5Mbps 12Mbps 1MbpsPROVIDER Cost Data limit Cost Data limit Cost Data limit Cost Data limit
Internode $10495 30GB $9495 30GB $8495 30GB $7995 30GB
iiNet $9995 40GB $9495 40GB $8495 40GB25Mbps 10Mbps
$7995 40GB
Optus $7900 100GB $6900 100GB $6400 100GB $5900 100GB
MyNetFone $9995 1000GB $6995 500GB $5995 250GB $3995 20GB
RESIDENTIAL PLANS PER MONTH
BUSINESS PLANS PER MONTH
Not all services and providers are listed Extra fees and conditions such as setup fees (where applicable) contract length peakoff-peak restrictions are not shown All prices correct at time of writing but may have changed Check with your provider for the latest details
Compare more pricesClick here for extra comparisons at the BIT website
12 bitcomau
1 Connecting my buildingHow does the NBN connect to my building and what does the NBN box look like p14
2 Inside my officeIs my office ready for the NBN and do I need a network p16
13bitcomau
Now that you know how the NBN might help you letrsquos get down to the nuts and bolts of connecting If you want the maximum speed and most value for your money there are a few important things to know ndash for example is your network up to scratchWORDS WILLIAM MAHER
CONNECTING MY OFFICE
3 Choosing my routerFrom routers to wireless extenders here are useful devices that will help you get more from the NBN p17
OFFICE READY
14 bitcomau
1 CONNECTING MY BUILDINGThis is the NBN box that is being installed in businesses and homes across the countryIf yoursquore being connected by fibre optic cable as opposed to wireless or satellite the cable will run down your street either in trenches or strung on overhead lines Your connection again either in a trench or via an overhead line will run to a box called the Premises Connection Device (PCD) which will be attached to an outside wall of your building ndash the fibre comes into your building via this box
The fibre then travels to the Network Termination Device (NTD) Thatrsquos the box you see on this page This is the box you might connect to your router computers and desk phones You wonrsquot use a DSL modem anymore ndash for the modem function at least This box replaces it
Letrsquos take a look at the box In the photo the incoming NBN cable connects to the box on the right [A] From here a cable connects the NTD to your router via the data port [B] Note there are four data ports For example it might be possible to get Internet access from one provider and perhaps
a video on demand service on a separate port
On the left are two voice ports [C] ndash once copper telephone lines are phased out all NBN fibre-connected buildings will have phones connected over the NBN If you have a landline telephone that should plug straight into the voice port on the box
Keep in mind that the NBN box gets installed by an NBN contractor
The NTD must be next to a power point which will be used for the battery backup unit ndash a separate box that sits next to this one so you can make phone calls if there is a blackout
For a standard installation the NTD will be attached to an exterior wall (inside the building but on an outer wall) If you need the box in another room where your router and other equipment are there is an option for a ldquonon-standardrdquo installation but you might have to pay
15bitcomau
OFFICE READY
The NBN Box comes with four data ports The battery backup
unit (not shown)will not power these ports in a blackout only the voice ports
[B]
You can request a voice service to be delivered through
these UNI-V voice ports Your corded telephone will plug straight in
[C]
This is where the incoming NBN fibre connects[A]
NBN Network Termination Device (NTD)PRICE FREE SUPPLIER NBN CO
16 bitcomau
2 INSIDE MY OFFICEHow will your computers desk phones and other devices connect to the NBN boxOnce the NBN is installed in your building and yoursquove signed up with your Internet provider for an NBN Internet plan yoursquoll need to connect your computers to the NBN box
If you have more than one computer one way of doing this is to connect them via Wi-Fi to a
wireless router you plug into the NBN box If all you need to do is browse the web send email
send documents and watch the occasional video then this might be ok If you are sending and
receiving a lot of very big files though or you need to regularly watch high definition video or backup large amounts of data using the NBN then therersquos
the possibility Wi-Fi might slow things down
WIRELESSROUTER[1]
Another option is to connect all your computers to the NBN box with network cable This will give you the fastest throughput from the NBN box to your computers Wersquore not about to go out on a limb and suggest everyone start planning when to get their floorboards ripped up for cabling though Not only is it an extra expense running cables throughout your building isnrsquot a simple job
NETWORKCABLE[2]
17bitcomau
OFFICE READY
Powerline networking is another option You plug network ports to the power points in your house The system uses the electricity wiring instead of network cables It should give you a better connection than Wi-Fi
WARNINGOne big surprise is that yoursquore not to install any data cabling yourself if it connects to the telecoms network A licensed professional is supposed to do the job badly installed network cable can result in slow speed dropouts or in extreme cases injury And while there might be electricians with excellent data expertise itrsquos a different set of skills and theyrsquore not always the best choice If in doubt ask for their registration card or check with the registrar yourself The ACMA web site has a fact sheet
POWERLINENETWORKING[3]
3 CHOOSING MY ROUTERWORDS JOHN GILLOOLY
Once you have the NBN you need a router to spread the Internet to each computer in your building
You might see lsquoNBN readyrsquo modem routers for sale ndash this means that the ADSL modem can be disabled once you get the NBN (because the NBN box takes care of that function) But these routers might be designed for low ADSL speeds and may not actually cope with the demands of the highest NBN speeds of 100Mbit download 40Mbit upload If your NBN plan isnrsquot that fast your router might cope ok but it is best to think of any lsquoNBN Readyrsquo ADSL modemrouter as a temporary solution We suggest looking for
Routers that can cope with sustained high-speed transfers We like ASUSrsquo RT-N56U the FritzBox Fon WLAN 7390 and Netgearrsquos DGND3700 N600
If yoursquore using Wi-Fi a dual band wireless router (these will work at the 5GHz band) is ideal but your Wi-Fi devices must be compatible
80211ac wireless routers will work better with Wi-Fi devices and have the fastest technology on the market but arenrsquot a must-have yet
If you have network cable installed a Gigabit Ethernet router is ideal
Want more Click to see photos of common wiring mistakes
Fritzbox Fon WLAN 7390
18 bitcomau
Tips and advice from real NBN usersWORDS WILLIAM MAHER
TOP
1 PLAN AHEAD
Itrsquos generally a good idea to have the NBN termination unit installed as close to your computers and router as possible ndash everything that connects to the Internet will need to connect to it This might cost extra
2 GET HERITAGE CLEARANCE
Installation will likely involve holes being drilled in your wall to attach equipment feeds to the cable If you work in a heritage building then this might not be allowed
4 DONrsquoT EXPECT THE INTERNET TO BE PERFECT ALL THE TIME
Yes despite all the hype some NBN users have told us that web browsing
on the NBN is sometimes not noticeably any faster than ADSL Your connection might be fast but web servers on the other side of the world can still struggle to cope with congestion On the upside it should cope much
better with several users uploads should be faster and it should be
less prone to dropouts
3 DONrsquoT RUSH IN
Just because your building gets connected doesnrsquot mean you have to start using the NBN straight away Generally the plan is for the copper telephone lines to be kept for 18 months after the NBN is rolled out before being disconnected Where the NBN is delivered by wireless or satellite telephone lines wonrsquot be disconnected for at least 10 years
19bitcomau
NEED TO KNOW
7 BE WARY OF CHEAP ROUTERS
Your router will need to be able to cope with NBN speeds as well as be able to spread the data around your building fast enough If it doesnrsquot have gigabit Ethernet (for wired networks) or dual band wireless (for wireless networks) you might want to think about upgrading See page 19
9 GET A BACKUP POWER SUPPLY
Even if you have a battery backup box supplied with the NBN connection it wonrsquot keep your Internet running during a blackout only your phone If data access is critical to your business even during a blackout get an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) for a few hundred dollars
8 COMPARE VOICE PLANS
The Internet provider you have a data plan with might give you a better deal on a UNI-V phone service than other providers But call rates might be cheaper on a phone plan through the UNI-D ports
6 REWIRE YOUR PHONES
If you have lots of phone extensions in different rooms itrsquos still possible to keep using them for phone calls but the wiring will need to be connected to the NBN box An alternative is to connect a cordless phone base station to the NBN box
10 WATCH FOR BOTTLENECKS
Wersquove heard stories of people complaining that the NBN isnrsquot any faster but in the end something on their network was limiting the speed ndash like a wireless router that was affected by interference Remember that your own network can cause problems if itrsquos not set up correctly Bad cabling can also cause problems
5 CHECK YOU HAVE ENOUGH PHONE PORTS
The NBN termination unit has two phone ports If you need more phone lines once the copper telephone lines are disconnected consider switching to a VOIP telephone plan This gives you lots of ldquovirtualrdquo lines which run through the data ports instead
20 bitcomau
o you donrsquot want to wait for the NBN to arrive You need faster
more reliable Internet now On these pages wersquove listed ways you can get it without waiting for the NBN
The cheapest broadband is a home plan and they can provide relatively fast speeds if you only have one or two computers But if your business has grown or you want to connect a small office full of people business-grade broadband might serve you better
Generally business-grade services cost more ndash anywhere from around the $100-a-month mark up to $1000 or more
Yes the more expensive services can be much faster than a home ADSL service but download speeds are only one benefit
Other benefits of a business data service might include
A commitment that the connection will be working for a certain amount of time Eg ldquo9995 uptimerdquo
Fewer customers to share the bandwidth with This means your connection is less likely to slow down when lots of other businesses are using the network too
Faster upload speeds than home ADSL Very important to prevent your connection slowing down if you have several people sending large files at the same time Upload speeds are very limited on home ADSL services
Some services include 24x7 technical support
NBN plans are generally shaping up to be good value compared to what you see on the following pages but not everyone wants to wait
What if I donrsquot have the NBN yetEven if the roll-out hasnrsquot reached your area yet there are still several other options to get better Internet performance nowWORDS WILLIAM MAHER
SSLA
A Service Level Agreement is offered with many business data plans It sets out formal responsibilities of the service provider covering things like how fast they should respond to you if there is a problem what hours of the day technical support is available a commitment that problems will be fixed within a certain number of hours and that the service will be running without problems for a certain amount of time
21bitcomau
OPTIONS
HOME ADSL2+Speed Up to 24Mbps download 1Mbps upload (theoretical peak speeds actual speeds will be slower)Pros Relatively cheap compared to business servicesCons Speed depends on distance from telephone exchange Slow upload speed Shared with other usersRecommended Home office 1-2 computers where upload speeds arenrsquot critical where consistent speed isnrsquot critical for day-to-day operations
HOME ADSL2+ WITH ANNEX MSpeed Up to 24Mbps download up to 25Mbps upload (theoretical peak speeds Actual speeds will be slower)Pros Relatively cheap compared to business services Faster upload speed than regular ADSL2+Cons Speed depends on distance from telephone exchange Shared with other usersRecommended Home office 1-2 computers where faster upload speeds are useful but not critical where consistent speed isnrsquot critical for day-to-day operations
CABLE INTERNETSpeed Up to 100Mbps download up to 2Mbps upload (theoretical peak speeds Actual
speeds will be slower)Pros Relatively cheap compared to business services Much faster potential download speeds than ADSL2+Cons Limited to certain cities upload speeds much slower than download shared with other usersRecommended Home office 1-2 computers where faster download speeds than ADSL2+ are needed where fast upload speeds are not necessary where consistent speed isnrsquot critical for day-to-day operations
WIRELESS 3G Speed ldquoTypicalrdquo speeds up to 20Mbps download up to 3Mbps upload (actual speeds could be much slower speed depends on network type)Pros You can use it on the moveCons Speed varies a lot depending on where you are Speed decreases as more users share network Latency generally higher than ADSL Upload speeds much lower than downloadRecommended Secondary connection for accessing email and websites while on the move and where fast upload speeds are not required Where a reliable connection and consistent speed isnrsquot important
WIRELESS 4GSpeed ldquoTypicalrdquo speeds up
22 bitcomau
to 40MBps download up to 10Mbps upload (actual speeds could be much slower)Pros You can use it on the move Higher upload speeds than ADSL2+ and 3G are possibleCons Speed varies a lot depending on where you are Speed decreases as more users share network Theoretical upload speeds slower than download (though not always the case in practice) Limited to Telstra and Optus at time of writing
Recommended Secondary connection while on the move and where faster upload speeds than 3G are required for transferring large files For connecting several gadgets (tablet and laptop) to the Internet at the same time Where a reliable connection and consistent speed isnrsquot important
BUSINESS ADSL2+Speed up to 24Mbps download up to 25Mbps upload
DATA SPEED COMPARISON DOWNLOADSUPLOADS
0Mbps 10Mbps 20Mbps 30Mbps 40Mbps 50Mbps 100Mbps 1000Mbps
HOME ADSL2+
HOME ADSL2+ WITH ANNEX M
CABLE INTERNET
WIRELESS 3G (PEAK ldquoTYPICALrdquo SPEED)
WIRELESS 4G (PEAK ldquoTYPICALrdquo SPEED)
BUSINESS ADSL2+
BONDED DSL
SHDSL
ETHERNET OVER COPPER
ETHERNET OVER FIBRE
NBN (FIBRE)
NBN (FIXED WIRELESS)
NBN (SATELLITE)
23bitcomau
OPTIONS
with Annex M (theoretical peak speeds Actual speeds will be slower)Pros Relatively cheap compared to other business broadband services Might include priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratioCons Speed depends on distance from telephone exchange Upload speed much slower than downloadRecommended Home office 1-3 computers where upload
speeds arenrsquot critical where consistent speed isnrsquot critical for day-to-day operations
BONDED DSLSpeed Typical speeds up to 30Mbps download up to 26Mbps upload with Annex M (by combining copper lines) (actual speeds could be slower)Pros Faster speeds than ADSL2+ possible Relatively cheap compared to other business broadband services
Please note The information on these pages is intended to be a general guide only Exact speeds and other factors can differ between providers Check these details with your provider before purchasing a data service Unless otherwise noted we have quoted maximum potential speeds real life speeds can be significantly slower (especially for wireless and ADSL) and maximum potential speeds can vary according to which technology variant your network uses Note For wireless 3G and 4G we have followed the lead of carriers and quoted the maximum ldquotypicalrdquo speed you are likely to achieve not the maximum theoretical speed
Some of these services will not be available at a certain point after the NBN is connected in your area For example in areas where fibre cable is installed to connect customers to the NBN copper telephone lines will be decommissioned 18 months after the fibre is connected HFC (cable Internet) networks are also expected to be decommissioned in each area once the NBN is rolled out
0Mbps 10Mbps 20Mbps 30Mbps 40Mbps 50Mbps 100Mbps 1000Mbps
DOWNLOADUPLOAD
24 bitcomau
Might include priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratioCons Speed depends on distance from telephone exchange Upload speed much slower than downloads Two telephone lines neededRecommended Homesmall office that needs faster speeds than ADSL2+ or canrsquot get fast enough ADSL2+ speeds because of distance from telephone exchange Where having the same uploaddownload speed isnrsquot necessary
SHDSLSpeed Up to 46Mbps download up to 46Mbps uploadPros Same upload and download speeds Speeds are guaranteed Usually includes priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratioCons More expensive than ADSL2+ Download speeds offered often slower than theoretical ADSL2+ peak speedsRecommende Office that needs faster speeds than ADSL2+ especially where upload speed is crucial for videoconferencing regularly sending large files multiple Voice over IP telephone lines or connecting several offices Where fibre isnrsquot available Where consistent speed is critical
ETHERNET OVER COPPER(MIDBAND ETHERNET)Speed Up to 40Mbps download up to 40Mbps upload (by combining copper lines)Pros Same upload and download speeds Much faster upload speeds than ADSL2+ available Usually includes priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratio Cheaper overall than fibreCons More expensive than ADSL2+Recommended Office with many people at the same time regularly sending large files videoconferencing backup hosted applications VPN using VOIP or connecting to servers in other offices Where fibre isnrsquot available or is too expensive
ETHERNET OVER FIBRESpeed Up to 1000Mbps download up to 1000 Mbps uploadPros Same upload and download speeds Much faster speeds available than other services Usually includes priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratioCons Generally the most expensive option ndash can cost several thousand dollars a month Limited availabilityRecommended Large offices with many people at the same time regularly sending large
Latency Sometimes
refers to the delay between sending data and receiving a response Higher latency is a disadvantage when using certain applications like video-conferencing Latency is generally higher on satellite and wireless networks such as 3G although 4G has a theoretical lower latency than 3G
25bitcomau
OPTIONS
files videoconferencing backup hosted applications VPN using VOIP or connecting to servers in other offices Where a reliable connection and consistent very high speed is critical for day to day operations
NBN (FIBRE)Speed Up to 100MBps download up to 40Mbps upload (fastest plans available at time of writing Faster speeds theoretically possible in future)Pros Much faster speeds available than ADSL2+ including much faster upload speeds Provides minimum peak speeds unlike ADSL2+ More reliable than ADSL Business plans can include priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) (though residential NBN plans might not include this) Generally much cheaper than other business services with comparable speedsCons Very limited availability at time of writingRecommended Where several users need to senddownload large files videoconference backup use hosted applications VPN use VOIP or connect to servers in other offices at the same time Where a reliable connection and consistent speeds are critical Where much faster downloadupload speeds than ADSL2+ are important
NBN (FIXED WIRELESS)Speed Minimum 12Mbps download up to 1Mbps upload (Faster speeds planned)Pros Unlike mobile 4G and 3G networks ldquorelatively steadyrdquo speeds are promisedCons Very limited availability at time of writing Upload speeds much slower than download Top download speed currently much slower than NBN fibre and some other business servicesRecommended Where ADSL2+ isnrsquot available or is unreliable or slow For home office or small office where very high downloadupload speeds arenrsquot critical
NBN (SATELLITE)Speed Up to 6Mbps download up to 1Mbps upload (12Mbps download speeds planned for 2015)Pros Better speeds than some locations could otherwise getCons Top download speed relatively slow compared to NBN fibre and theoretical peak ADSL2+ download speed Upload speed much slower than download speed Higher latency than fixed line services Generally smaller download limits than ADSL2+ and fibreRecommended Locations that donrsquot have access to other broadband Where fast upload speeds arenrsquot needed Where latency-sensitive applications like VPNs arenrsquot required
26 bitcomau
My BookmarksFor more information on the best NBN plans and more click these links
Show me when I am getting connected
General NBN info
Show me all the NBN providers
Tell me if I can get NBN satellite
Give me more info on fibre NBN
I want more info on wireless NBN
I want more info about
the NBN fibre termination unit
Show me all the towns on
the current NBN rollout plan
Show me the NBN FAQ
27bitcomau
MORE INFO
Show me the best plans
Tell me about finding
a registered cabler
I want to try videoconferencing
Show me a list of cablers
I want Microsoft to host my servers
for me
Show me more about
getting connected
I want to read what users are
saying about Internet
providers
I want a web site
Help me make better
use of the NBN for
my business
Teach me about
online marketing
I want Google to
host my servers for me
28 bitcomau
The tech-talk in plain English
AnnexMrsaquorsaquo An add-on feature that some ADSL Internet providers offer to increase the speed of uploads iiNet for example says that customers will get a theoretical maximum upload speed of 275Mbps
ATArsaquorsaquo If you want to use a VOIP telephone service and donrsquot have a suitable VOIP router your VOIP provider can provide this adapter which you plug your telephone into
BondedDSLrsaquorsaquo By combining several phone lines higher broadband speeds are possible Unlike SHDSL upload speeds are still a lot slower than download speeds
Brownfieldrsaquorsaquo Premises that have already been built The focus is on connecting brownfields in regional areas to the NBN first so people currently with the worst broadband get it first
Businessgradebroadbandrsaquorsaquo Can cost more than home broadband but can include guaranteed uptime service agreements and sometimes your
data will travel over a separate network meaning less traffic congestion
Cat6rsaquorsaquo Category 6 cables are recommended for Gigabit Ethernet speeds in an office network
Cloudrsaquorsaquo Instead of buying and installing software on your own businessrsquos server a cloud company owns and runs the server hardware and software ndash you pay to access it over the Internet Examples include Microsoft Office 365 Salesforce Gmail and Dropbox
Contentionratiorsaquorsaquo A term used to indicate how many users have to share the same bandwidth Generally the lower the contention ratio the better Business grade broadband can sometimes have better contention ratios than home broadband
Copperrsaquorsaquo The public telephone lines also used for broadband services like ADSL SHDSL and Midband Ethernet Data services over copper reduce in speed the further your building is from your local telephone exchange
Dualbandwirelessrsaquorsaquo Dual band wireless routers can use two frequency bands (24GHz and 5GHz) to send and receive data unlike some wireless routers which can only use 24GHz This Brownfield
29bitcomau
JARGON BUSTER
can mean faster speeds but the tablet phone or laptop you are using needs to work on 5GHz or you wonrsquot see any difference
Ethernetrsaquorsaquo A network protocol often used for networks inside your building but can also be used for data services delivered over copper telephone lines or optical fibre cable Ethernet broadband services generally have same uploaddownload as opposed to ADSL
Exchangersaquorsaquo Can refer to Microsoft Exchange software which runs on a companyrsquos server and operates their company email or a telephone exchange
FSAMrsaquorsaquo A group of up to 3000 buildings connected to the NBN
GigabitEthernetrsaquorsaquo If you are using Ethernet cable to network your office Gigabit Ethernet will provide faster speeds (1Gbps) than Fast Ethernet (100Mbps)
Greenfieldrsaquorsaquo New housing developments Many of these streets will receive the NBN before Brownfield locations as they will be connected on a demand-driven basis Developers apply to have the NBN connected in their development
HostedITrsaquorsaquo Instead of buying and installing IT equipment yourself you can use another companyrsquos servers This can
include servers to run your email and website as well as hosted applications that users access over the network You can also hire a ldquomanaged service providerrdquo to setup and run your own IT
Latencyrsaquorsaquo Sometimes refers to the delay between sending data and receiving a response Higher latency is a disadvantage when using certain applications like videoconferencing Latency is generally higher on satellite and wireless networks such as 3G although 4G has a theoretical lower latency than 3G
LTErsaquorsaquo Higher speed wireless broadband used in the latest generation of smartphones and if you are getting the NBN via fixed wireless Much faster speeds than ADSL are possible but latency is much higher than optical fibre cable meaning itrsquos not suitable for videoconferencing Sometimes referred to as ldquo4Grdquo
Continued over page
Greenfield
LTE
WirelessRouter
30 bitcomau
MidbandEthernetrsaquorsaquo Provides up to 40Mbps over multiple copper lines Unlike ADSL you get the same upload and download speed but cost is usually several hundred dollars a month
NTDrsaquorsaquo Network Termination Device This is supplied free and is attached to a wall inside your building It takes the place of a modem when you get the NBN This is the box your router and phones will plug in to
Paymentgatewayrsaquorsaquo Used if you want to let customers buy products from your website When a customer buys a product on your website the transaction is sent to a third party the payment gateway which authorises the payment with the bank
PCDrsaquorsaquo Premises Connection Device This is a small box that is attached to an outside wall of your building when you are connected to the NBN via fibre cable The NBN fibre cable runs through this box to the inside of your building where it connects to the NTD
Powerlinenetworkrsaquorsaquo If a wireless router isnrsquot enough to spread your Internet connection
around your business (due to brick walls or multiple stories) and having Ethernet cables installed is too difficult another option is a powerline network An adaptor is plugged into each power point and data can be sent through the buildingrsquos internal wiring
PSTNrsaquorsaquo The public switched telephone network The copper network your analogue telephone connects to
RSPrsaquorsaquo Retail Service Provider Another name for an Internet provider such as Telstra Optus iiNet or Internode Once your building is connected you can contact an RSP to pay for an Internet plan and start using the NBN
Serverrsaquorsaquo A central computer that other computers on a network connect to A server might be in your own building providing a central location so all your staff can access the same files from their computers or an Internet server to which you connect to to access web sites or other services
SHDSLrsaquorsaquo Unlike ADSL SHDSL provides the same upload and download speeds Speeds up to 40Mbps are available by combining several phone lines in the form of Extreme SHDSL
SIPrsaquorsaquo A protocol used in devices for delivering multiple VOIP telephone calls at once
PCD
NTD
PCD
31bitcomau
JARGON BUSTER
SLArsaquorsaquo business-grade broadband contracts can include a Service Level Agreement ndash the provider commits to providing a certain level of service (995 Internet uptime for example)
Synchronousrsaquorsaquo The same upload and download speeds Midband Ethernet and SHDSL are synchronous but ADSL services are not meaning upload speeds are much slower than download speeds
UNI-Vportrsaquorsaquo A port on the NBN network termination device (NTD) where you plug in a telephone Alternatively if you use a VOIP telephone service your telephone can be plugged into a wireless router with a VOIP feature which then plugs into the data port on the NTD
Batterybackupunitrsaquorsaquo A separate box supplied free with your NBN connection that is installed alongside the NTD on a wall inside your building This unit lets you continue to make telephone calls during a blackout if you are using an analogue phone running through the UNI-V port
Uploadspeedrsaquorsaquo If you use applications that send data such as videoconferencing and sending large email attachments as opposed to downloading large files and watching videos then look for an Internet service with higher upload speeds
UPSrsaquorsaquo Uninterruptible Power Supply A device that plugs into your server or computer so that it can continue to run if the main power supply stops
VOIPrsaquorsaquo Voice over IP Unlike regular telephone services VOIP telephone calls are converted to data and travel over data networks Call rates can be much cheaper though call quality can suffer if your VOIP service and your broadband connection arenrsquot suitable
VPNrsaquorsaquo A secure way to upload and download files to and from your officersquos internal network drives and servers when you are not in the office (eg at a hotel or from another office)
WANrsaquorsaquo Wide Area Network Offices in different towns or cities can be connected via the same WAN
Wirelessextenderrsaquorsaquo If you already have a wireless router this is a separate device which plugs into a power point and extends the range of the signal
WirelessNrsaquorsaquo Compatible routers are recommended for spreading your Internet connection around your office wirelessly Will be superseded by the faster 80211ac standard but there are not currently many compatible laptops and devices that will connect at 80211ac speeds
Batterybackupunit
UNI-Vport
WirelessRouter
28bitcomau
Their small businesses have the technology edgeDoes yoursSometimes you can be so busy that keeping up with technology seems too much What you really want to know is what it can do for your business BIT will keep you up to date with the technology that can help you do your job and grow your business ndash whether you are a florist a plumber an accountant or any type of Australian small business
B U S I N E S S I T
Make technology work for your business
Click to return to
Bit
- 001
- 002-003
- 004-009
- 010-011
- 012-017
- 018-019
- 020-025
- 026-027
- 028-031
- 032
-
10 bitcomau
here are expensive and cheap NBN plans ndash just like there are for
other types of broadband The cheapest plan in our table on the right is $35 at 12Mbps with 50GB of data per month
When you compare this with what yoursquore paying now remember a couple of things First you are more likely to get consistent speeds on the NBN Even for Fixed Wireless NBN the NBN Co promises yoursquoll get ldquorelatively steadyrdquo speeds unlike 3G or 4G wireless broadband Second some of these NBN plans have much faster upload speeds than ADSL
Even though data limits look small for some entry level plans they often jump up drastically on the next most expensive plan ndash from 50GB to 200GB in one example
Yoursquoll also need a telephone service You can get this over the NBN too from your Internet provider You can keep your copper line telephone service for a while but eventually it will be decommissioned in areas with the NBN over fibre cable (not in areas with NBN via wireless or satellite)
What will it costGetting the best value on the NBN WORDS WILLIAM MAHER
T 100Mbps 40Mbps 50Mbps 20Mbps 25Mbps 5Mbps 12Mbps 1MbpsPROVIDER Cost Data limit Cost Data limit Cost Data limit Cost Data limit
Internode $7495 30GB $6495 30GB $5495 30GB $4995 30GB
iiNet $6995 40GB $6495 40GB $5495 40GB $4995 40GB
Optus $7999 120GB $6999 120GB $5999 120GB $3999 40GB
iPrimus $7995 40GB $6995 40GB $5995 40GB $4995 40GB
Telstra $9190 50GBwith phone service
ndash ndash $8190 50GBwith phone service
ndash ndash
Exetel $4500 25GB $5000 50GB $4000 50GB $3500 50GB
MyNetFone $9995 1000GB $6995 500GB $5995 250GB $3995 20GB
(Satellite) Activ8me ndash ndash ndash ndash ndash ndash $3495 3GB6Mbps 1Mbps
(Fixed Wireless) iiNet ndash ndash ndash ndash ndash ndash $4995 40GB
100Mbps 40Mbps 50Mbps 20Mbps 25Mbps 5Mbps 12Mbps 1MbpsPROVIDER Cost Data limit Cost Data limit Cost Data limit Cost Data limit
Internode $10495 30GB $9495 30GB $8495 30GB $7995 30GB
iiNet $9995 40GB $9495 40GB $8495 40GB25Mbps 10Mbps
$7995 40GB
Optus $7900 100GB $6900 100GB $6400 100GB $5900 100GB
MyNetFone $9995 1000GB $6995 500GB $5995 250GB $3995 20GB
RESIDENTIAL PLANS PER MONTH
BUSINESS PLANS PER MONTH
Please note This is designed to be a general guide to the cost of NBN services For each speed tier we have picked the cheapest available plan from each provider
11bitcomau
PLANS amp PRICES
100Mbps 40Mbps 50Mbps 20Mbps 25Mbps 5Mbps 12Mbps 1MbpsPROVIDER Cost Data limit Cost Data limit Cost Data limit Cost Data limit
Internode $7495 30GB $6495 30GB $5495 30GB $4995 30GB
iiNet $6995 40GB $6495 40GB $5495 40GB $4995 40GB
Optus $7999 120GB $6999 120GB $5999 120GB $3999 40GB
iPrimus $7995 40GB $6995 40GB $5995 40GB $4995 40GB
Telstra $9190 50GBwith phone service
ndash ndash $8190 50GBwith phone service
ndash ndash
Exetel $4500 25GB $5000 50GB $4000 50GB $3500 50GB
MyNetFone $9995 1000GB $6995 500GB $5995 250GB $3995 20GB
(Satellite) Activ8me ndash ndash ndash ndash ndash ndash $3495 3GB6Mbps 1Mbps
(Fixed Wireless) iiNet ndash ndash ndash ndash ndash ndash $4995 40GB
100Mbps 40Mbps 50Mbps 20Mbps 25Mbps 5Mbps 12Mbps 1MbpsPROVIDER Cost Data limit Cost Data limit Cost Data limit Cost Data limit
Internode $10495 30GB $9495 30GB $8495 30GB $7995 30GB
iiNet $9995 40GB $9495 40GB $8495 40GB25Mbps 10Mbps
$7995 40GB
Optus $7900 100GB $6900 100GB $6400 100GB $5900 100GB
MyNetFone $9995 1000GB $6995 500GB $5995 250GB $3995 20GB
RESIDENTIAL PLANS PER MONTH
BUSINESS PLANS PER MONTH
Not all services and providers are listed Extra fees and conditions such as setup fees (where applicable) contract length peakoff-peak restrictions are not shown All prices correct at time of writing but may have changed Check with your provider for the latest details
Compare more pricesClick here for extra comparisons at the BIT website
12 bitcomau
1 Connecting my buildingHow does the NBN connect to my building and what does the NBN box look like p14
2 Inside my officeIs my office ready for the NBN and do I need a network p16
13bitcomau
Now that you know how the NBN might help you letrsquos get down to the nuts and bolts of connecting If you want the maximum speed and most value for your money there are a few important things to know ndash for example is your network up to scratchWORDS WILLIAM MAHER
CONNECTING MY OFFICE
3 Choosing my routerFrom routers to wireless extenders here are useful devices that will help you get more from the NBN p17
OFFICE READY
14 bitcomau
1 CONNECTING MY BUILDINGThis is the NBN box that is being installed in businesses and homes across the countryIf yoursquore being connected by fibre optic cable as opposed to wireless or satellite the cable will run down your street either in trenches or strung on overhead lines Your connection again either in a trench or via an overhead line will run to a box called the Premises Connection Device (PCD) which will be attached to an outside wall of your building ndash the fibre comes into your building via this box
The fibre then travels to the Network Termination Device (NTD) Thatrsquos the box you see on this page This is the box you might connect to your router computers and desk phones You wonrsquot use a DSL modem anymore ndash for the modem function at least This box replaces it
Letrsquos take a look at the box In the photo the incoming NBN cable connects to the box on the right [A] From here a cable connects the NTD to your router via the data port [B] Note there are four data ports For example it might be possible to get Internet access from one provider and perhaps
a video on demand service on a separate port
On the left are two voice ports [C] ndash once copper telephone lines are phased out all NBN fibre-connected buildings will have phones connected over the NBN If you have a landline telephone that should plug straight into the voice port on the box
Keep in mind that the NBN box gets installed by an NBN contractor
The NTD must be next to a power point which will be used for the battery backup unit ndash a separate box that sits next to this one so you can make phone calls if there is a blackout
For a standard installation the NTD will be attached to an exterior wall (inside the building but on an outer wall) If you need the box in another room where your router and other equipment are there is an option for a ldquonon-standardrdquo installation but you might have to pay
15bitcomau
OFFICE READY
The NBN Box comes with four data ports The battery backup
unit (not shown)will not power these ports in a blackout only the voice ports
[B]
You can request a voice service to be delivered through
these UNI-V voice ports Your corded telephone will plug straight in
[C]
This is where the incoming NBN fibre connects[A]
NBN Network Termination Device (NTD)PRICE FREE SUPPLIER NBN CO
16 bitcomau
2 INSIDE MY OFFICEHow will your computers desk phones and other devices connect to the NBN boxOnce the NBN is installed in your building and yoursquove signed up with your Internet provider for an NBN Internet plan yoursquoll need to connect your computers to the NBN box
If you have more than one computer one way of doing this is to connect them via Wi-Fi to a
wireless router you plug into the NBN box If all you need to do is browse the web send email
send documents and watch the occasional video then this might be ok If you are sending and
receiving a lot of very big files though or you need to regularly watch high definition video or backup large amounts of data using the NBN then therersquos
the possibility Wi-Fi might slow things down
WIRELESSROUTER[1]
Another option is to connect all your computers to the NBN box with network cable This will give you the fastest throughput from the NBN box to your computers Wersquore not about to go out on a limb and suggest everyone start planning when to get their floorboards ripped up for cabling though Not only is it an extra expense running cables throughout your building isnrsquot a simple job
NETWORKCABLE[2]
17bitcomau
OFFICE READY
Powerline networking is another option You plug network ports to the power points in your house The system uses the electricity wiring instead of network cables It should give you a better connection than Wi-Fi
WARNINGOne big surprise is that yoursquore not to install any data cabling yourself if it connects to the telecoms network A licensed professional is supposed to do the job badly installed network cable can result in slow speed dropouts or in extreme cases injury And while there might be electricians with excellent data expertise itrsquos a different set of skills and theyrsquore not always the best choice If in doubt ask for their registration card or check with the registrar yourself The ACMA web site has a fact sheet
POWERLINENETWORKING[3]
3 CHOOSING MY ROUTERWORDS JOHN GILLOOLY
Once you have the NBN you need a router to spread the Internet to each computer in your building
You might see lsquoNBN readyrsquo modem routers for sale ndash this means that the ADSL modem can be disabled once you get the NBN (because the NBN box takes care of that function) But these routers might be designed for low ADSL speeds and may not actually cope with the demands of the highest NBN speeds of 100Mbit download 40Mbit upload If your NBN plan isnrsquot that fast your router might cope ok but it is best to think of any lsquoNBN Readyrsquo ADSL modemrouter as a temporary solution We suggest looking for
Routers that can cope with sustained high-speed transfers We like ASUSrsquo RT-N56U the FritzBox Fon WLAN 7390 and Netgearrsquos DGND3700 N600
If yoursquore using Wi-Fi a dual band wireless router (these will work at the 5GHz band) is ideal but your Wi-Fi devices must be compatible
80211ac wireless routers will work better with Wi-Fi devices and have the fastest technology on the market but arenrsquot a must-have yet
If you have network cable installed a Gigabit Ethernet router is ideal
Want more Click to see photos of common wiring mistakes
Fritzbox Fon WLAN 7390
18 bitcomau
Tips and advice from real NBN usersWORDS WILLIAM MAHER
TOP
1 PLAN AHEAD
Itrsquos generally a good idea to have the NBN termination unit installed as close to your computers and router as possible ndash everything that connects to the Internet will need to connect to it This might cost extra
2 GET HERITAGE CLEARANCE
Installation will likely involve holes being drilled in your wall to attach equipment feeds to the cable If you work in a heritage building then this might not be allowed
4 DONrsquoT EXPECT THE INTERNET TO BE PERFECT ALL THE TIME
Yes despite all the hype some NBN users have told us that web browsing
on the NBN is sometimes not noticeably any faster than ADSL Your connection might be fast but web servers on the other side of the world can still struggle to cope with congestion On the upside it should cope much
better with several users uploads should be faster and it should be
less prone to dropouts
3 DONrsquoT RUSH IN
Just because your building gets connected doesnrsquot mean you have to start using the NBN straight away Generally the plan is for the copper telephone lines to be kept for 18 months after the NBN is rolled out before being disconnected Where the NBN is delivered by wireless or satellite telephone lines wonrsquot be disconnected for at least 10 years
19bitcomau
NEED TO KNOW
7 BE WARY OF CHEAP ROUTERS
Your router will need to be able to cope with NBN speeds as well as be able to spread the data around your building fast enough If it doesnrsquot have gigabit Ethernet (for wired networks) or dual band wireless (for wireless networks) you might want to think about upgrading See page 19
9 GET A BACKUP POWER SUPPLY
Even if you have a battery backup box supplied with the NBN connection it wonrsquot keep your Internet running during a blackout only your phone If data access is critical to your business even during a blackout get an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) for a few hundred dollars
8 COMPARE VOICE PLANS
The Internet provider you have a data plan with might give you a better deal on a UNI-V phone service than other providers But call rates might be cheaper on a phone plan through the UNI-D ports
6 REWIRE YOUR PHONES
If you have lots of phone extensions in different rooms itrsquos still possible to keep using them for phone calls but the wiring will need to be connected to the NBN box An alternative is to connect a cordless phone base station to the NBN box
10 WATCH FOR BOTTLENECKS
Wersquove heard stories of people complaining that the NBN isnrsquot any faster but in the end something on their network was limiting the speed ndash like a wireless router that was affected by interference Remember that your own network can cause problems if itrsquos not set up correctly Bad cabling can also cause problems
5 CHECK YOU HAVE ENOUGH PHONE PORTS
The NBN termination unit has two phone ports If you need more phone lines once the copper telephone lines are disconnected consider switching to a VOIP telephone plan This gives you lots of ldquovirtualrdquo lines which run through the data ports instead
20 bitcomau
o you donrsquot want to wait for the NBN to arrive You need faster
more reliable Internet now On these pages wersquove listed ways you can get it without waiting for the NBN
The cheapest broadband is a home plan and they can provide relatively fast speeds if you only have one or two computers But if your business has grown or you want to connect a small office full of people business-grade broadband might serve you better
Generally business-grade services cost more ndash anywhere from around the $100-a-month mark up to $1000 or more
Yes the more expensive services can be much faster than a home ADSL service but download speeds are only one benefit
Other benefits of a business data service might include
A commitment that the connection will be working for a certain amount of time Eg ldquo9995 uptimerdquo
Fewer customers to share the bandwidth with This means your connection is less likely to slow down when lots of other businesses are using the network too
Faster upload speeds than home ADSL Very important to prevent your connection slowing down if you have several people sending large files at the same time Upload speeds are very limited on home ADSL services
Some services include 24x7 technical support
NBN plans are generally shaping up to be good value compared to what you see on the following pages but not everyone wants to wait
What if I donrsquot have the NBN yetEven if the roll-out hasnrsquot reached your area yet there are still several other options to get better Internet performance nowWORDS WILLIAM MAHER
SSLA
A Service Level Agreement is offered with many business data plans It sets out formal responsibilities of the service provider covering things like how fast they should respond to you if there is a problem what hours of the day technical support is available a commitment that problems will be fixed within a certain number of hours and that the service will be running without problems for a certain amount of time
21bitcomau
OPTIONS
HOME ADSL2+Speed Up to 24Mbps download 1Mbps upload (theoretical peak speeds actual speeds will be slower)Pros Relatively cheap compared to business servicesCons Speed depends on distance from telephone exchange Slow upload speed Shared with other usersRecommended Home office 1-2 computers where upload speeds arenrsquot critical where consistent speed isnrsquot critical for day-to-day operations
HOME ADSL2+ WITH ANNEX MSpeed Up to 24Mbps download up to 25Mbps upload (theoretical peak speeds Actual speeds will be slower)Pros Relatively cheap compared to business services Faster upload speed than regular ADSL2+Cons Speed depends on distance from telephone exchange Shared with other usersRecommended Home office 1-2 computers where faster upload speeds are useful but not critical where consistent speed isnrsquot critical for day-to-day operations
CABLE INTERNETSpeed Up to 100Mbps download up to 2Mbps upload (theoretical peak speeds Actual
speeds will be slower)Pros Relatively cheap compared to business services Much faster potential download speeds than ADSL2+Cons Limited to certain cities upload speeds much slower than download shared with other usersRecommended Home office 1-2 computers where faster download speeds than ADSL2+ are needed where fast upload speeds are not necessary where consistent speed isnrsquot critical for day-to-day operations
WIRELESS 3G Speed ldquoTypicalrdquo speeds up to 20Mbps download up to 3Mbps upload (actual speeds could be much slower speed depends on network type)Pros You can use it on the moveCons Speed varies a lot depending on where you are Speed decreases as more users share network Latency generally higher than ADSL Upload speeds much lower than downloadRecommended Secondary connection for accessing email and websites while on the move and where fast upload speeds are not required Where a reliable connection and consistent speed isnrsquot important
WIRELESS 4GSpeed ldquoTypicalrdquo speeds up
22 bitcomau
to 40MBps download up to 10Mbps upload (actual speeds could be much slower)Pros You can use it on the move Higher upload speeds than ADSL2+ and 3G are possibleCons Speed varies a lot depending on where you are Speed decreases as more users share network Theoretical upload speeds slower than download (though not always the case in practice) Limited to Telstra and Optus at time of writing
Recommended Secondary connection while on the move and where faster upload speeds than 3G are required for transferring large files For connecting several gadgets (tablet and laptop) to the Internet at the same time Where a reliable connection and consistent speed isnrsquot important
BUSINESS ADSL2+Speed up to 24Mbps download up to 25Mbps upload
DATA SPEED COMPARISON DOWNLOADSUPLOADS
0Mbps 10Mbps 20Mbps 30Mbps 40Mbps 50Mbps 100Mbps 1000Mbps
HOME ADSL2+
HOME ADSL2+ WITH ANNEX M
CABLE INTERNET
WIRELESS 3G (PEAK ldquoTYPICALrdquo SPEED)
WIRELESS 4G (PEAK ldquoTYPICALrdquo SPEED)
BUSINESS ADSL2+
BONDED DSL
SHDSL
ETHERNET OVER COPPER
ETHERNET OVER FIBRE
NBN (FIBRE)
NBN (FIXED WIRELESS)
NBN (SATELLITE)
23bitcomau
OPTIONS
with Annex M (theoretical peak speeds Actual speeds will be slower)Pros Relatively cheap compared to other business broadband services Might include priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratioCons Speed depends on distance from telephone exchange Upload speed much slower than downloadRecommended Home office 1-3 computers where upload
speeds arenrsquot critical where consistent speed isnrsquot critical for day-to-day operations
BONDED DSLSpeed Typical speeds up to 30Mbps download up to 26Mbps upload with Annex M (by combining copper lines) (actual speeds could be slower)Pros Faster speeds than ADSL2+ possible Relatively cheap compared to other business broadband services
Please note The information on these pages is intended to be a general guide only Exact speeds and other factors can differ between providers Check these details with your provider before purchasing a data service Unless otherwise noted we have quoted maximum potential speeds real life speeds can be significantly slower (especially for wireless and ADSL) and maximum potential speeds can vary according to which technology variant your network uses Note For wireless 3G and 4G we have followed the lead of carriers and quoted the maximum ldquotypicalrdquo speed you are likely to achieve not the maximum theoretical speed
Some of these services will not be available at a certain point after the NBN is connected in your area For example in areas where fibre cable is installed to connect customers to the NBN copper telephone lines will be decommissioned 18 months after the fibre is connected HFC (cable Internet) networks are also expected to be decommissioned in each area once the NBN is rolled out
0Mbps 10Mbps 20Mbps 30Mbps 40Mbps 50Mbps 100Mbps 1000Mbps
DOWNLOADUPLOAD
24 bitcomau
Might include priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratioCons Speed depends on distance from telephone exchange Upload speed much slower than downloads Two telephone lines neededRecommended Homesmall office that needs faster speeds than ADSL2+ or canrsquot get fast enough ADSL2+ speeds because of distance from telephone exchange Where having the same uploaddownload speed isnrsquot necessary
SHDSLSpeed Up to 46Mbps download up to 46Mbps uploadPros Same upload and download speeds Speeds are guaranteed Usually includes priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratioCons More expensive than ADSL2+ Download speeds offered often slower than theoretical ADSL2+ peak speedsRecommende Office that needs faster speeds than ADSL2+ especially where upload speed is crucial for videoconferencing regularly sending large files multiple Voice over IP telephone lines or connecting several offices Where fibre isnrsquot available Where consistent speed is critical
ETHERNET OVER COPPER(MIDBAND ETHERNET)Speed Up to 40Mbps download up to 40Mbps upload (by combining copper lines)Pros Same upload and download speeds Much faster upload speeds than ADSL2+ available Usually includes priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratio Cheaper overall than fibreCons More expensive than ADSL2+Recommended Office with many people at the same time regularly sending large files videoconferencing backup hosted applications VPN using VOIP or connecting to servers in other offices Where fibre isnrsquot available or is too expensive
ETHERNET OVER FIBRESpeed Up to 1000Mbps download up to 1000 Mbps uploadPros Same upload and download speeds Much faster speeds available than other services Usually includes priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratioCons Generally the most expensive option ndash can cost several thousand dollars a month Limited availabilityRecommended Large offices with many people at the same time regularly sending large
Latency Sometimes
refers to the delay between sending data and receiving a response Higher latency is a disadvantage when using certain applications like video-conferencing Latency is generally higher on satellite and wireless networks such as 3G although 4G has a theoretical lower latency than 3G
25bitcomau
OPTIONS
files videoconferencing backup hosted applications VPN using VOIP or connecting to servers in other offices Where a reliable connection and consistent very high speed is critical for day to day operations
NBN (FIBRE)Speed Up to 100MBps download up to 40Mbps upload (fastest plans available at time of writing Faster speeds theoretically possible in future)Pros Much faster speeds available than ADSL2+ including much faster upload speeds Provides minimum peak speeds unlike ADSL2+ More reliable than ADSL Business plans can include priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) (though residential NBN plans might not include this) Generally much cheaper than other business services with comparable speedsCons Very limited availability at time of writingRecommended Where several users need to senddownload large files videoconference backup use hosted applications VPN use VOIP or connect to servers in other offices at the same time Where a reliable connection and consistent speeds are critical Where much faster downloadupload speeds than ADSL2+ are important
NBN (FIXED WIRELESS)Speed Minimum 12Mbps download up to 1Mbps upload (Faster speeds planned)Pros Unlike mobile 4G and 3G networks ldquorelatively steadyrdquo speeds are promisedCons Very limited availability at time of writing Upload speeds much slower than download Top download speed currently much slower than NBN fibre and some other business servicesRecommended Where ADSL2+ isnrsquot available or is unreliable or slow For home office or small office where very high downloadupload speeds arenrsquot critical
NBN (SATELLITE)Speed Up to 6Mbps download up to 1Mbps upload (12Mbps download speeds planned for 2015)Pros Better speeds than some locations could otherwise getCons Top download speed relatively slow compared to NBN fibre and theoretical peak ADSL2+ download speed Upload speed much slower than download speed Higher latency than fixed line services Generally smaller download limits than ADSL2+ and fibreRecommended Locations that donrsquot have access to other broadband Where fast upload speeds arenrsquot needed Where latency-sensitive applications like VPNs arenrsquot required
26 bitcomau
My BookmarksFor more information on the best NBN plans and more click these links
Show me when I am getting connected
General NBN info
Show me all the NBN providers
Tell me if I can get NBN satellite
Give me more info on fibre NBN
I want more info on wireless NBN
I want more info about
the NBN fibre termination unit
Show me all the towns on
the current NBN rollout plan
Show me the NBN FAQ
27bitcomau
MORE INFO
Show me the best plans
Tell me about finding
a registered cabler
I want to try videoconferencing
Show me a list of cablers
I want Microsoft to host my servers
for me
Show me more about
getting connected
I want to read what users are
saying about Internet
providers
I want a web site
Help me make better
use of the NBN for
my business
Teach me about
online marketing
I want Google to
host my servers for me
28 bitcomau
The tech-talk in plain English
AnnexMrsaquorsaquo An add-on feature that some ADSL Internet providers offer to increase the speed of uploads iiNet for example says that customers will get a theoretical maximum upload speed of 275Mbps
ATArsaquorsaquo If you want to use a VOIP telephone service and donrsquot have a suitable VOIP router your VOIP provider can provide this adapter which you plug your telephone into
BondedDSLrsaquorsaquo By combining several phone lines higher broadband speeds are possible Unlike SHDSL upload speeds are still a lot slower than download speeds
Brownfieldrsaquorsaquo Premises that have already been built The focus is on connecting brownfields in regional areas to the NBN first so people currently with the worst broadband get it first
Businessgradebroadbandrsaquorsaquo Can cost more than home broadband but can include guaranteed uptime service agreements and sometimes your
data will travel over a separate network meaning less traffic congestion
Cat6rsaquorsaquo Category 6 cables are recommended for Gigabit Ethernet speeds in an office network
Cloudrsaquorsaquo Instead of buying and installing software on your own businessrsquos server a cloud company owns and runs the server hardware and software ndash you pay to access it over the Internet Examples include Microsoft Office 365 Salesforce Gmail and Dropbox
Contentionratiorsaquorsaquo A term used to indicate how many users have to share the same bandwidth Generally the lower the contention ratio the better Business grade broadband can sometimes have better contention ratios than home broadband
Copperrsaquorsaquo The public telephone lines also used for broadband services like ADSL SHDSL and Midband Ethernet Data services over copper reduce in speed the further your building is from your local telephone exchange
Dualbandwirelessrsaquorsaquo Dual band wireless routers can use two frequency bands (24GHz and 5GHz) to send and receive data unlike some wireless routers which can only use 24GHz This Brownfield
29bitcomau
JARGON BUSTER
can mean faster speeds but the tablet phone or laptop you are using needs to work on 5GHz or you wonrsquot see any difference
Ethernetrsaquorsaquo A network protocol often used for networks inside your building but can also be used for data services delivered over copper telephone lines or optical fibre cable Ethernet broadband services generally have same uploaddownload as opposed to ADSL
Exchangersaquorsaquo Can refer to Microsoft Exchange software which runs on a companyrsquos server and operates their company email or a telephone exchange
FSAMrsaquorsaquo A group of up to 3000 buildings connected to the NBN
GigabitEthernetrsaquorsaquo If you are using Ethernet cable to network your office Gigabit Ethernet will provide faster speeds (1Gbps) than Fast Ethernet (100Mbps)
Greenfieldrsaquorsaquo New housing developments Many of these streets will receive the NBN before Brownfield locations as they will be connected on a demand-driven basis Developers apply to have the NBN connected in their development
HostedITrsaquorsaquo Instead of buying and installing IT equipment yourself you can use another companyrsquos servers This can
include servers to run your email and website as well as hosted applications that users access over the network You can also hire a ldquomanaged service providerrdquo to setup and run your own IT
Latencyrsaquorsaquo Sometimes refers to the delay between sending data and receiving a response Higher latency is a disadvantage when using certain applications like videoconferencing Latency is generally higher on satellite and wireless networks such as 3G although 4G has a theoretical lower latency than 3G
LTErsaquorsaquo Higher speed wireless broadband used in the latest generation of smartphones and if you are getting the NBN via fixed wireless Much faster speeds than ADSL are possible but latency is much higher than optical fibre cable meaning itrsquos not suitable for videoconferencing Sometimes referred to as ldquo4Grdquo
Continued over page
Greenfield
LTE
WirelessRouter
30 bitcomau
MidbandEthernetrsaquorsaquo Provides up to 40Mbps over multiple copper lines Unlike ADSL you get the same upload and download speed but cost is usually several hundred dollars a month
NTDrsaquorsaquo Network Termination Device This is supplied free and is attached to a wall inside your building It takes the place of a modem when you get the NBN This is the box your router and phones will plug in to
Paymentgatewayrsaquorsaquo Used if you want to let customers buy products from your website When a customer buys a product on your website the transaction is sent to a third party the payment gateway which authorises the payment with the bank
PCDrsaquorsaquo Premises Connection Device This is a small box that is attached to an outside wall of your building when you are connected to the NBN via fibre cable The NBN fibre cable runs through this box to the inside of your building where it connects to the NTD
Powerlinenetworkrsaquorsaquo If a wireless router isnrsquot enough to spread your Internet connection
around your business (due to brick walls or multiple stories) and having Ethernet cables installed is too difficult another option is a powerline network An adaptor is plugged into each power point and data can be sent through the buildingrsquos internal wiring
PSTNrsaquorsaquo The public switched telephone network The copper network your analogue telephone connects to
RSPrsaquorsaquo Retail Service Provider Another name for an Internet provider such as Telstra Optus iiNet or Internode Once your building is connected you can contact an RSP to pay for an Internet plan and start using the NBN
Serverrsaquorsaquo A central computer that other computers on a network connect to A server might be in your own building providing a central location so all your staff can access the same files from their computers or an Internet server to which you connect to to access web sites or other services
SHDSLrsaquorsaquo Unlike ADSL SHDSL provides the same upload and download speeds Speeds up to 40Mbps are available by combining several phone lines in the form of Extreme SHDSL
SIPrsaquorsaquo A protocol used in devices for delivering multiple VOIP telephone calls at once
PCD
NTD
PCD
31bitcomau
JARGON BUSTER
SLArsaquorsaquo business-grade broadband contracts can include a Service Level Agreement ndash the provider commits to providing a certain level of service (995 Internet uptime for example)
Synchronousrsaquorsaquo The same upload and download speeds Midband Ethernet and SHDSL are synchronous but ADSL services are not meaning upload speeds are much slower than download speeds
UNI-Vportrsaquorsaquo A port on the NBN network termination device (NTD) where you plug in a telephone Alternatively if you use a VOIP telephone service your telephone can be plugged into a wireless router with a VOIP feature which then plugs into the data port on the NTD
Batterybackupunitrsaquorsaquo A separate box supplied free with your NBN connection that is installed alongside the NTD on a wall inside your building This unit lets you continue to make telephone calls during a blackout if you are using an analogue phone running through the UNI-V port
Uploadspeedrsaquorsaquo If you use applications that send data such as videoconferencing and sending large email attachments as opposed to downloading large files and watching videos then look for an Internet service with higher upload speeds
UPSrsaquorsaquo Uninterruptible Power Supply A device that plugs into your server or computer so that it can continue to run if the main power supply stops
VOIPrsaquorsaquo Voice over IP Unlike regular telephone services VOIP telephone calls are converted to data and travel over data networks Call rates can be much cheaper though call quality can suffer if your VOIP service and your broadband connection arenrsquot suitable
VPNrsaquorsaquo A secure way to upload and download files to and from your officersquos internal network drives and servers when you are not in the office (eg at a hotel or from another office)
WANrsaquorsaquo Wide Area Network Offices in different towns or cities can be connected via the same WAN
Wirelessextenderrsaquorsaquo If you already have a wireless router this is a separate device which plugs into a power point and extends the range of the signal
WirelessNrsaquorsaquo Compatible routers are recommended for spreading your Internet connection around your office wirelessly Will be superseded by the faster 80211ac standard but there are not currently many compatible laptops and devices that will connect at 80211ac speeds
Batterybackupunit
UNI-Vport
WirelessRouter
28bitcomau
Their small businesses have the technology edgeDoes yoursSometimes you can be so busy that keeping up with technology seems too much What you really want to know is what it can do for your business BIT will keep you up to date with the technology that can help you do your job and grow your business ndash whether you are a florist a plumber an accountant or any type of Australian small business
B U S I N E S S I T
Make technology work for your business
Click to return to
Bit
- 001
- 002-003
- 004-009
- 010-011
- 012-017
- 018-019
- 020-025
- 026-027
- 028-031
- 032
-
11bitcomau
PLANS amp PRICES
100Mbps 40Mbps 50Mbps 20Mbps 25Mbps 5Mbps 12Mbps 1MbpsPROVIDER Cost Data limit Cost Data limit Cost Data limit Cost Data limit
Internode $7495 30GB $6495 30GB $5495 30GB $4995 30GB
iiNet $6995 40GB $6495 40GB $5495 40GB $4995 40GB
Optus $7999 120GB $6999 120GB $5999 120GB $3999 40GB
iPrimus $7995 40GB $6995 40GB $5995 40GB $4995 40GB
Telstra $9190 50GBwith phone service
ndash ndash $8190 50GBwith phone service
ndash ndash
Exetel $4500 25GB $5000 50GB $4000 50GB $3500 50GB
MyNetFone $9995 1000GB $6995 500GB $5995 250GB $3995 20GB
(Satellite) Activ8me ndash ndash ndash ndash ndash ndash $3495 3GB6Mbps 1Mbps
(Fixed Wireless) iiNet ndash ndash ndash ndash ndash ndash $4995 40GB
100Mbps 40Mbps 50Mbps 20Mbps 25Mbps 5Mbps 12Mbps 1MbpsPROVIDER Cost Data limit Cost Data limit Cost Data limit Cost Data limit
Internode $10495 30GB $9495 30GB $8495 30GB $7995 30GB
iiNet $9995 40GB $9495 40GB $8495 40GB25Mbps 10Mbps
$7995 40GB
Optus $7900 100GB $6900 100GB $6400 100GB $5900 100GB
MyNetFone $9995 1000GB $6995 500GB $5995 250GB $3995 20GB
RESIDENTIAL PLANS PER MONTH
BUSINESS PLANS PER MONTH
Not all services and providers are listed Extra fees and conditions such as setup fees (where applicable) contract length peakoff-peak restrictions are not shown All prices correct at time of writing but may have changed Check with your provider for the latest details
Compare more pricesClick here for extra comparisons at the BIT website
12 bitcomau
1 Connecting my buildingHow does the NBN connect to my building and what does the NBN box look like p14
2 Inside my officeIs my office ready for the NBN and do I need a network p16
13bitcomau
Now that you know how the NBN might help you letrsquos get down to the nuts and bolts of connecting If you want the maximum speed and most value for your money there are a few important things to know ndash for example is your network up to scratchWORDS WILLIAM MAHER
CONNECTING MY OFFICE
3 Choosing my routerFrom routers to wireless extenders here are useful devices that will help you get more from the NBN p17
OFFICE READY
14 bitcomau
1 CONNECTING MY BUILDINGThis is the NBN box that is being installed in businesses and homes across the countryIf yoursquore being connected by fibre optic cable as opposed to wireless or satellite the cable will run down your street either in trenches or strung on overhead lines Your connection again either in a trench or via an overhead line will run to a box called the Premises Connection Device (PCD) which will be attached to an outside wall of your building ndash the fibre comes into your building via this box
The fibre then travels to the Network Termination Device (NTD) Thatrsquos the box you see on this page This is the box you might connect to your router computers and desk phones You wonrsquot use a DSL modem anymore ndash for the modem function at least This box replaces it
Letrsquos take a look at the box In the photo the incoming NBN cable connects to the box on the right [A] From here a cable connects the NTD to your router via the data port [B] Note there are four data ports For example it might be possible to get Internet access from one provider and perhaps
a video on demand service on a separate port
On the left are two voice ports [C] ndash once copper telephone lines are phased out all NBN fibre-connected buildings will have phones connected over the NBN If you have a landline telephone that should plug straight into the voice port on the box
Keep in mind that the NBN box gets installed by an NBN contractor
The NTD must be next to a power point which will be used for the battery backup unit ndash a separate box that sits next to this one so you can make phone calls if there is a blackout
For a standard installation the NTD will be attached to an exterior wall (inside the building but on an outer wall) If you need the box in another room where your router and other equipment are there is an option for a ldquonon-standardrdquo installation but you might have to pay
15bitcomau
OFFICE READY
The NBN Box comes with four data ports The battery backup
unit (not shown)will not power these ports in a blackout only the voice ports
[B]
You can request a voice service to be delivered through
these UNI-V voice ports Your corded telephone will plug straight in
[C]
This is where the incoming NBN fibre connects[A]
NBN Network Termination Device (NTD)PRICE FREE SUPPLIER NBN CO
16 bitcomau
2 INSIDE MY OFFICEHow will your computers desk phones and other devices connect to the NBN boxOnce the NBN is installed in your building and yoursquove signed up with your Internet provider for an NBN Internet plan yoursquoll need to connect your computers to the NBN box
If you have more than one computer one way of doing this is to connect them via Wi-Fi to a
wireless router you plug into the NBN box If all you need to do is browse the web send email
send documents and watch the occasional video then this might be ok If you are sending and
receiving a lot of very big files though or you need to regularly watch high definition video or backup large amounts of data using the NBN then therersquos
the possibility Wi-Fi might slow things down
WIRELESSROUTER[1]
Another option is to connect all your computers to the NBN box with network cable This will give you the fastest throughput from the NBN box to your computers Wersquore not about to go out on a limb and suggest everyone start planning when to get their floorboards ripped up for cabling though Not only is it an extra expense running cables throughout your building isnrsquot a simple job
NETWORKCABLE[2]
17bitcomau
OFFICE READY
Powerline networking is another option You plug network ports to the power points in your house The system uses the electricity wiring instead of network cables It should give you a better connection than Wi-Fi
WARNINGOne big surprise is that yoursquore not to install any data cabling yourself if it connects to the telecoms network A licensed professional is supposed to do the job badly installed network cable can result in slow speed dropouts or in extreme cases injury And while there might be electricians with excellent data expertise itrsquos a different set of skills and theyrsquore not always the best choice If in doubt ask for their registration card or check with the registrar yourself The ACMA web site has a fact sheet
POWERLINENETWORKING[3]
3 CHOOSING MY ROUTERWORDS JOHN GILLOOLY
Once you have the NBN you need a router to spread the Internet to each computer in your building
You might see lsquoNBN readyrsquo modem routers for sale ndash this means that the ADSL modem can be disabled once you get the NBN (because the NBN box takes care of that function) But these routers might be designed for low ADSL speeds and may not actually cope with the demands of the highest NBN speeds of 100Mbit download 40Mbit upload If your NBN plan isnrsquot that fast your router might cope ok but it is best to think of any lsquoNBN Readyrsquo ADSL modemrouter as a temporary solution We suggest looking for
Routers that can cope with sustained high-speed transfers We like ASUSrsquo RT-N56U the FritzBox Fon WLAN 7390 and Netgearrsquos DGND3700 N600
If yoursquore using Wi-Fi a dual band wireless router (these will work at the 5GHz band) is ideal but your Wi-Fi devices must be compatible
80211ac wireless routers will work better with Wi-Fi devices and have the fastest technology on the market but arenrsquot a must-have yet
If you have network cable installed a Gigabit Ethernet router is ideal
Want more Click to see photos of common wiring mistakes
Fritzbox Fon WLAN 7390
18 bitcomau
Tips and advice from real NBN usersWORDS WILLIAM MAHER
TOP
1 PLAN AHEAD
Itrsquos generally a good idea to have the NBN termination unit installed as close to your computers and router as possible ndash everything that connects to the Internet will need to connect to it This might cost extra
2 GET HERITAGE CLEARANCE
Installation will likely involve holes being drilled in your wall to attach equipment feeds to the cable If you work in a heritage building then this might not be allowed
4 DONrsquoT EXPECT THE INTERNET TO BE PERFECT ALL THE TIME
Yes despite all the hype some NBN users have told us that web browsing
on the NBN is sometimes not noticeably any faster than ADSL Your connection might be fast but web servers on the other side of the world can still struggle to cope with congestion On the upside it should cope much
better with several users uploads should be faster and it should be
less prone to dropouts
3 DONrsquoT RUSH IN
Just because your building gets connected doesnrsquot mean you have to start using the NBN straight away Generally the plan is for the copper telephone lines to be kept for 18 months after the NBN is rolled out before being disconnected Where the NBN is delivered by wireless or satellite telephone lines wonrsquot be disconnected for at least 10 years
19bitcomau
NEED TO KNOW
7 BE WARY OF CHEAP ROUTERS
Your router will need to be able to cope with NBN speeds as well as be able to spread the data around your building fast enough If it doesnrsquot have gigabit Ethernet (for wired networks) or dual band wireless (for wireless networks) you might want to think about upgrading See page 19
9 GET A BACKUP POWER SUPPLY
Even if you have a battery backup box supplied with the NBN connection it wonrsquot keep your Internet running during a blackout only your phone If data access is critical to your business even during a blackout get an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) for a few hundred dollars
8 COMPARE VOICE PLANS
The Internet provider you have a data plan with might give you a better deal on a UNI-V phone service than other providers But call rates might be cheaper on a phone plan through the UNI-D ports
6 REWIRE YOUR PHONES
If you have lots of phone extensions in different rooms itrsquos still possible to keep using them for phone calls but the wiring will need to be connected to the NBN box An alternative is to connect a cordless phone base station to the NBN box
10 WATCH FOR BOTTLENECKS
Wersquove heard stories of people complaining that the NBN isnrsquot any faster but in the end something on their network was limiting the speed ndash like a wireless router that was affected by interference Remember that your own network can cause problems if itrsquos not set up correctly Bad cabling can also cause problems
5 CHECK YOU HAVE ENOUGH PHONE PORTS
The NBN termination unit has two phone ports If you need more phone lines once the copper telephone lines are disconnected consider switching to a VOIP telephone plan This gives you lots of ldquovirtualrdquo lines which run through the data ports instead
20 bitcomau
o you donrsquot want to wait for the NBN to arrive You need faster
more reliable Internet now On these pages wersquove listed ways you can get it without waiting for the NBN
The cheapest broadband is a home plan and they can provide relatively fast speeds if you only have one or two computers But if your business has grown or you want to connect a small office full of people business-grade broadband might serve you better
Generally business-grade services cost more ndash anywhere from around the $100-a-month mark up to $1000 or more
Yes the more expensive services can be much faster than a home ADSL service but download speeds are only one benefit
Other benefits of a business data service might include
A commitment that the connection will be working for a certain amount of time Eg ldquo9995 uptimerdquo
Fewer customers to share the bandwidth with This means your connection is less likely to slow down when lots of other businesses are using the network too
Faster upload speeds than home ADSL Very important to prevent your connection slowing down if you have several people sending large files at the same time Upload speeds are very limited on home ADSL services
Some services include 24x7 technical support
NBN plans are generally shaping up to be good value compared to what you see on the following pages but not everyone wants to wait
What if I donrsquot have the NBN yetEven if the roll-out hasnrsquot reached your area yet there are still several other options to get better Internet performance nowWORDS WILLIAM MAHER
SSLA
A Service Level Agreement is offered with many business data plans It sets out formal responsibilities of the service provider covering things like how fast they should respond to you if there is a problem what hours of the day technical support is available a commitment that problems will be fixed within a certain number of hours and that the service will be running without problems for a certain amount of time
21bitcomau
OPTIONS
HOME ADSL2+Speed Up to 24Mbps download 1Mbps upload (theoretical peak speeds actual speeds will be slower)Pros Relatively cheap compared to business servicesCons Speed depends on distance from telephone exchange Slow upload speed Shared with other usersRecommended Home office 1-2 computers where upload speeds arenrsquot critical where consistent speed isnrsquot critical for day-to-day operations
HOME ADSL2+ WITH ANNEX MSpeed Up to 24Mbps download up to 25Mbps upload (theoretical peak speeds Actual speeds will be slower)Pros Relatively cheap compared to business services Faster upload speed than regular ADSL2+Cons Speed depends on distance from telephone exchange Shared with other usersRecommended Home office 1-2 computers where faster upload speeds are useful but not critical where consistent speed isnrsquot critical for day-to-day operations
CABLE INTERNETSpeed Up to 100Mbps download up to 2Mbps upload (theoretical peak speeds Actual
speeds will be slower)Pros Relatively cheap compared to business services Much faster potential download speeds than ADSL2+Cons Limited to certain cities upload speeds much slower than download shared with other usersRecommended Home office 1-2 computers where faster download speeds than ADSL2+ are needed where fast upload speeds are not necessary where consistent speed isnrsquot critical for day-to-day operations
WIRELESS 3G Speed ldquoTypicalrdquo speeds up to 20Mbps download up to 3Mbps upload (actual speeds could be much slower speed depends on network type)Pros You can use it on the moveCons Speed varies a lot depending on where you are Speed decreases as more users share network Latency generally higher than ADSL Upload speeds much lower than downloadRecommended Secondary connection for accessing email and websites while on the move and where fast upload speeds are not required Where a reliable connection and consistent speed isnrsquot important
WIRELESS 4GSpeed ldquoTypicalrdquo speeds up
22 bitcomau
to 40MBps download up to 10Mbps upload (actual speeds could be much slower)Pros You can use it on the move Higher upload speeds than ADSL2+ and 3G are possibleCons Speed varies a lot depending on where you are Speed decreases as more users share network Theoretical upload speeds slower than download (though not always the case in practice) Limited to Telstra and Optus at time of writing
Recommended Secondary connection while on the move and where faster upload speeds than 3G are required for transferring large files For connecting several gadgets (tablet and laptop) to the Internet at the same time Where a reliable connection and consistent speed isnrsquot important
BUSINESS ADSL2+Speed up to 24Mbps download up to 25Mbps upload
DATA SPEED COMPARISON DOWNLOADSUPLOADS
0Mbps 10Mbps 20Mbps 30Mbps 40Mbps 50Mbps 100Mbps 1000Mbps
HOME ADSL2+
HOME ADSL2+ WITH ANNEX M
CABLE INTERNET
WIRELESS 3G (PEAK ldquoTYPICALrdquo SPEED)
WIRELESS 4G (PEAK ldquoTYPICALrdquo SPEED)
BUSINESS ADSL2+
BONDED DSL
SHDSL
ETHERNET OVER COPPER
ETHERNET OVER FIBRE
NBN (FIBRE)
NBN (FIXED WIRELESS)
NBN (SATELLITE)
23bitcomau
OPTIONS
with Annex M (theoretical peak speeds Actual speeds will be slower)Pros Relatively cheap compared to other business broadband services Might include priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratioCons Speed depends on distance from telephone exchange Upload speed much slower than downloadRecommended Home office 1-3 computers where upload
speeds arenrsquot critical where consistent speed isnrsquot critical for day-to-day operations
BONDED DSLSpeed Typical speeds up to 30Mbps download up to 26Mbps upload with Annex M (by combining copper lines) (actual speeds could be slower)Pros Faster speeds than ADSL2+ possible Relatively cheap compared to other business broadband services
Please note The information on these pages is intended to be a general guide only Exact speeds and other factors can differ between providers Check these details with your provider before purchasing a data service Unless otherwise noted we have quoted maximum potential speeds real life speeds can be significantly slower (especially for wireless and ADSL) and maximum potential speeds can vary according to which technology variant your network uses Note For wireless 3G and 4G we have followed the lead of carriers and quoted the maximum ldquotypicalrdquo speed you are likely to achieve not the maximum theoretical speed
Some of these services will not be available at a certain point after the NBN is connected in your area For example in areas where fibre cable is installed to connect customers to the NBN copper telephone lines will be decommissioned 18 months after the fibre is connected HFC (cable Internet) networks are also expected to be decommissioned in each area once the NBN is rolled out
0Mbps 10Mbps 20Mbps 30Mbps 40Mbps 50Mbps 100Mbps 1000Mbps
DOWNLOADUPLOAD
24 bitcomau
Might include priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratioCons Speed depends on distance from telephone exchange Upload speed much slower than downloads Two telephone lines neededRecommended Homesmall office that needs faster speeds than ADSL2+ or canrsquot get fast enough ADSL2+ speeds because of distance from telephone exchange Where having the same uploaddownload speed isnrsquot necessary
SHDSLSpeed Up to 46Mbps download up to 46Mbps uploadPros Same upload and download speeds Speeds are guaranteed Usually includes priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratioCons More expensive than ADSL2+ Download speeds offered often slower than theoretical ADSL2+ peak speedsRecommende Office that needs faster speeds than ADSL2+ especially where upload speed is crucial for videoconferencing regularly sending large files multiple Voice over IP telephone lines or connecting several offices Where fibre isnrsquot available Where consistent speed is critical
ETHERNET OVER COPPER(MIDBAND ETHERNET)Speed Up to 40Mbps download up to 40Mbps upload (by combining copper lines)Pros Same upload and download speeds Much faster upload speeds than ADSL2+ available Usually includes priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratio Cheaper overall than fibreCons More expensive than ADSL2+Recommended Office with many people at the same time regularly sending large files videoconferencing backup hosted applications VPN using VOIP or connecting to servers in other offices Where fibre isnrsquot available or is too expensive
ETHERNET OVER FIBRESpeed Up to 1000Mbps download up to 1000 Mbps uploadPros Same upload and download speeds Much faster speeds available than other services Usually includes priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratioCons Generally the most expensive option ndash can cost several thousand dollars a month Limited availabilityRecommended Large offices with many people at the same time regularly sending large
Latency Sometimes
refers to the delay between sending data and receiving a response Higher latency is a disadvantage when using certain applications like video-conferencing Latency is generally higher on satellite and wireless networks such as 3G although 4G has a theoretical lower latency than 3G
25bitcomau
OPTIONS
files videoconferencing backup hosted applications VPN using VOIP or connecting to servers in other offices Where a reliable connection and consistent very high speed is critical for day to day operations
NBN (FIBRE)Speed Up to 100MBps download up to 40Mbps upload (fastest plans available at time of writing Faster speeds theoretically possible in future)Pros Much faster speeds available than ADSL2+ including much faster upload speeds Provides minimum peak speeds unlike ADSL2+ More reliable than ADSL Business plans can include priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) (though residential NBN plans might not include this) Generally much cheaper than other business services with comparable speedsCons Very limited availability at time of writingRecommended Where several users need to senddownload large files videoconference backup use hosted applications VPN use VOIP or connect to servers in other offices at the same time Where a reliable connection and consistent speeds are critical Where much faster downloadupload speeds than ADSL2+ are important
NBN (FIXED WIRELESS)Speed Minimum 12Mbps download up to 1Mbps upload (Faster speeds planned)Pros Unlike mobile 4G and 3G networks ldquorelatively steadyrdquo speeds are promisedCons Very limited availability at time of writing Upload speeds much slower than download Top download speed currently much slower than NBN fibre and some other business servicesRecommended Where ADSL2+ isnrsquot available or is unreliable or slow For home office or small office where very high downloadupload speeds arenrsquot critical
NBN (SATELLITE)Speed Up to 6Mbps download up to 1Mbps upload (12Mbps download speeds planned for 2015)Pros Better speeds than some locations could otherwise getCons Top download speed relatively slow compared to NBN fibre and theoretical peak ADSL2+ download speed Upload speed much slower than download speed Higher latency than fixed line services Generally smaller download limits than ADSL2+ and fibreRecommended Locations that donrsquot have access to other broadband Where fast upload speeds arenrsquot needed Where latency-sensitive applications like VPNs arenrsquot required
26 bitcomau
My BookmarksFor more information on the best NBN plans and more click these links
Show me when I am getting connected
General NBN info
Show me all the NBN providers
Tell me if I can get NBN satellite
Give me more info on fibre NBN
I want more info on wireless NBN
I want more info about
the NBN fibre termination unit
Show me all the towns on
the current NBN rollout plan
Show me the NBN FAQ
27bitcomau
MORE INFO
Show me the best plans
Tell me about finding
a registered cabler
I want to try videoconferencing
Show me a list of cablers
I want Microsoft to host my servers
for me
Show me more about
getting connected
I want to read what users are
saying about Internet
providers
I want a web site
Help me make better
use of the NBN for
my business
Teach me about
online marketing
I want Google to
host my servers for me
28 bitcomau
The tech-talk in plain English
AnnexMrsaquorsaquo An add-on feature that some ADSL Internet providers offer to increase the speed of uploads iiNet for example says that customers will get a theoretical maximum upload speed of 275Mbps
ATArsaquorsaquo If you want to use a VOIP telephone service and donrsquot have a suitable VOIP router your VOIP provider can provide this adapter which you plug your telephone into
BondedDSLrsaquorsaquo By combining several phone lines higher broadband speeds are possible Unlike SHDSL upload speeds are still a lot slower than download speeds
Brownfieldrsaquorsaquo Premises that have already been built The focus is on connecting brownfields in regional areas to the NBN first so people currently with the worst broadband get it first
Businessgradebroadbandrsaquorsaquo Can cost more than home broadband but can include guaranteed uptime service agreements and sometimes your
data will travel over a separate network meaning less traffic congestion
Cat6rsaquorsaquo Category 6 cables are recommended for Gigabit Ethernet speeds in an office network
Cloudrsaquorsaquo Instead of buying and installing software on your own businessrsquos server a cloud company owns and runs the server hardware and software ndash you pay to access it over the Internet Examples include Microsoft Office 365 Salesforce Gmail and Dropbox
Contentionratiorsaquorsaquo A term used to indicate how many users have to share the same bandwidth Generally the lower the contention ratio the better Business grade broadband can sometimes have better contention ratios than home broadband
Copperrsaquorsaquo The public telephone lines also used for broadband services like ADSL SHDSL and Midband Ethernet Data services over copper reduce in speed the further your building is from your local telephone exchange
Dualbandwirelessrsaquorsaquo Dual band wireless routers can use two frequency bands (24GHz and 5GHz) to send and receive data unlike some wireless routers which can only use 24GHz This Brownfield
29bitcomau
JARGON BUSTER
can mean faster speeds but the tablet phone or laptop you are using needs to work on 5GHz or you wonrsquot see any difference
Ethernetrsaquorsaquo A network protocol often used for networks inside your building but can also be used for data services delivered over copper telephone lines or optical fibre cable Ethernet broadband services generally have same uploaddownload as opposed to ADSL
Exchangersaquorsaquo Can refer to Microsoft Exchange software which runs on a companyrsquos server and operates their company email or a telephone exchange
FSAMrsaquorsaquo A group of up to 3000 buildings connected to the NBN
GigabitEthernetrsaquorsaquo If you are using Ethernet cable to network your office Gigabit Ethernet will provide faster speeds (1Gbps) than Fast Ethernet (100Mbps)
Greenfieldrsaquorsaquo New housing developments Many of these streets will receive the NBN before Brownfield locations as they will be connected on a demand-driven basis Developers apply to have the NBN connected in their development
HostedITrsaquorsaquo Instead of buying and installing IT equipment yourself you can use another companyrsquos servers This can
include servers to run your email and website as well as hosted applications that users access over the network You can also hire a ldquomanaged service providerrdquo to setup and run your own IT
Latencyrsaquorsaquo Sometimes refers to the delay between sending data and receiving a response Higher latency is a disadvantage when using certain applications like videoconferencing Latency is generally higher on satellite and wireless networks such as 3G although 4G has a theoretical lower latency than 3G
LTErsaquorsaquo Higher speed wireless broadband used in the latest generation of smartphones and if you are getting the NBN via fixed wireless Much faster speeds than ADSL are possible but latency is much higher than optical fibre cable meaning itrsquos not suitable for videoconferencing Sometimes referred to as ldquo4Grdquo
Continued over page
Greenfield
LTE
WirelessRouter
30 bitcomau
MidbandEthernetrsaquorsaquo Provides up to 40Mbps over multiple copper lines Unlike ADSL you get the same upload and download speed but cost is usually several hundred dollars a month
NTDrsaquorsaquo Network Termination Device This is supplied free and is attached to a wall inside your building It takes the place of a modem when you get the NBN This is the box your router and phones will plug in to
Paymentgatewayrsaquorsaquo Used if you want to let customers buy products from your website When a customer buys a product on your website the transaction is sent to a third party the payment gateway which authorises the payment with the bank
PCDrsaquorsaquo Premises Connection Device This is a small box that is attached to an outside wall of your building when you are connected to the NBN via fibre cable The NBN fibre cable runs through this box to the inside of your building where it connects to the NTD
Powerlinenetworkrsaquorsaquo If a wireless router isnrsquot enough to spread your Internet connection
around your business (due to brick walls or multiple stories) and having Ethernet cables installed is too difficult another option is a powerline network An adaptor is plugged into each power point and data can be sent through the buildingrsquos internal wiring
PSTNrsaquorsaquo The public switched telephone network The copper network your analogue telephone connects to
RSPrsaquorsaquo Retail Service Provider Another name for an Internet provider such as Telstra Optus iiNet or Internode Once your building is connected you can contact an RSP to pay for an Internet plan and start using the NBN
Serverrsaquorsaquo A central computer that other computers on a network connect to A server might be in your own building providing a central location so all your staff can access the same files from their computers or an Internet server to which you connect to to access web sites or other services
SHDSLrsaquorsaquo Unlike ADSL SHDSL provides the same upload and download speeds Speeds up to 40Mbps are available by combining several phone lines in the form of Extreme SHDSL
SIPrsaquorsaquo A protocol used in devices for delivering multiple VOIP telephone calls at once
PCD
NTD
PCD
31bitcomau
JARGON BUSTER
SLArsaquorsaquo business-grade broadband contracts can include a Service Level Agreement ndash the provider commits to providing a certain level of service (995 Internet uptime for example)
Synchronousrsaquorsaquo The same upload and download speeds Midband Ethernet and SHDSL are synchronous but ADSL services are not meaning upload speeds are much slower than download speeds
UNI-Vportrsaquorsaquo A port on the NBN network termination device (NTD) where you plug in a telephone Alternatively if you use a VOIP telephone service your telephone can be plugged into a wireless router with a VOIP feature which then plugs into the data port on the NTD
Batterybackupunitrsaquorsaquo A separate box supplied free with your NBN connection that is installed alongside the NTD on a wall inside your building This unit lets you continue to make telephone calls during a blackout if you are using an analogue phone running through the UNI-V port
Uploadspeedrsaquorsaquo If you use applications that send data such as videoconferencing and sending large email attachments as opposed to downloading large files and watching videos then look for an Internet service with higher upload speeds
UPSrsaquorsaquo Uninterruptible Power Supply A device that plugs into your server or computer so that it can continue to run if the main power supply stops
VOIPrsaquorsaquo Voice over IP Unlike regular telephone services VOIP telephone calls are converted to data and travel over data networks Call rates can be much cheaper though call quality can suffer if your VOIP service and your broadband connection arenrsquot suitable
VPNrsaquorsaquo A secure way to upload and download files to and from your officersquos internal network drives and servers when you are not in the office (eg at a hotel or from another office)
WANrsaquorsaquo Wide Area Network Offices in different towns or cities can be connected via the same WAN
Wirelessextenderrsaquorsaquo If you already have a wireless router this is a separate device which plugs into a power point and extends the range of the signal
WirelessNrsaquorsaquo Compatible routers are recommended for spreading your Internet connection around your office wirelessly Will be superseded by the faster 80211ac standard but there are not currently many compatible laptops and devices that will connect at 80211ac speeds
Batterybackupunit
UNI-Vport
WirelessRouter
28bitcomau
Their small businesses have the technology edgeDoes yoursSometimes you can be so busy that keeping up with technology seems too much What you really want to know is what it can do for your business BIT will keep you up to date with the technology that can help you do your job and grow your business ndash whether you are a florist a plumber an accountant or any type of Australian small business
B U S I N E S S I T
Make technology work for your business
Click to return to
Bit
- 001
- 002-003
- 004-009
- 010-011
- 012-017
- 018-019
- 020-025
- 026-027
- 028-031
- 032
-
12 bitcomau
1 Connecting my buildingHow does the NBN connect to my building and what does the NBN box look like p14
2 Inside my officeIs my office ready for the NBN and do I need a network p16
13bitcomau
Now that you know how the NBN might help you letrsquos get down to the nuts and bolts of connecting If you want the maximum speed and most value for your money there are a few important things to know ndash for example is your network up to scratchWORDS WILLIAM MAHER
CONNECTING MY OFFICE
3 Choosing my routerFrom routers to wireless extenders here are useful devices that will help you get more from the NBN p17
OFFICE READY
14 bitcomau
1 CONNECTING MY BUILDINGThis is the NBN box that is being installed in businesses and homes across the countryIf yoursquore being connected by fibre optic cable as opposed to wireless or satellite the cable will run down your street either in trenches or strung on overhead lines Your connection again either in a trench or via an overhead line will run to a box called the Premises Connection Device (PCD) which will be attached to an outside wall of your building ndash the fibre comes into your building via this box
The fibre then travels to the Network Termination Device (NTD) Thatrsquos the box you see on this page This is the box you might connect to your router computers and desk phones You wonrsquot use a DSL modem anymore ndash for the modem function at least This box replaces it
Letrsquos take a look at the box In the photo the incoming NBN cable connects to the box on the right [A] From here a cable connects the NTD to your router via the data port [B] Note there are four data ports For example it might be possible to get Internet access from one provider and perhaps
a video on demand service on a separate port
On the left are two voice ports [C] ndash once copper telephone lines are phased out all NBN fibre-connected buildings will have phones connected over the NBN If you have a landline telephone that should plug straight into the voice port on the box
Keep in mind that the NBN box gets installed by an NBN contractor
The NTD must be next to a power point which will be used for the battery backup unit ndash a separate box that sits next to this one so you can make phone calls if there is a blackout
For a standard installation the NTD will be attached to an exterior wall (inside the building but on an outer wall) If you need the box in another room where your router and other equipment are there is an option for a ldquonon-standardrdquo installation but you might have to pay
15bitcomau
OFFICE READY
The NBN Box comes with four data ports The battery backup
unit (not shown)will not power these ports in a blackout only the voice ports
[B]
You can request a voice service to be delivered through
these UNI-V voice ports Your corded telephone will plug straight in
[C]
This is where the incoming NBN fibre connects[A]
NBN Network Termination Device (NTD)PRICE FREE SUPPLIER NBN CO
16 bitcomau
2 INSIDE MY OFFICEHow will your computers desk phones and other devices connect to the NBN boxOnce the NBN is installed in your building and yoursquove signed up with your Internet provider for an NBN Internet plan yoursquoll need to connect your computers to the NBN box
If you have more than one computer one way of doing this is to connect them via Wi-Fi to a
wireless router you plug into the NBN box If all you need to do is browse the web send email
send documents and watch the occasional video then this might be ok If you are sending and
receiving a lot of very big files though or you need to regularly watch high definition video or backup large amounts of data using the NBN then therersquos
the possibility Wi-Fi might slow things down
WIRELESSROUTER[1]
Another option is to connect all your computers to the NBN box with network cable This will give you the fastest throughput from the NBN box to your computers Wersquore not about to go out on a limb and suggest everyone start planning when to get their floorboards ripped up for cabling though Not only is it an extra expense running cables throughout your building isnrsquot a simple job
NETWORKCABLE[2]
17bitcomau
OFFICE READY
Powerline networking is another option You plug network ports to the power points in your house The system uses the electricity wiring instead of network cables It should give you a better connection than Wi-Fi
WARNINGOne big surprise is that yoursquore not to install any data cabling yourself if it connects to the telecoms network A licensed professional is supposed to do the job badly installed network cable can result in slow speed dropouts or in extreme cases injury And while there might be electricians with excellent data expertise itrsquos a different set of skills and theyrsquore not always the best choice If in doubt ask for their registration card or check with the registrar yourself The ACMA web site has a fact sheet
POWERLINENETWORKING[3]
3 CHOOSING MY ROUTERWORDS JOHN GILLOOLY
Once you have the NBN you need a router to spread the Internet to each computer in your building
You might see lsquoNBN readyrsquo modem routers for sale ndash this means that the ADSL modem can be disabled once you get the NBN (because the NBN box takes care of that function) But these routers might be designed for low ADSL speeds and may not actually cope with the demands of the highest NBN speeds of 100Mbit download 40Mbit upload If your NBN plan isnrsquot that fast your router might cope ok but it is best to think of any lsquoNBN Readyrsquo ADSL modemrouter as a temporary solution We suggest looking for
Routers that can cope with sustained high-speed transfers We like ASUSrsquo RT-N56U the FritzBox Fon WLAN 7390 and Netgearrsquos DGND3700 N600
If yoursquore using Wi-Fi a dual band wireless router (these will work at the 5GHz band) is ideal but your Wi-Fi devices must be compatible
80211ac wireless routers will work better with Wi-Fi devices and have the fastest technology on the market but arenrsquot a must-have yet
If you have network cable installed a Gigabit Ethernet router is ideal
Want more Click to see photos of common wiring mistakes
Fritzbox Fon WLAN 7390
18 bitcomau
Tips and advice from real NBN usersWORDS WILLIAM MAHER
TOP
1 PLAN AHEAD
Itrsquos generally a good idea to have the NBN termination unit installed as close to your computers and router as possible ndash everything that connects to the Internet will need to connect to it This might cost extra
2 GET HERITAGE CLEARANCE
Installation will likely involve holes being drilled in your wall to attach equipment feeds to the cable If you work in a heritage building then this might not be allowed
4 DONrsquoT EXPECT THE INTERNET TO BE PERFECT ALL THE TIME
Yes despite all the hype some NBN users have told us that web browsing
on the NBN is sometimes not noticeably any faster than ADSL Your connection might be fast but web servers on the other side of the world can still struggle to cope with congestion On the upside it should cope much
better with several users uploads should be faster and it should be
less prone to dropouts
3 DONrsquoT RUSH IN
Just because your building gets connected doesnrsquot mean you have to start using the NBN straight away Generally the plan is for the copper telephone lines to be kept for 18 months after the NBN is rolled out before being disconnected Where the NBN is delivered by wireless or satellite telephone lines wonrsquot be disconnected for at least 10 years
19bitcomau
NEED TO KNOW
7 BE WARY OF CHEAP ROUTERS
Your router will need to be able to cope with NBN speeds as well as be able to spread the data around your building fast enough If it doesnrsquot have gigabit Ethernet (for wired networks) or dual band wireless (for wireless networks) you might want to think about upgrading See page 19
9 GET A BACKUP POWER SUPPLY
Even if you have a battery backup box supplied with the NBN connection it wonrsquot keep your Internet running during a blackout only your phone If data access is critical to your business even during a blackout get an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) for a few hundred dollars
8 COMPARE VOICE PLANS
The Internet provider you have a data plan with might give you a better deal on a UNI-V phone service than other providers But call rates might be cheaper on a phone plan through the UNI-D ports
6 REWIRE YOUR PHONES
If you have lots of phone extensions in different rooms itrsquos still possible to keep using them for phone calls but the wiring will need to be connected to the NBN box An alternative is to connect a cordless phone base station to the NBN box
10 WATCH FOR BOTTLENECKS
Wersquove heard stories of people complaining that the NBN isnrsquot any faster but in the end something on their network was limiting the speed ndash like a wireless router that was affected by interference Remember that your own network can cause problems if itrsquos not set up correctly Bad cabling can also cause problems
5 CHECK YOU HAVE ENOUGH PHONE PORTS
The NBN termination unit has two phone ports If you need more phone lines once the copper telephone lines are disconnected consider switching to a VOIP telephone plan This gives you lots of ldquovirtualrdquo lines which run through the data ports instead
20 bitcomau
o you donrsquot want to wait for the NBN to arrive You need faster
more reliable Internet now On these pages wersquove listed ways you can get it without waiting for the NBN
The cheapest broadband is a home plan and they can provide relatively fast speeds if you only have one or two computers But if your business has grown or you want to connect a small office full of people business-grade broadband might serve you better
Generally business-grade services cost more ndash anywhere from around the $100-a-month mark up to $1000 or more
Yes the more expensive services can be much faster than a home ADSL service but download speeds are only one benefit
Other benefits of a business data service might include
A commitment that the connection will be working for a certain amount of time Eg ldquo9995 uptimerdquo
Fewer customers to share the bandwidth with This means your connection is less likely to slow down when lots of other businesses are using the network too
Faster upload speeds than home ADSL Very important to prevent your connection slowing down if you have several people sending large files at the same time Upload speeds are very limited on home ADSL services
Some services include 24x7 technical support
NBN plans are generally shaping up to be good value compared to what you see on the following pages but not everyone wants to wait
What if I donrsquot have the NBN yetEven if the roll-out hasnrsquot reached your area yet there are still several other options to get better Internet performance nowWORDS WILLIAM MAHER
SSLA
A Service Level Agreement is offered with many business data plans It sets out formal responsibilities of the service provider covering things like how fast they should respond to you if there is a problem what hours of the day technical support is available a commitment that problems will be fixed within a certain number of hours and that the service will be running without problems for a certain amount of time
21bitcomau
OPTIONS
HOME ADSL2+Speed Up to 24Mbps download 1Mbps upload (theoretical peak speeds actual speeds will be slower)Pros Relatively cheap compared to business servicesCons Speed depends on distance from telephone exchange Slow upload speed Shared with other usersRecommended Home office 1-2 computers where upload speeds arenrsquot critical where consistent speed isnrsquot critical for day-to-day operations
HOME ADSL2+ WITH ANNEX MSpeed Up to 24Mbps download up to 25Mbps upload (theoretical peak speeds Actual speeds will be slower)Pros Relatively cheap compared to business services Faster upload speed than regular ADSL2+Cons Speed depends on distance from telephone exchange Shared with other usersRecommended Home office 1-2 computers where faster upload speeds are useful but not critical where consistent speed isnrsquot critical for day-to-day operations
CABLE INTERNETSpeed Up to 100Mbps download up to 2Mbps upload (theoretical peak speeds Actual
speeds will be slower)Pros Relatively cheap compared to business services Much faster potential download speeds than ADSL2+Cons Limited to certain cities upload speeds much slower than download shared with other usersRecommended Home office 1-2 computers where faster download speeds than ADSL2+ are needed where fast upload speeds are not necessary where consistent speed isnrsquot critical for day-to-day operations
WIRELESS 3G Speed ldquoTypicalrdquo speeds up to 20Mbps download up to 3Mbps upload (actual speeds could be much slower speed depends on network type)Pros You can use it on the moveCons Speed varies a lot depending on where you are Speed decreases as more users share network Latency generally higher than ADSL Upload speeds much lower than downloadRecommended Secondary connection for accessing email and websites while on the move and where fast upload speeds are not required Where a reliable connection and consistent speed isnrsquot important
WIRELESS 4GSpeed ldquoTypicalrdquo speeds up
22 bitcomau
to 40MBps download up to 10Mbps upload (actual speeds could be much slower)Pros You can use it on the move Higher upload speeds than ADSL2+ and 3G are possibleCons Speed varies a lot depending on where you are Speed decreases as more users share network Theoretical upload speeds slower than download (though not always the case in practice) Limited to Telstra and Optus at time of writing
Recommended Secondary connection while on the move and where faster upload speeds than 3G are required for transferring large files For connecting several gadgets (tablet and laptop) to the Internet at the same time Where a reliable connection and consistent speed isnrsquot important
BUSINESS ADSL2+Speed up to 24Mbps download up to 25Mbps upload
DATA SPEED COMPARISON DOWNLOADSUPLOADS
0Mbps 10Mbps 20Mbps 30Mbps 40Mbps 50Mbps 100Mbps 1000Mbps
HOME ADSL2+
HOME ADSL2+ WITH ANNEX M
CABLE INTERNET
WIRELESS 3G (PEAK ldquoTYPICALrdquo SPEED)
WIRELESS 4G (PEAK ldquoTYPICALrdquo SPEED)
BUSINESS ADSL2+
BONDED DSL
SHDSL
ETHERNET OVER COPPER
ETHERNET OVER FIBRE
NBN (FIBRE)
NBN (FIXED WIRELESS)
NBN (SATELLITE)
23bitcomau
OPTIONS
with Annex M (theoretical peak speeds Actual speeds will be slower)Pros Relatively cheap compared to other business broadband services Might include priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratioCons Speed depends on distance from telephone exchange Upload speed much slower than downloadRecommended Home office 1-3 computers where upload
speeds arenrsquot critical where consistent speed isnrsquot critical for day-to-day operations
BONDED DSLSpeed Typical speeds up to 30Mbps download up to 26Mbps upload with Annex M (by combining copper lines) (actual speeds could be slower)Pros Faster speeds than ADSL2+ possible Relatively cheap compared to other business broadband services
Please note The information on these pages is intended to be a general guide only Exact speeds and other factors can differ between providers Check these details with your provider before purchasing a data service Unless otherwise noted we have quoted maximum potential speeds real life speeds can be significantly slower (especially for wireless and ADSL) and maximum potential speeds can vary according to which technology variant your network uses Note For wireless 3G and 4G we have followed the lead of carriers and quoted the maximum ldquotypicalrdquo speed you are likely to achieve not the maximum theoretical speed
Some of these services will not be available at a certain point after the NBN is connected in your area For example in areas where fibre cable is installed to connect customers to the NBN copper telephone lines will be decommissioned 18 months after the fibre is connected HFC (cable Internet) networks are also expected to be decommissioned in each area once the NBN is rolled out
0Mbps 10Mbps 20Mbps 30Mbps 40Mbps 50Mbps 100Mbps 1000Mbps
DOWNLOADUPLOAD
24 bitcomau
Might include priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratioCons Speed depends on distance from telephone exchange Upload speed much slower than downloads Two telephone lines neededRecommended Homesmall office that needs faster speeds than ADSL2+ or canrsquot get fast enough ADSL2+ speeds because of distance from telephone exchange Where having the same uploaddownload speed isnrsquot necessary
SHDSLSpeed Up to 46Mbps download up to 46Mbps uploadPros Same upload and download speeds Speeds are guaranteed Usually includes priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratioCons More expensive than ADSL2+ Download speeds offered often slower than theoretical ADSL2+ peak speedsRecommende Office that needs faster speeds than ADSL2+ especially where upload speed is crucial for videoconferencing regularly sending large files multiple Voice over IP telephone lines or connecting several offices Where fibre isnrsquot available Where consistent speed is critical
ETHERNET OVER COPPER(MIDBAND ETHERNET)Speed Up to 40Mbps download up to 40Mbps upload (by combining copper lines)Pros Same upload and download speeds Much faster upload speeds than ADSL2+ available Usually includes priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratio Cheaper overall than fibreCons More expensive than ADSL2+Recommended Office with many people at the same time regularly sending large files videoconferencing backup hosted applications VPN using VOIP or connecting to servers in other offices Where fibre isnrsquot available or is too expensive
ETHERNET OVER FIBRESpeed Up to 1000Mbps download up to 1000 Mbps uploadPros Same upload and download speeds Much faster speeds available than other services Usually includes priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratioCons Generally the most expensive option ndash can cost several thousand dollars a month Limited availabilityRecommended Large offices with many people at the same time regularly sending large
Latency Sometimes
refers to the delay between sending data and receiving a response Higher latency is a disadvantage when using certain applications like video-conferencing Latency is generally higher on satellite and wireless networks such as 3G although 4G has a theoretical lower latency than 3G
25bitcomau
OPTIONS
files videoconferencing backup hosted applications VPN using VOIP or connecting to servers in other offices Where a reliable connection and consistent very high speed is critical for day to day operations
NBN (FIBRE)Speed Up to 100MBps download up to 40Mbps upload (fastest plans available at time of writing Faster speeds theoretically possible in future)Pros Much faster speeds available than ADSL2+ including much faster upload speeds Provides minimum peak speeds unlike ADSL2+ More reliable than ADSL Business plans can include priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) (though residential NBN plans might not include this) Generally much cheaper than other business services with comparable speedsCons Very limited availability at time of writingRecommended Where several users need to senddownload large files videoconference backup use hosted applications VPN use VOIP or connect to servers in other offices at the same time Where a reliable connection and consistent speeds are critical Where much faster downloadupload speeds than ADSL2+ are important
NBN (FIXED WIRELESS)Speed Minimum 12Mbps download up to 1Mbps upload (Faster speeds planned)Pros Unlike mobile 4G and 3G networks ldquorelatively steadyrdquo speeds are promisedCons Very limited availability at time of writing Upload speeds much slower than download Top download speed currently much slower than NBN fibre and some other business servicesRecommended Where ADSL2+ isnrsquot available or is unreliable or slow For home office or small office where very high downloadupload speeds arenrsquot critical
NBN (SATELLITE)Speed Up to 6Mbps download up to 1Mbps upload (12Mbps download speeds planned for 2015)Pros Better speeds than some locations could otherwise getCons Top download speed relatively slow compared to NBN fibre and theoretical peak ADSL2+ download speed Upload speed much slower than download speed Higher latency than fixed line services Generally smaller download limits than ADSL2+ and fibreRecommended Locations that donrsquot have access to other broadband Where fast upload speeds arenrsquot needed Where latency-sensitive applications like VPNs arenrsquot required
26 bitcomau
My BookmarksFor more information on the best NBN plans and more click these links
Show me when I am getting connected
General NBN info
Show me all the NBN providers
Tell me if I can get NBN satellite
Give me more info on fibre NBN
I want more info on wireless NBN
I want more info about
the NBN fibre termination unit
Show me all the towns on
the current NBN rollout plan
Show me the NBN FAQ
27bitcomau
MORE INFO
Show me the best plans
Tell me about finding
a registered cabler
I want to try videoconferencing
Show me a list of cablers
I want Microsoft to host my servers
for me
Show me more about
getting connected
I want to read what users are
saying about Internet
providers
I want a web site
Help me make better
use of the NBN for
my business
Teach me about
online marketing
I want Google to
host my servers for me
28 bitcomau
The tech-talk in plain English
AnnexMrsaquorsaquo An add-on feature that some ADSL Internet providers offer to increase the speed of uploads iiNet for example says that customers will get a theoretical maximum upload speed of 275Mbps
ATArsaquorsaquo If you want to use a VOIP telephone service and donrsquot have a suitable VOIP router your VOIP provider can provide this adapter which you plug your telephone into
BondedDSLrsaquorsaquo By combining several phone lines higher broadband speeds are possible Unlike SHDSL upload speeds are still a lot slower than download speeds
Brownfieldrsaquorsaquo Premises that have already been built The focus is on connecting brownfields in regional areas to the NBN first so people currently with the worst broadband get it first
Businessgradebroadbandrsaquorsaquo Can cost more than home broadband but can include guaranteed uptime service agreements and sometimes your
data will travel over a separate network meaning less traffic congestion
Cat6rsaquorsaquo Category 6 cables are recommended for Gigabit Ethernet speeds in an office network
Cloudrsaquorsaquo Instead of buying and installing software on your own businessrsquos server a cloud company owns and runs the server hardware and software ndash you pay to access it over the Internet Examples include Microsoft Office 365 Salesforce Gmail and Dropbox
Contentionratiorsaquorsaquo A term used to indicate how many users have to share the same bandwidth Generally the lower the contention ratio the better Business grade broadband can sometimes have better contention ratios than home broadband
Copperrsaquorsaquo The public telephone lines also used for broadband services like ADSL SHDSL and Midband Ethernet Data services over copper reduce in speed the further your building is from your local telephone exchange
Dualbandwirelessrsaquorsaquo Dual band wireless routers can use two frequency bands (24GHz and 5GHz) to send and receive data unlike some wireless routers which can only use 24GHz This Brownfield
29bitcomau
JARGON BUSTER
can mean faster speeds but the tablet phone or laptop you are using needs to work on 5GHz or you wonrsquot see any difference
Ethernetrsaquorsaquo A network protocol often used for networks inside your building but can also be used for data services delivered over copper telephone lines or optical fibre cable Ethernet broadband services generally have same uploaddownload as opposed to ADSL
Exchangersaquorsaquo Can refer to Microsoft Exchange software which runs on a companyrsquos server and operates their company email or a telephone exchange
FSAMrsaquorsaquo A group of up to 3000 buildings connected to the NBN
GigabitEthernetrsaquorsaquo If you are using Ethernet cable to network your office Gigabit Ethernet will provide faster speeds (1Gbps) than Fast Ethernet (100Mbps)
Greenfieldrsaquorsaquo New housing developments Many of these streets will receive the NBN before Brownfield locations as they will be connected on a demand-driven basis Developers apply to have the NBN connected in their development
HostedITrsaquorsaquo Instead of buying and installing IT equipment yourself you can use another companyrsquos servers This can
include servers to run your email and website as well as hosted applications that users access over the network You can also hire a ldquomanaged service providerrdquo to setup and run your own IT
Latencyrsaquorsaquo Sometimes refers to the delay between sending data and receiving a response Higher latency is a disadvantage when using certain applications like videoconferencing Latency is generally higher on satellite and wireless networks such as 3G although 4G has a theoretical lower latency than 3G
LTErsaquorsaquo Higher speed wireless broadband used in the latest generation of smartphones and if you are getting the NBN via fixed wireless Much faster speeds than ADSL are possible but latency is much higher than optical fibre cable meaning itrsquos not suitable for videoconferencing Sometimes referred to as ldquo4Grdquo
Continued over page
Greenfield
LTE
WirelessRouter
30 bitcomau
MidbandEthernetrsaquorsaquo Provides up to 40Mbps over multiple copper lines Unlike ADSL you get the same upload and download speed but cost is usually several hundred dollars a month
NTDrsaquorsaquo Network Termination Device This is supplied free and is attached to a wall inside your building It takes the place of a modem when you get the NBN This is the box your router and phones will plug in to
Paymentgatewayrsaquorsaquo Used if you want to let customers buy products from your website When a customer buys a product on your website the transaction is sent to a third party the payment gateway which authorises the payment with the bank
PCDrsaquorsaquo Premises Connection Device This is a small box that is attached to an outside wall of your building when you are connected to the NBN via fibre cable The NBN fibre cable runs through this box to the inside of your building where it connects to the NTD
Powerlinenetworkrsaquorsaquo If a wireless router isnrsquot enough to spread your Internet connection
around your business (due to brick walls or multiple stories) and having Ethernet cables installed is too difficult another option is a powerline network An adaptor is plugged into each power point and data can be sent through the buildingrsquos internal wiring
PSTNrsaquorsaquo The public switched telephone network The copper network your analogue telephone connects to
RSPrsaquorsaquo Retail Service Provider Another name for an Internet provider such as Telstra Optus iiNet or Internode Once your building is connected you can contact an RSP to pay for an Internet plan and start using the NBN
Serverrsaquorsaquo A central computer that other computers on a network connect to A server might be in your own building providing a central location so all your staff can access the same files from their computers or an Internet server to which you connect to to access web sites or other services
SHDSLrsaquorsaquo Unlike ADSL SHDSL provides the same upload and download speeds Speeds up to 40Mbps are available by combining several phone lines in the form of Extreme SHDSL
SIPrsaquorsaquo A protocol used in devices for delivering multiple VOIP telephone calls at once
PCD
NTD
PCD
31bitcomau
JARGON BUSTER
SLArsaquorsaquo business-grade broadband contracts can include a Service Level Agreement ndash the provider commits to providing a certain level of service (995 Internet uptime for example)
Synchronousrsaquorsaquo The same upload and download speeds Midband Ethernet and SHDSL are synchronous but ADSL services are not meaning upload speeds are much slower than download speeds
UNI-Vportrsaquorsaquo A port on the NBN network termination device (NTD) where you plug in a telephone Alternatively if you use a VOIP telephone service your telephone can be plugged into a wireless router with a VOIP feature which then plugs into the data port on the NTD
Batterybackupunitrsaquorsaquo A separate box supplied free with your NBN connection that is installed alongside the NTD on a wall inside your building This unit lets you continue to make telephone calls during a blackout if you are using an analogue phone running through the UNI-V port
Uploadspeedrsaquorsaquo If you use applications that send data such as videoconferencing and sending large email attachments as opposed to downloading large files and watching videos then look for an Internet service with higher upload speeds
UPSrsaquorsaquo Uninterruptible Power Supply A device that plugs into your server or computer so that it can continue to run if the main power supply stops
VOIPrsaquorsaquo Voice over IP Unlike regular telephone services VOIP telephone calls are converted to data and travel over data networks Call rates can be much cheaper though call quality can suffer if your VOIP service and your broadband connection arenrsquot suitable
VPNrsaquorsaquo A secure way to upload and download files to and from your officersquos internal network drives and servers when you are not in the office (eg at a hotel or from another office)
WANrsaquorsaquo Wide Area Network Offices in different towns or cities can be connected via the same WAN
Wirelessextenderrsaquorsaquo If you already have a wireless router this is a separate device which plugs into a power point and extends the range of the signal
WirelessNrsaquorsaquo Compatible routers are recommended for spreading your Internet connection around your office wirelessly Will be superseded by the faster 80211ac standard but there are not currently many compatible laptops and devices that will connect at 80211ac speeds
Batterybackupunit
UNI-Vport
WirelessRouter
28bitcomau
Their small businesses have the technology edgeDoes yoursSometimes you can be so busy that keeping up with technology seems too much What you really want to know is what it can do for your business BIT will keep you up to date with the technology that can help you do your job and grow your business ndash whether you are a florist a plumber an accountant or any type of Australian small business
B U S I N E S S I T
Make technology work for your business
Click to return to
Bit
- 001
- 002-003
- 004-009
- 010-011
- 012-017
- 018-019
- 020-025
- 026-027
- 028-031
- 032
-
13bitcomau
Now that you know how the NBN might help you letrsquos get down to the nuts and bolts of connecting If you want the maximum speed and most value for your money there are a few important things to know ndash for example is your network up to scratchWORDS WILLIAM MAHER
CONNECTING MY OFFICE
3 Choosing my routerFrom routers to wireless extenders here are useful devices that will help you get more from the NBN p17
OFFICE READY
14 bitcomau
1 CONNECTING MY BUILDINGThis is the NBN box that is being installed in businesses and homes across the countryIf yoursquore being connected by fibre optic cable as opposed to wireless or satellite the cable will run down your street either in trenches or strung on overhead lines Your connection again either in a trench or via an overhead line will run to a box called the Premises Connection Device (PCD) which will be attached to an outside wall of your building ndash the fibre comes into your building via this box
The fibre then travels to the Network Termination Device (NTD) Thatrsquos the box you see on this page This is the box you might connect to your router computers and desk phones You wonrsquot use a DSL modem anymore ndash for the modem function at least This box replaces it
Letrsquos take a look at the box In the photo the incoming NBN cable connects to the box on the right [A] From here a cable connects the NTD to your router via the data port [B] Note there are four data ports For example it might be possible to get Internet access from one provider and perhaps
a video on demand service on a separate port
On the left are two voice ports [C] ndash once copper telephone lines are phased out all NBN fibre-connected buildings will have phones connected over the NBN If you have a landline telephone that should plug straight into the voice port on the box
Keep in mind that the NBN box gets installed by an NBN contractor
The NTD must be next to a power point which will be used for the battery backup unit ndash a separate box that sits next to this one so you can make phone calls if there is a blackout
For a standard installation the NTD will be attached to an exterior wall (inside the building but on an outer wall) If you need the box in another room where your router and other equipment are there is an option for a ldquonon-standardrdquo installation but you might have to pay
15bitcomau
OFFICE READY
The NBN Box comes with four data ports The battery backup
unit (not shown)will not power these ports in a blackout only the voice ports
[B]
You can request a voice service to be delivered through
these UNI-V voice ports Your corded telephone will plug straight in
[C]
This is where the incoming NBN fibre connects[A]
NBN Network Termination Device (NTD)PRICE FREE SUPPLIER NBN CO
16 bitcomau
2 INSIDE MY OFFICEHow will your computers desk phones and other devices connect to the NBN boxOnce the NBN is installed in your building and yoursquove signed up with your Internet provider for an NBN Internet plan yoursquoll need to connect your computers to the NBN box
If you have more than one computer one way of doing this is to connect them via Wi-Fi to a
wireless router you plug into the NBN box If all you need to do is browse the web send email
send documents and watch the occasional video then this might be ok If you are sending and
receiving a lot of very big files though or you need to regularly watch high definition video or backup large amounts of data using the NBN then therersquos
the possibility Wi-Fi might slow things down
WIRELESSROUTER[1]
Another option is to connect all your computers to the NBN box with network cable This will give you the fastest throughput from the NBN box to your computers Wersquore not about to go out on a limb and suggest everyone start planning when to get their floorboards ripped up for cabling though Not only is it an extra expense running cables throughout your building isnrsquot a simple job
NETWORKCABLE[2]
17bitcomau
OFFICE READY
Powerline networking is another option You plug network ports to the power points in your house The system uses the electricity wiring instead of network cables It should give you a better connection than Wi-Fi
WARNINGOne big surprise is that yoursquore not to install any data cabling yourself if it connects to the telecoms network A licensed professional is supposed to do the job badly installed network cable can result in slow speed dropouts or in extreme cases injury And while there might be electricians with excellent data expertise itrsquos a different set of skills and theyrsquore not always the best choice If in doubt ask for their registration card or check with the registrar yourself The ACMA web site has a fact sheet
POWERLINENETWORKING[3]
3 CHOOSING MY ROUTERWORDS JOHN GILLOOLY
Once you have the NBN you need a router to spread the Internet to each computer in your building
You might see lsquoNBN readyrsquo modem routers for sale ndash this means that the ADSL modem can be disabled once you get the NBN (because the NBN box takes care of that function) But these routers might be designed for low ADSL speeds and may not actually cope with the demands of the highest NBN speeds of 100Mbit download 40Mbit upload If your NBN plan isnrsquot that fast your router might cope ok but it is best to think of any lsquoNBN Readyrsquo ADSL modemrouter as a temporary solution We suggest looking for
Routers that can cope with sustained high-speed transfers We like ASUSrsquo RT-N56U the FritzBox Fon WLAN 7390 and Netgearrsquos DGND3700 N600
If yoursquore using Wi-Fi a dual band wireless router (these will work at the 5GHz band) is ideal but your Wi-Fi devices must be compatible
80211ac wireless routers will work better with Wi-Fi devices and have the fastest technology on the market but arenrsquot a must-have yet
If you have network cable installed a Gigabit Ethernet router is ideal
Want more Click to see photos of common wiring mistakes
Fritzbox Fon WLAN 7390
18 bitcomau
Tips and advice from real NBN usersWORDS WILLIAM MAHER
TOP
1 PLAN AHEAD
Itrsquos generally a good idea to have the NBN termination unit installed as close to your computers and router as possible ndash everything that connects to the Internet will need to connect to it This might cost extra
2 GET HERITAGE CLEARANCE
Installation will likely involve holes being drilled in your wall to attach equipment feeds to the cable If you work in a heritage building then this might not be allowed
4 DONrsquoT EXPECT THE INTERNET TO BE PERFECT ALL THE TIME
Yes despite all the hype some NBN users have told us that web browsing
on the NBN is sometimes not noticeably any faster than ADSL Your connection might be fast but web servers on the other side of the world can still struggle to cope with congestion On the upside it should cope much
better with several users uploads should be faster and it should be
less prone to dropouts
3 DONrsquoT RUSH IN
Just because your building gets connected doesnrsquot mean you have to start using the NBN straight away Generally the plan is for the copper telephone lines to be kept for 18 months after the NBN is rolled out before being disconnected Where the NBN is delivered by wireless or satellite telephone lines wonrsquot be disconnected for at least 10 years
19bitcomau
NEED TO KNOW
7 BE WARY OF CHEAP ROUTERS
Your router will need to be able to cope with NBN speeds as well as be able to spread the data around your building fast enough If it doesnrsquot have gigabit Ethernet (for wired networks) or dual band wireless (for wireless networks) you might want to think about upgrading See page 19
9 GET A BACKUP POWER SUPPLY
Even if you have a battery backup box supplied with the NBN connection it wonrsquot keep your Internet running during a blackout only your phone If data access is critical to your business even during a blackout get an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) for a few hundred dollars
8 COMPARE VOICE PLANS
The Internet provider you have a data plan with might give you a better deal on a UNI-V phone service than other providers But call rates might be cheaper on a phone plan through the UNI-D ports
6 REWIRE YOUR PHONES
If you have lots of phone extensions in different rooms itrsquos still possible to keep using them for phone calls but the wiring will need to be connected to the NBN box An alternative is to connect a cordless phone base station to the NBN box
10 WATCH FOR BOTTLENECKS
Wersquove heard stories of people complaining that the NBN isnrsquot any faster but in the end something on their network was limiting the speed ndash like a wireless router that was affected by interference Remember that your own network can cause problems if itrsquos not set up correctly Bad cabling can also cause problems
5 CHECK YOU HAVE ENOUGH PHONE PORTS
The NBN termination unit has two phone ports If you need more phone lines once the copper telephone lines are disconnected consider switching to a VOIP telephone plan This gives you lots of ldquovirtualrdquo lines which run through the data ports instead
20 bitcomau
o you donrsquot want to wait for the NBN to arrive You need faster
more reliable Internet now On these pages wersquove listed ways you can get it without waiting for the NBN
The cheapest broadband is a home plan and they can provide relatively fast speeds if you only have one or two computers But if your business has grown or you want to connect a small office full of people business-grade broadband might serve you better
Generally business-grade services cost more ndash anywhere from around the $100-a-month mark up to $1000 or more
Yes the more expensive services can be much faster than a home ADSL service but download speeds are only one benefit
Other benefits of a business data service might include
A commitment that the connection will be working for a certain amount of time Eg ldquo9995 uptimerdquo
Fewer customers to share the bandwidth with This means your connection is less likely to slow down when lots of other businesses are using the network too
Faster upload speeds than home ADSL Very important to prevent your connection slowing down if you have several people sending large files at the same time Upload speeds are very limited on home ADSL services
Some services include 24x7 technical support
NBN plans are generally shaping up to be good value compared to what you see on the following pages but not everyone wants to wait
What if I donrsquot have the NBN yetEven if the roll-out hasnrsquot reached your area yet there are still several other options to get better Internet performance nowWORDS WILLIAM MAHER
SSLA
A Service Level Agreement is offered with many business data plans It sets out formal responsibilities of the service provider covering things like how fast they should respond to you if there is a problem what hours of the day technical support is available a commitment that problems will be fixed within a certain number of hours and that the service will be running without problems for a certain amount of time
21bitcomau
OPTIONS
HOME ADSL2+Speed Up to 24Mbps download 1Mbps upload (theoretical peak speeds actual speeds will be slower)Pros Relatively cheap compared to business servicesCons Speed depends on distance from telephone exchange Slow upload speed Shared with other usersRecommended Home office 1-2 computers where upload speeds arenrsquot critical where consistent speed isnrsquot critical for day-to-day operations
HOME ADSL2+ WITH ANNEX MSpeed Up to 24Mbps download up to 25Mbps upload (theoretical peak speeds Actual speeds will be slower)Pros Relatively cheap compared to business services Faster upload speed than regular ADSL2+Cons Speed depends on distance from telephone exchange Shared with other usersRecommended Home office 1-2 computers where faster upload speeds are useful but not critical where consistent speed isnrsquot critical for day-to-day operations
CABLE INTERNETSpeed Up to 100Mbps download up to 2Mbps upload (theoretical peak speeds Actual
speeds will be slower)Pros Relatively cheap compared to business services Much faster potential download speeds than ADSL2+Cons Limited to certain cities upload speeds much slower than download shared with other usersRecommended Home office 1-2 computers where faster download speeds than ADSL2+ are needed where fast upload speeds are not necessary where consistent speed isnrsquot critical for day-to-day operations
WIRELESS 3G Speed ldquoTypicalrdquo speeds up to 20Mbps download up to 3Mbps upload (actual speeds could be much slower speed depends on network type)Pros You can use it on the moveCons Speed varies a lot depending on where you are Speed decreases as more users share network Latency generally higher than ADSL Upload speeds much lower than downloadRecommended Secondary connection for accessing email and websites while on the move and where fast upload speeds are not required Where a reliable connection and consistent speed isnrsquot important
WIRELESS 4GSpeed ldquoTypicalrdquo speeds up
22 bitcomau
to 40MBps download up to 10Mbps upload (actual speeds could be much slower)Pros You can use it on the move Higher upload speeds than ADSL2+ and 3G are possibleCons Speed varies a lot depending on where you are Speed decreases as more users share network Theoretical upload speeds slower than download (though not always the case in practice) Limited to Telstra and Optus at time of writing
Recommended Secondary connection while on the move and where faster upload speeds than 3G are required for transferring large files For connecting several gadgets (tablet and laptop) to the Internet at the same time Where a reliable connection and consistent speed isnrsquot important
BUSINESS ADSL2+Speed up to 24Mbps download up to 25Mbps upload
DATA SPEED COMPARISON DOWNLOADSUPLOADS
0Mbps 10Mbps 20Mbps 30Mbps 40Mbps 50Mbps 100Mbps 1000Mbps
HOME ADSL2+
HOME ADSL2+ WITH ANNEX M
CABLE INTERNET
WIRELESS 3G (PEAK ldquoTYPICALrdquo SPEED)
WIRELESS 4G (PEAK ldquoTYPICALrdquo SPEED)
BUSINESS ADSL2+
BONDED DSL
SHDSL
ETHERNET OVER COPPER
ETHERNET OVER FIBRE
NBN (FIBRE)
NBN (FIXED WIRELESS)
NBN (SATELLITE)
23bitcomau
OPTIONS
with Annex M (theoretical peak speeds Actual speeds will be slower)Pros Relatively cheap compared to other business broadband services Might include priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratioCons Speed depends on distance from telephone exchange Upload speed much slower than downloadRecommended Home office 1-3 computers where upload
speeds arenrsquot critical where consistent speed isnrsquot critical for day-to-day operations
BONDED DSLSpeed Typical speeds up to 30Mbps download up to 26Mbps upload with Annex M (by combining copper lines) (actual speeds could be slower)Pros Faster speeds than ADSL2+ possible Relatively cheap compared to other business broadband services
Please note The information on these pages is intended to be a general guide only Exact speeds and other factors can differ between providers Check these details with your provider before purchasing a data service Unless otherwise noted we have quoted maximum potential speeds real life speeds can be significantly slower (especially for wireless and ADSL) and maximum potential speeds can vary according to which technology variant your network uses Note For wireless 3G and 4G we have followed the lead of carriers and quoted the maximum ldquotypicalrdquo speed you are likely to achieve not the maximum theoretical speed
Some of these services will not be available at a certain point after the NBN is connected in your area For example in areas where fibre cable is installed to connect customers to the NBN copper telephone lines will be decommissioned 18 months after the fibre is connected HFC (cable Internet) networks are also expected to be decommissioned in each area once the NBN is rolled out
0Mbps 10Mbps 20Mbps 30Mbps 40Mbps 50Mbps 100Mbps 1000Mbps
DOWNLOADUPLOAD
24 bitcomau
Might include priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratioCons Speed depends on distance from telephone exchange Upload speed much slower than downloads Two telephone lines neededRecommended Homesmall office that needs faster speeds than ADSL2+ or canrsquot get fast enough ADSL2+ speeds because of distance from telephone exchange Where having the same uploaddownload speed isnrsquot necessary
SHDSLSpeed Up to 46Mbps download up to 46Mbps uploadPros Same upload and download speeds Speeds are guaranteed Usually includes priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratioCons More expensive than ADSL2+ Download speeds offered often slower than theoretical ADSL2+ peak speedsRecommende Office that needs faster speeds than ADSL2+ especially where upload speed is crucial for videoconferencing regularly sending large files multiple Voice over IP telephone lines or connecting several offices Where fibre isnrsquot available Where consistent speed is critical
ETHERNET OVER COPPER(MIDBAND ETHERNET)Speed Up to 40Mbps download up to 40Mbps upload (by combining copper lines)Pros Same upload and download speeds Much faster upload speeds than ADSL2+ available Usually includes priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratio Cheaper overall than fibreCons More expensive than ADSL2+Recommended Office with many people at the same time regularly sending large files videoconferencing backup hosted applications VPN using VOIP or connecting to servers in other offices Where fibre isnrsquot available or is too expensive
ETHERNET OVER FIBRESpeed Up to 1000Mbps download up to 1000 Mbps uploadPros Same upload and download speeds Much faster speeds available than other services Usually includes priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratioCons Generally the most expensive option ndash can cost several thousand dollars a month Limited availabilityRecommended Large offices with many people at the same time regularly sending large
Latency Sometimes
refers to the delay between sending data and receiving a response Higher latency is a disadvantage when using certain applications like video-conferencing Latency is generally higher on satellite and wireless networks such as 3G although 4G has a theoretical lower latency than 3G
25bitcomau
OPTIONS
files videoconferencing backup hosted applications VPN using VOIP or connecting to servers in other offices Where a reliable connection and consistent very high speed is critical for day to day operations
NBN (FIBRE)Speed Up to 100MBps download up to 40Mbps upload (fastest plans available at time of writing Faster speeds theoretically possible in future)Pros Much faster speeds available than ADSL2+ including much faster upload speeds Provides minimum peak speeds unlike ADSL2+ More reliable than ADSL Business plans can include priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) (though residential NBN plans might not include this) Generally much cheaper than other business services with comparable speedsCons Very limited availability at time of writingRecommended Where several users need to senddownload large files videoconference backup use hosted applications VPN use VOIP or connect to servers in other offices at the same time Where a reliable connection and consistent speeds are critical Where much faster downloadupload speeds than ADSL2+ are important
NBN (FIXED WIRELESS)Speed Minimum 12Mbps download up to 1Mbps upload (Faster speeds planned)Pros Unlike mobile 4G and 3G networks ldquorelatively steadyrdquo speeds are promisedCons Very limited availability at time of writing Upload speeds much slower than download Top download speed currently much slower than NBN fibre and some other business servicesRecommended Where ADSL2+ isnrsquot available or is unreliable or slow For home office or small office where very high downloadupload speeds arenrsquot critical
NBN (SATELLITE)Speed Up to 6Mbps download up to 1Mbps upload (12Mbps download speeds planned for 2015)Pros Better speeds than some locations could otherwise getCons Top download speed relatively slow compared to NBN fibre and theoretical peak ADSL2+ download speed Upload speed much slower than download speed Higher latency than fixed line services Generally smaller download limits than ADSL2+ and fibreRecommended Locations that donrsquot have access to other broadband Where fast upload speeds arenrsquot needed Where latency-sensitive applications like VPNs arenrsquot required
26 bitcomau
My BookmarksFor more information on the best NBN plans and more click these links
Show me when I am getting connected
General NBN info
Show me all the NBN providers
Tell me if I can get NBN satellite
Give me more info on fibre NBN
I want more info on wireless NBN
I want more info about
the NBN fibre termination unit
Show me all the towns on
the current NBN rollout plan
Show me the NBN FAQ
27bitcomau
MORE INFO
Show me the best plans
Tell me about finding
a registered cabler
I want to try videoconferencing
Show me a list of cablers
I want Microsoft to host my servers
for me
Show me more about
getting connected
I want to read what users are
saying about Internet
providers
I want a web site
Help me make better
use of the NBN for
my business
Teach me about
online marketing
I want Google to
host my servers for me
28 bitcomau
The tech-talk in plain English
AnnexMrsaquorsaquo An add-on feature that some ADSL Internet providers offer to increase the speed of uploads iiNet for example says that customers will get a theoretical maximum upload speed of 275Mbps
ATArsaquorsaquo If you want to use a VOIP telephone service and donrsquot have a suitable VOIP router your VOIP provider can provide this adapter which you plug your telephone into
BondedDSLrsaquorsaquo By combining several phone lines higher broadband speeds are possible Unlike SHDSL upload speeds are still a lot slower than download speeds
Brownfieldrsaquorsaquo Premises that have already been built The focus is on connecting brownfields in regional areas to the NBN first so people currently with the worst broadband get it first
Businessgradebroadbandrsaquorsaquo Can cost more than home broadband but can include guaranteed uptime service agreements and sometimes your
data will travel over a separate network meaning less traffic congestion
Cat6rsaquorsaquo Category 6 cables are recommended for Gigabit Ethernet speeds in an office network
Cloudrsaquorsaquo Instead of buying and installing software on your own businessrsquos server a cloud company owns and runs the server hardware and software ndash you pay to access it over the Internet Examples include Microsoft Office 365 Salesforce Gmail and Dropbox
Contentionratiorsaquorsaquo A term used to indicate how many users have to share the same bandwidth Generally the lower the contention ratio the better Business grade broadband can sometimes have better contention ratios than home broadband
Copperrsaquorsaquo The public telephone lines also used for broadband services like ADSL SHDSL and Midband Ethernet Data services over copper reduce in speed the further your building is from your local telephone exchange
Dualbandwirelessrsaquorsaquo Dual band wireless routers can use two frequency bands (24GHz and 5GHz) to send and receive data unlike some wireless routers which can only use 24GHz This Brownfield
29bitcomau
JARGON BUSTER
can mean faster speeds but the tablet phone or laptop you are using needs to work on 5GHz or you wonrsquot see any difference
Ethernetrsaquorsaquo A network protocol often used for networks inside your building but can also be used for data services delivered over copper telephone lines or optical fibre cable Ethernet broadband services generally have same uploaddownload as opposed to ADSL
Exchangersaquorsaquo Can refer to Microsoft Exchange software which runs on a companyrsquos server and operates their company email or a telephone exchange
FSAMrsaquorsaquo A group of up to 3000 buildings connected to the NBN
GigabitEthernetrsaquorsaquo If you are using Ethernet cable to network your office Gigabit Ethernet will provide faster speeds (1Gbps) than Fast Ethernet (100Mbps)
Greenfieldrsaquorsaquo New housing developments Many of these streets will receive the NBN before Brownfield locations as they will be connected on a demand-driven basis Developers apply to have the NBN connected in their development
HostedITrsaquorsaquo Instead of buying and installing IT equipment yourself you can use another companyrsquos servers This can
include servers to run your email and website as well as hosted applications that users access over the network You can also hire a ldquomanaged service providerrdquo to setup and run your own IT
Latencyrsaquorsaquo Sometimes refers to the delay between sending data and receiving a response Higher latency is a disadvantage when using certain applications like videoconferencing Latency is generally higher on satellite and wireless networks such as 3G although 4G has a theoretical lower latency than 3G
LTErsaquorsaquo Higher speed wireless broadband used in the latest generation of smartphones and if you are getting the NBN via fixed wireless Much faster speeds than ADSL are possible but latency is much higher than optical fibre cable meaning itrsquos not suitable for videoconferencing Sometimes referred to as ldquo4Grdquo
Continued over page
Greenfield
LTE
WirelessRouter
30 bitcomau
MidbandEthernetrsaquorsaquo Provides up to 40Mbps over multiple copper lines Unlike ADSL you get the same upload and download speed but cost is usually several hundred dollars a month
NTDrsaquorsaquo Network Termination Device This is supplied free and is attached to a wall inside your building It takes the place of a modem when you get the NBN This is the box your router and phones will plug in to
Paymentgatewayrsaquorsaquo Used if you want to let customers buy products from your website When a customer buys a product on your website the transaction is sent to a third party the payment gateway which authorises the payment with the bank
PCDrsaquorsaquo Premises Connection Device This is a small box that is attached to an outside wall of your building when you are connected to the NBN via fibre cable The NBN fibre cable runs through this box to the inside of your building where it connects to the NTD
Powerlinenetworkrsaquorsaquo If a wireless router isnrsquot enough to spread your Internet connection
around your business (due to brick walls or multiple stories) and having Ethernet cables installed is too difficult another option is a powerline network An adaptor is plugged into each power point and data can be sent through the buildingrsquos internal wiring
PSTNrsaquorsaquo The public switched telephone network The copper network your analogue telephone connects to
RSPrsaquorsaquo Retail Service Provider Another name for an Internet provider such as Telstra Optus iiNet or Internode Once your building is connected you can contact an RSP to pay for an Internet plan and start using the NBN
Serverrsaquorsaquo A central computer that other computers on a network connect to A server might be in your own building providing a central location so all your staff can access the same files from their computers or an Internet server to which you connect to to access web sites or other services
SHDSLrsaquorsaquo Unlike ADSL SHDSL provides the same upload and download speeds Speeds up to 40Mbps are available by combining several phone lines in the form of Extreme SHDSL
SIPrsaquorsaquo A protocol used in devices for delivering multiple VOIP telephone calls at once
PCD
NTD
PCD
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JARGON BUSTER
SLArsaquorsaquo business-grade broadband contracts can include a Service Level Agreement ndash the provider commits to providing a certain level of service (995 Internet uptime for example)
Synchronousrsaquorsaquo The same upload and download speeds Midband Ethernet and SHDSL are synchronous but ADSL services are not meaning upload speeds are much slower than download speeds
UNI-Vportrsaquorsaquo A port on the NBN network termination device (NTD) where you plug in a telephone Alternatively if you use a VOIP telephone service your telephone can be plugged into a wireless router with a VOIP feature which then plugs into the data port on the NTD
Batterybackupunitrsaquorsaquo A separate box supplied free with your NBN connection that is installed alongside the NTD on a wall inside your building This unit lets you continue to make telephone calls during a blackout if you are using an analogue phone running through the UNI-V port
Uploadspeedrsaquorsaquo If you use applications that send data such as videoconferencing and sending large email attachments as opposed to downloading large files and watching videos then look for an Internet service with higher upload speeds
UPSrsaquorsaquo Uninterruptible Power Supply A device that plugs into your server or computer so that it can continue to run if the main power supply stops
VOIPrsaquorsaquo Voice over IP Unlike regular telephone services VOIP telephone calls are converted to data and travel over data networks Call rates can be much cheaper though call quality can suffer if your VOIP service and your broadband connection arenrsquot suitable
VPNrsaquorsaquo A secure way to upload and download files to and from your officersquos internal network drives and servers when you are not in the office (eg at a hotel or from another office)
WANrsaquorsaquo Wide Area Network Offices in different towns or cities can be connected via the same WAN
Wirelessextenderrsaquorsaquo If you already have a wireless router this is a separate device which plugs into a power point and extends the range of the signal
WirelessNrsaquorsaquo Compatible routers are recommended for spreading your Internet connection around your office wirelessly Will be superseded by the faster 80211ac standard but there are not currently many compatible laptops and devices that will connect at 80211ac speeds
Batterybackupunit
UNI-Vport
WirelessRouter
28bitcomau
Their small businesses have the technology edgeDoes yoursSometimes you can be so busy that keeping up with technology seems too much What you really want to know is what it can do for your business BIT will keep you up to date with the technology that can help you do your job and grow your business ndash whether you are a florist a plumber an accountant or any type of Australian small business
B U S I N E S S I T
Make technology work for your business
Click to return to
Bit
- 001
- 002-003
- 004-009
- 010-011
- 012-017
- 018-019
- 020-025
- 026-027
- 028-031
- 032
-
14 bitcomau
1 CONNECTING MY BUILDINGThis is the NBN box that is being installed in businesses and homes across the countryIf yoursquore being connected by fibre optic cable as opposed to wireless or satellite the cable will run down your street either in trenches or strung on overhead lines Your connection again either in a trench or via an overhead line will run to a box called the Premises Connection Device (PCD) which will be attached to an outside wall of your building ndash the fibre comes into your building via this box
The fibre then travels to the Network Termination Device (NTD) Thatrsquos the box you see on this page This is the box you might connect to your router computers and desk phones You wonrsquot use a DSL modem anymore ndash for the modem function at least This box replaces it
Letrsquos take a look at the box In the photo the incoming NBN cable connects to the box on the right [A] From here a cable connects the NTD to your router via the data port [B] Note there are four data ports For example it might be possible to get Internet access from one provider and perhaps
a video on demand service on a separate port
On the left are two voice ports [C] ndash once copper telephone lines are phased out all NBN fibre-connected buildings will have phones connected over the NBN If you have a landline telephone that should plug straight into the voice port on the box
Keep in mind that the NBN box gets installed by an NBN contractor
The NTD must be next to a power point which will be used for the battery backup unit ndash a separate box that sits next to this one so you can make phone calls if there is a blackout
For a standard installation the NTD will be attached to an exterior wall (inside the building but on an outer wall) If you need the box in another room where your router and other equipment are there is an option for a ldquonon-standardrdquo installation but you might have to pay
15bitcomau
OFFICE READY
The NBN Box comes with four data ports The battery backup
unit (not shown)will not power these ports in a blackout only the voice ports
[B]
You can request a voice service to be delivered through
these UNI-V voice ports Your corded telephone will plug straight in
[C]
This is where the incoming NBN fibre connects[A]
NBN Network Termination Device (NTD)PRICE FREE SUPPLIER NBN CO
16 bitcomau
2 INSIDE MY OFFICEHow will your computers desk phones and other devices connect to the NBN boxOnce the NBN is installed in your building and yoursquove signed up with your Internet provider for an NBN Internet plan yoursquoll need to connect your computers to the NBN box
If you have more than one computer one way of doing this is to connect them via Wi-Fi to a
wireless router you plug into the NBN box If all you need to do is browse the web send email
send documents and watch the occasional video then this might be ok If you are sending and
receiving a lot of very big files though or you need to regularly watch high definition video or backup large amounts of data using the NBN then therersquos
the possibility Wi-Fi might slow things down
WIRELESSROUTER[1]
Another option is to connect all your computers to the NBN box with network cable This will give you the fastest throughput from the NBN box to your computers Wersquore not about to go out on a limb and suggest everyone start planning when to get their floorboards ripped up for cabling though Not only is it an extra expense running cables throughout your building isnrsquot a simple job
NETWORKCABLE[2]
17bitcomau
OFFICE READY
Powerline networking is another option You plug network ports to the power points in your house The system uses the electricity wiring instead of network cables It should give you a better connection than Wi-Fi
WARNINGOne big surprise is that yoursquore not to install any data cabling yourself if it connects to the telecoms network A licensed professional is supposed to do the job badly installed network cable can result in slow speed dropouts or in extreme cases injury And while there might be electricians with excellent data expertise itrsquos a different set of skills and theyrsquore not always the best choice If in doubt ask for their registration card or check with the registrar yourself The ACMA web site has a fact sheet
POWERLINENETWORKING[3]
3 CHOOSING MY ROUTERWORDS JOHN GILLOOLY
Once you have the NBN you need a router to spread the Internet to each computer in your building
You might see lsquoNBN readyrsquo modem routers for sale ndash this means that the ADSL modem can be disabled once you get the NBN (because the NBN box takes care of that function) But these routers might be designed for low ADSL speeds and may not actually cope with the demands of the highest NBN speeds of 100Mbit download 40Mbit upload If your NBN plan isnrsquot that fast your router might cope ok but it is best to think of any lsquoNBN Readyrsquo ADSL modemrouter as a temporary solution We suggest looking for
Routers that can cope with sustained high-speed transfers We like ASUSrsquo RT-N56U the FritzBox Fon WLAN 7390 and Netgearrsquos DGND3700 N600
If yoursquore using Wi-Fi a dual band wireless router (these will work at the 5GHz band) is ideal but your Wi-Fi devices must be compatible
80211ac wireless routers will work better with Wi-Fi devices and have the fastest technology on the market but arenrsquot a must-have yet
If you have network cable installed a Gigabit Ethernet router is ideal
Want more Click to see photos of common wiring mistakes
Fritzbox Fon WLAN 7390
18 bitcomau
Tips and advice from real NBN usersWORDS WILLIAM MAHER
TOP
1 PLAN AHEAD
Itrsquos generally a good idea to have the NBN termination unit installed as close to your computers and router as possible ndash everything that connects to the Internet will need to connect to it This might cost extra
2 GET HERITAGE CLEARANCE
Installation will likely involve holes being drilled in your wall to attach equipment feeds to the cable If you work in a heritage building then this might not be allowed
4 DONrsquoT EXPECT THE INTERNET TO BE PERFECT ALL THE TIME
Yes despite all the hype some NBN users have told us that web browsing
on the NBN is sometimes not noticeably any faster than ADSL Your connection might be fast but web servers on the other side of the world can still struggle to cope with congestion On the upside it should cope much
better with several users uploads should be faster and it should be
less prone to dropouts
3 DONrsquoT RUSH IN
Just because your building gets connected doesnrsquot mean you have to start using the NBN straight away Generally the plan is for the copper telephone lines to be kept for 18 months after the NBN is rolled out before being disconnected Where the NBN is delivered by wireless or satellite telephone lines wonrsquot be disconnected for at least 10 years
19bitcomau
NEED TO KNOW
7 BE WARY OF CHEAP ROUTERS
Your router will need to be able to cope with NBN speeds as well as be able to spread the data around your building fast enough If it doesnrsquot have gigabit Ethernet (for wired networks) or dual band wireless (for wireless networks) you might want to think about upgrading See page 19
9 GET A BACKUP POWER SUPPLY
Even if you have a battery backup box supplied with the NBN connection it wonrsquot keep your Internet running during a blackout only your phone If data access is critical to your business even during a blackout get an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) for a few hundred dollars
8 COMPARE VOICE PLANS
The Internet provider you have a data plan with might give you a better deal on a UNI-V phone service than other providers But call rates might be cheaper on a phone plan through the UNI-D ports
6 REWIRE YOUR PHONES
If you have lots of phone extensions in different rooms itrsquos still possible to keep using them for phone calls but the wiring will need to be connected to the NBN box An alternative is to connect a cordless phone base station to the NBN box
10 WATCH FOR BOTTLENECKS
Wersquove heard stories of people complaining that the NBN isnrsquot any faster but in the end something on their network was limiting the speed ndash like a wireless router that was affected by interference Remember that your own network can cause problems if itrsquos not set up correctly Bad cabling can also cause problems
5 CHECK YOU HAVE ENOUGH PHONE PORTS
The NBN termination unit has two phone ports If you need more phone lines once the copper telephone lines are disconnected consider switching to a VOIP telephone plan This gives you lots of ldquovirtualrdquo lines which run through the data ports instead
20 bitcomau
o you donrsquot want to wait for the NBN to arrive You need faster
more reliable Internet now On these pages wersquove listed ways you can get it without waiting for the NBN
The cheapest broadband is a home plan and they can provide relatively fast speeds if you only have one or two computers But if your business has grown or you want to connect a small office full of people business-grade broadband might serve you better
Generally business-grade services cost more ndash anywhere from around the $100-a-month mark up to $1000 or more
Yes the more expensive services can be much faster than a home ADSL service but download speeds are only one benefit
Other benefits of a business data service might include
A commitment that the connection will be working for a certain amount of time Eg ldquo9995 uptimerdquo
Fewer customers to share the bandwidth with This means your connection is less likely to slow down when lots of other businesses are using the network too
Faster upload speeds than home ADSL Very important to prevent your connection slowing down if you have several people sending large files at the same time Upload speeds are very limited on home ADSL services
Some services include 24x7 technical support
NBN plans are generally shaping up to be good value compared to what you see on the following pages but not everyone wants to wait
What if I donrsquot have the NBN yetEven if the roll-out hasnrsquot reached your area yet there are still several other options to get better Internet performance nowWORDS WILLIAM MAHER
SSLA
A Service Level Agreement is offered with many business data plans It sets out formal responsibilities of the service provider covering things like how fast they should respond to you if there is a problem what hours of the day technical support is available a commitment that problems will be fixed within a certain number of hours and that the service will be running without problems for a certain amount of time
21bitcomau
OPTIONS
HOME ADSL2+Speed Up to 24Mbps download 1Mbps upload (theoretical peak speeds actual speeds will be slower)Pros Relatively cheap compared to business servicesCons Speed depends on distance from telephone exchange Slow upload speed Shared with other usersRecommended Home office 1-2 computers where upload speeds arenrsquot critical where consistent speed isnrsquot critical for day-to-day operations
HOME ADSL2+ WITH ANNEX MSpeed Up to 24Mbps download up to 25Mbps upload (theoretical peak speeds Actual speeds will be slower)Pros Relatively cheap compared to business services Faster upload speed than regular ADSL2+Cons Speed depends on distance from telephone exchange Shared with other usersRecommended Home office 1-2 computers where faster upload speeds are useful but not critical where consistent speed isnrsquot critical for day-to-day operations
CABLE INTERNETSpeed Up to 100Mbps download up to 2Mbps upload (theoretical peak speeds Actual
speeds will be slower)Pros Relatively cheap compared to business services Much faster potential download speeds than ADSL2+Cons Limited to certain cities upload speeds much slower than download shared with other usersRecommended Home office 1-2 computers where faster download speeds than ADSL2+ are needed where fast upload speeds are not necessary where consistent speed isnrsquot critical for day-to-day operations
WIRELESS 3G Speed ldquoTypicalrdquo speeds up to 20Mbps download up to 3Mbps upload (actual speeds could be much slower speed depends on network type)Pros You can use it on the moveCons Speed varies a lot depending on where you are Speed decreases as more users share network Latency generally higher than ADSL Upload speeds much lower than downloadRecommended Secondary connection for accessing email and websites while on the move and where fast upload speeds are not required Where a reliable connection and consistent speed isnrsquot important
WIRELESS 4GSpeed ldquoTypicalrdquo speeds up
22 bitcomau
to 40MBps download up to 10Mbps upload (actual speeds could be much slower)Pros You can use it on the move Higher upload speeds than ADSL2+ and 3G are possibleCons Speed varies a lot depending on where you are Speed decreases as more users share network Theoretical upload speeds slower than download (though not always the case in practice) Limited to Telstra and Optus at time of writing
Recommended Secondary connection while on the move and where faster upload speeds than 3G are required for transferring large files For connecting several gadgets (tablet and laptop) to the Internet at the same time Where a reliable connection and consistent speed isnrsquot important
BUSINESS ADSL2+Speed up to 24Mbps download up to 25Mbps upload
DATA SPEED COMPARISON DOWNLOADSUPLOADS
0Mbps 10Mbps 20Mbps 30Mbps 40Mbps 50Mbps 100Mbps 1000Mbps
HOME ADSL2+
HOME ADSL2+ WITH ANNEX M
CABLE INTERNET
WIRELESS 3G (PEAK ldquoTYPICALrdquo SPEED)
WIRELESS 4G (PEAK ldquoTYPICALrdquo SPEED)
BUSINESS ADSL2+
BONDED DSL
SHDSL
ETHERNET OVER COPPER
ETHERNET OVER FIBRE
NBN (FIBRE)
NBN (FIXED WIRELESS)
NBN (SATELLITE)
23bitcomau
OPTIONS
with Annex M (theoretical peak speeds Actual speeds will be slower)Pros Relatively cheap compared to other business broadband services Might include priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratioCons Speed depends on distance from telephone exchange Upload speed much slower than downloadRecommended Home office 1-3 computers where upload
speeds arenrsquot critical where consistent speed isnrsquot critical for day-to-day operations
BONDED DSLSpeed Typical speeds up to 30Mbps download up to 26Mbps upload with Annex M (by combining copper lines) (actual speeds could be slower)Pros Faster speeds than ADSL2+ possible Relatively cheap compared to other business broadband services
Please note The information on these pages is intended to be a general guide only Exact speeds and other factors can differ between providers Check these details with your provider before purchasing a data service Unless otherwise noted we have quoted maximum potential speeds real life speeds can be significantly slower (especially for wireless and ADSL) and maximum potential speeds can vary according to which technology variant your network uses Note For wireless 3G and 4G we have followed the lead of carriers and quoted the maximum ldquotypicalrdquo speed you are likely to achieve not the maximum theoretical speed
Some of these services will not be available at a certain point after the NBN is connected in your area For example in areas where fibre cable is installed to connect customers to the NBN copper telephone lines will be decommissioned 18 months after the fibre is connected HFC (cable Internet) networks are also expected to be decommissioned in each area once the NBN is rolled out
0Mbps 10Mbps 20Mbps 30Mbps 40Mbps 50Mbps 100Mbps 1000Mbps
DOWNLOADUPLOAD
24 bitcomau
Might include priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratioCons Speed depends on distance from telephone exchange Upload speed much slower than downloads Two telephone lines neededRecommended Homesmall office that needs faster speeds than ADSL2+ or canrsquot get fast enough ADSL2+ speeds because of distance from telephone exchange Where having the same uploaddownload speed isnrsquot necessary
SHDSLSpeed Up to 46Mbps download up to 46Mbps uploadPros Same upload and download speeds Speeds are guaranteed Usually includes priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratioCons More expensive than ADSL2+ Download speeds offered often slower than theoretical ADSL2+ peak speedsRecommende Office that needs faster speeds than ADSL2+ especially where upload speed is crucial for videoconferencing regularly sending large files multiple Voice over IP telephone lines or connecting several offices Where fibre isnrsquot available Where consistent speed is critical
ETHERNET OVER COPPER(MIDBAND ETHERNET)Speed Up to 40Mbps download up to 40Mbps upload (by combining copper lines)Pros Same upload and download speeds Much faster upload speeds than ADSL2+ available Usually includes priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratio Cheaper overall than fibreCons More expensive than ADSL2+Recommended Office with many people at the same time regularly sending large files videoconferencing backup hosted applications VPN using VOIP or connecting to servers in other offices Where fibre isnrsquot available or is too expensive
ETHERNET OVER FIBRESpeed Up to 1000Mbps download up to 1000 Mbps uploadPros Same upload and download speeds Much faster speeds available than other services Usually includes priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratioCons Generally the most expensive option ndash can cost several thousand dollars a month Limited availabilityRecommended Large offices with many people at the same time regularly sending large
Latency Sometimes
refers to the delay between sending data and receiving a response Higher latency is a disadvantage when using certain applications like video-conferencing Latency is generally higher on satellite and wireless networks such as 3G although 4G has a theoretical lower latency than 3G
25bitcomau
OPTIONS
files videoconferencing backup hosted applications VPN using VOIP or connecting to servers in other offices Where a reliable connection and consistent very high speed is critical for day to day operations
NBN (FIBRE)Speed Up to 100MBps download up to 40Mbps upload (fastest plans available at time of writing Faster speeds theoretically possible in future)Pros Much faster speeds available than ADSL2+ including much faster upload speeds Provides minimum peak speeds unlike ADSL2+ More reliable than ADSL Business plans can include priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) (though residential NBN plans might not include this) Generally much cheaper than other business services with comparable speedsCons Very limited availability at time of writingRecommended Where several users need to senddownload large files videoconference backup use hosted applications VPN use VOIP or connect to servers in other offices at the same time Where a reliable connection and consistent speeds are critical Where much faster downloadupload speeds than ADSL2+ are important
NBN (FIXED WIRELESS)Speed Minimum 12Mbps download up to 1Mbps upload (Faster speeds planned)Pros Unlike mobile 4G and 3G networks ldquorelatively steadyrdquo speeds are promisedCons Very limited availability at time of writing Upload speeds much slower than download Top download speed currently much slower than NBN fibre and some other business servicesRecommended Where ADSL2+ isnrsquot available or is unreliable or slow For home office or small office where very high downloadupload speeds arenrsquot critical
NBN (SATELLITE)Speed Up to 6Mbps download up to 1Mbps upload (12Mbps download speeds planned for 2015)Pros Better speeds than some locations could otherwise getCons Top download speed relatively slow compared to NBN fibre and theoretical peak ADSL2+ download speed Upload speed much slower than download speed Higher latency than fixed line services Generally smaller download limits than ADSL2+ and fibreRecommended Locations that donrsquot have access to other broadband Where fast upload speeds arenrsquot needed Where latency-sensitive applications like VPNs arenrsquot required
26 bitcomau
My BookmarksFor more information on the best NBN plans and more click these links
Show me when I am getting connected
General NBN info
Show me all the NBN providers
Tell me if I can get NBN satellite
Give me more info on fibre NBN
I want more info on wireless NBN
I want more info about
the NBN fibre termination unit
Show me all the towns on
the current NBN rollout plan
Show me the NBN FAQ
27bitcomau
MORE INFO
Show me the best plans
Tell me about finding
a registered cabler
I want to try videoconferencing
Show me a list of cablers
I want Microsoft to host my servers
for me
Show me more about
getting connected
I want to read what users are
saying about Internet
providers
I want a web site
Help me make better
use of the NBN for
my business
Teach me about
online marketing
I want Google to
host my servers for me
28 bitcomau
The tech-talk in plain English
AnnexMrsaquorsaquo An add-on feature that some ADSL Internet providers offer to increase the speed of uploads iiNet for example says that customers will get a theoretical maximum upload speed of 275Mbps
ATArsaquorsaquo If you want to use a VOIP telephone service and donrsquot have a suitable VOIP router your VOIP provider can provide this adapter which you plug your telephone into
BondedDSLrsaquorsaquo By combining several phone lines higher broadband speeds are possible Unlike SHDSL upload speeds are still a lot slower than download speeds
Brownfieldrsaquorsaquo Premises that have already been built The focus is on connecting brownfields in regional areas to the NBN first so people currently with the worst broadband get it first
Businessgradebroadbandrsaquorsaquo Can cost more than home broadband but can include guaranteed uptime service agreements and sometimes your
data will travel over a separate network meaning less traffic congestion
Cat6rsaquorsaquo Category 6 cables are recommended for Gigabit Ethernet speeds in an office network
Cloudrsaquorsaquo Instead of buying and installing software on your own businessrsquos server a cloud company owns and runs the server hardware and software ndash you pay to access it over the Internet Examples include Microsoft Office 365 Salesforce Gmail and Dropbox
Contentionratiorsaquorsaquo A term used to indicate how many users have to share the same bandwidth Generally the lower the contention ratio the better Business grade broadband can sometimes have better contention ratios than home broadband
Copperrsaquorsaquo The public telephone lines also used for broadband services like ADSL SHDSL and Midband Ethernet Data services over copper reduce in speed the further your building is from your local telephone exchange
Dualbandwirelessrsaquorsaquo Dual band wireless routers can use two frequency bands (24GHz and 5GHz) to send and receive data unlike some wireless routers which can only use 24GHz This Brownfield
29bitcomau
JARGON BUSTER
can mean faster speeds but the tablet phone or laptop you are using needs to work on 5GHz or you wonrsquot see any difference
Ethernetrsaquorsaquo A network protocol often used for networks inside your building but can also be used for data services delivered over copper telephone lines or optical fibre cable Ethernet broadband services generally have same uploaddownload as opposed to ADSL
Exchangersaquorsaquo Can refer to Microsoft Exchange software which runs on a companyrsquos server and operates their company email or a telephone exchange
FSAMrsaquorsaquo A group of up to 3000 buildings connected to the NBN
GigabitEthernetrsaquorsaquo If you are using Ethernet cable to network your office Gigabit Ethernet will provide faster speeds (1Gbps) than Fast Ethernet (100Mbps)
Greenfieldrsaquorsaquo New housing developments Many of these streets will receive the NBN before Brownfield locations as they will be connected on a demand-driven basis Developers apply to have the NBN connected in their development
HostedITrsaquorsaquo Instead of buying and installing IT equipment yourself you can use another companyrsquos servers This can
include servers to run your email and website as well as hosted applications that users access over the network You can also hire a ldquomanaged service providerrdquo to setup and run your own IT
Latencyrsaquorsaquo Sometimes refers to the delay between sending data and receiving a response Higher latency is a disadvantage when using certain applications like videoconferencing Latency is generally higher on satellite and wireless networks such as 3G although 4G has a theoretical lower latency than 3G
LTErsaquorsaquo Higher speed wireless broadband used in the latest generation of smartphones and if you are getting the NBN via fixed wireless Much faster speeds than ADSL are possible but latency is much higher than optical fibre cable meaning itrsquos not suitable for videoconferencing Sometimes referred to as ldquo4Grdquo
Continued over page
Greenfield
LTE
WirelessRouter
30 bitcomau
MidbandEthernetrsaquorsaquo Provides up to 40Mbps over multiple copper lines Unlike ADSL you get the same upload and download speed but cost is usually several hundred dollars a month
NTDrsaquorsaquo Network Termination Device This is supplied free and is attached to a wall inside your building It takes the place of a modem when you get the NBN This is the box your router and phones will plug in to
Paymentgatewayrsaquorsaquo Used if you want to let customers buy products from your website When a customer buys a product on your website the transaction is sent to a third party the payment gateway which authorises the payment with the bank
PCDrsaquorsaquo Premises Connection Device This is a small box that is attached to an outside wall of your building when you are connected to the NBN via fibre cable The NBN fibre cable runs through this box to the inside of your building where it connects to the NTD
Powerlinenetworkrsaquorsaquo If a wireless router isnrsquot enough to spread your Internet connection
around your business (due to brick walls or multiple stories) and having Ethernet cables installed is too difficult another option is a powerline network An adaptor is plugged into each power point and data can be sent through the buildingrsquos internal wiring
PSTNrsaquorsaquo The public switched telephone network The copper network your analogue telephone connects to
RSPrsaquorsaquo Retail Service Provider Another name for an Internet provider such as Telstra Optus iiNet or Internode Once your building is connected you can contact an RSP to pay for an Internet plan and start using the NBN
Serverrsaquorsaquo A central computer that other computers on a network connect to A server might be in your own building providing a central location so all your staff can access the same files from their computers or an Internet server to which you connect to to access web sites or other services
SHDSLrsaquorsaquo Unlike ADSL SHDSL provides the same upload and download speeds Speeds up to 40Mbps are available by combining several phone lines in the form of Extreme SHDSL
SIPrsaquorsaquo A protocol used in devices for delivering multiple VOIP telephone calls at once
PCD
NTD
PCD
31bitcomau
JARGON BUSTER
SLArsaquorsaquo business-grade broadband contracts can include a Service Level Agreement ndash the provider commits to providing a certain level of service (995 Internet uptime for example)
Synchronousrsaquorsaquo The same upload and download speeds Midband Ethernet and SHDSL are synchronous but ADSL services are not meaning upload speeds are much slower than download speeds
UNI-Vportrsaquorsaquo A port on the NBN network termination device (NTD) where you plug in a telephone Alternatively if you use a VOIP telephone service your telephone can be plugged into a wireless router with a VOIP feature which then plugs into the data port on the NTD
Batterybackupunitrsaquorsaquo A separate box supplied free with your NBN connection that is installed alongside the NTD on a wall inside your building This unit lets you continue to make telephone calls during a blackout if you are using an analogue phone running through the UNI-V port
Uploadspeedrsaquorsaquo If you use applications that send data such as videoconferencing and sending large email attachments as opposed to downloading large files and watching videos then look for an Internet service with higher upload speeds
UPSrsaquorsaquo Uninterruptible Power Supply A device that plugs into your server or computer so that it can continue to run if the main power supply stops
VOIPrsaquorsaquo Voice over IP Unlike regular telephone services VOIP telephone calls are converted to data and travel over data networks Call rates can be much cheaper though call quality can suffer if your VOIP service and your broadband connection arenrsquot suitable
VPNrsaquorsaquo A secure way to upload and download files to and from your officersquos internal network drives and servers when you are not in the office (eg at a hotel or from another office)
WANrsaquorsaquo Wide Area Network Offices in different towns or cities can be connected via the same WAN
Wirelessextenderrsaquorsaquo If you already have a wireless router this is a separate device which plugs into a power point and extends the range of the signal
WirelessNrsaquorsaquo Compatible routers are recommended for spreading your Internet connection around your office wirelessly Will be superseded by the faster 80211ac standard but there are not currently many compatible laptops and devices that will connect at 80211ac speeds
Batterybackupunit
UNI-Vport
WirelessRouter
28bitcomau
Their small businesses have the technology edgeDoes yoursSometimes you can be so busy that keeping up with technology seems too much What you really want to know is what it can do for your business BIT will keep you up to date with the technology that can help you do your job and grow your business ndash whether you are a florist a plumber an accountant or any type of Australian small business
B U S I N E S S I T
Make technology work for your business
Click to return to
Bit
- 001
- 002-003
- 004-009
- 010-011
- 012-017
- 018-019
- 020-025
- 026-027
- 028-031
- 032
-
15bitcomau
OFFICE READY
The NBN Box comes with four data ports The battery backup
unit (not shown)will not power these ports in a blackout only the voice ports
[B]
You can request a voice service to be delivered through
these UNI-V voice ports Your corded telephone will plug straight in
[C]
This is where the incoming NBN fibre connects[A]
NBN Network Termination Device (NTD)PRICE FREE SUPPLIER NBN CO
16 bitcomau
2 INSIDE MY OFFICEHow will your computers desk phones and other devices connect to the NBN boxOnce the NBN is installed in your building and yoursquove signed up with your Internet provider for an NBN Internet plan yoursquoll need to connect your computers to the NBN box
If you have more than one computer one way of doing this is to connect them via Wi-Fi to a
wireless router you plug into the NBN box If all you need to do is browse the web send email
send documents and watch the occasional video then this might be ok If you are sending and
receiving a lot of very big files though or you need to regularly watch high definition video or backup large amounts of data using the NBN then therersquos
the possibility Wi-Fi might slow things down
WIRELESSROUTER[1]
Another option is to connect all your computers to the NBN box with network cable This will give you the fastest throughput from the NBN box to your computers Wersquore not about to go out on a limb and suggest everyone start planning when to get their floorboards ripped up for cabling though Not only is it an extra expense running cables throughout your building isnrsquot a simple job
NETWORKCABLE[2]
17bitcomau
OFFICE READY
Powerline networking is another option You plug network ports to the power points in your house The system uses the electricity wiring instead of network cables It should give you a better connection than Wi-Fi
WARNINGOne big surprise is that yoursquore not to install any data cabling yourself if it connects to the telecoms network A licensed professional is supposed to do the job badly installed network cable can result in slow speed dropouts or in extreme cases injury And while there might be electricians with excellent data expertise itrsquos a different set of skills and theyrsquore not always the best choice If in doubt ask for their registration card or check with the registrar yourself The ACMA web site has a fact sheet
POWERLINENETWORKING[3]
3 CHOOSING MY ROUTERWORDS JOHN GILLOOLY
Once you have the NBN you need a router to spread the Internet to each computer in your building
You might see lsquoNBN readyrsquo modem routers for sale ndash this means that the ADSL modem can be disabled once you get the NBN (because the NBN box takes care of that function) But these routers might be designed for low ADSL speeds and may not actually cope with the demands of the highest NBN speeds of 100Mbit download 40Mbit upload If your NBN plan isnrsquot that fast your router might cope ok but it is best to think of any lsquoNBN Readyrsquo ADSL modemrouter as a temporary solution We suggest looking for
Routers that can cope with sustained high-speed transfers We like ASUSrsquo RT-N56U the FritzBox Fon WLAN 7390 and Netgearrsquos DGND3700 N600
If yoursquore using Wi-Fi a dual band wireless router (these will work at the 5GHz band) is ideal but your Wi-Fi devices must be compatible
80211ac wireless routers will work better with Wi-Fi devices and have the fastest technology on the market but arenrsquot a must-have yet
If you have network cable installed a Gigabit Ethernet router is ideal
Want more Click to see photos of common wiring mistakes
Fritzbox Fon WLAN 7390
18 bitcomau
Tips and advice from real NBN usersWORDS WILLIAM MAHER
TOP
1 PLAN AHEAD
Itrsquos generally a good idea to have the NBN termination unit installed as close to your computers and router as possible ndash everything that connects to the Internet will need to connect to it This might cost extra
2 GET HERITAGE CLEARANCE
Installation will likely involve holes being drilled in your wall to attach equipment feeds to the cable If you work in a heritage building then this might not be allowed
4 DONrsquoT EXPECT THE INTERNET TO BE PERFECT ALL THE TIME
Yes despite all the hype some NBN users have told us that web browsing
on the NBN is sometimes not noticeably any faster than ADSL Your connection might be fast but web servers on the other side of the world can still struggle to cope with congestion On the upside it should cope much
better with several users uploads should be faster and it should be
less prone to dropouts
3 DONrsquoT RUSH IN
Just because your building gets connected doesnrsquot mean you have to start using the NBN straight away Generally the plan is for the copper telephone lines to be kept for 18 months after the NBN is rolled out before being disconnected Where the NBN is delivered by wireless or satellite telephone lines wonrsquot be disconnected for at least 10 years
19bitcomau
NEED TO KNOW
7 BE WARY OF CHEAP ROUTERS
Your router will need to be able to cope with NBN speeds as well as be able to spread the data around your building fast enough If it doesnrsquot have gigabit Ethernet (for wired networks) or dual band wireless (for wireless networks) you might want to think about upgrading See page 19
9 GET A BACKUP POWER SUPPLY
Even if you have a battery backup box supplied with the NBN connection it wonrsquot keep your Internet running during a blackout only your phone If data access is critical to your business even during a blackout get an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) for a few hundred dollars
8 COMPARE VOICE PLANS
The Internet provider you have a data plan with might give you a better deal on a UNI-V phone service than other providers But call rates might be cheaper on a phone plan through the UNI-D ports
6 REWIRE YOUR PHONES
If you have lots of phone extensions in different rooms itrsquos still possible to keep using them for phone calls but the wiring will need to be connected to the NBN box An alternative is to connect a cordless phone base station to the NBN box
10 WATCH FOR BOTTLENECKS
Wersquove heard stories of people complaining that the NBN isnrsquot any faster but in the end something on their network was limiting the speed ndash like a wireless router that was affected by interference Remember that your own network can cause problems if itrsquos not set up correctly Bad cabling can also cause problems
5 CHECK YOU HAVE ENOUGH PHONE PORTS
The NBN termination unit has two phone ports If you need more phone lines once the copper telephone lines are disconnected consider switching to a VOIP telephone plan This gives you lots of ldquovirtualrdquo lines which run through the data ports instead
20 bitcomau
o you donrsquot want to wait for the NBN to arrive You need faster
more reliable Internet now On these pages wersquove listed ways you can get it without waiting for the NBN
The cheapest broadband is a home plan and they can provide relatively fast speeds if you only have one or two computers But if your business has grown or you want to connect a small office full of people business-grade broadband might serve you better
Generally business-grade services cost more ndash anywhere from around the $100-a-month mark up to $1000 or more
Yes the more expensive services can be much faster than a home ADSL service but download speeds are only one benefit
Other benefits of a business data service might include
A commitment that the connection will be working for a certain amount of time Eg ldquo9995 uptimerdquo
Fewer customers to share the bandwidth with This means your connection is less likely to slow down when lots of other businesses are using the network too
Faster upload speeds than home ADSL Very important to prevent your connection slowing down if you have several people sending large files at the same time Upload speeds are very limited on home ADSL services
Some services include 24x7 technical support
NBN plans are generally shaping up to be good value compared to what you see on the following pages but not everyone wants to wait
What if I donrsquot have the NBN yetEven if the roll-out hasnrsquot reached your area yet there are still several other options to get better Internet performance nowWORDS WILLIAM MAHER
SSLA
A Service Level Agreement is offered with many business data plans It sets out formal responsibilities of the service provider covering things like how fast they should respond to you if there is a problem what hours of the day technical support is available a commitment that problems will be fixed within a certain number of hours and that the service will be running without problems for a certain amount of time
21bitcomau
OPTIONS
HOME ADSL2+Speed Up to 24Mbps download 1Mbps upload (theoretical peak speeds actual speeds will be slower)Pros Relatively cheap compared to business servicesCons Speed depends on distance from telephone exchange Slow upload speed Shared with other usersRecommended Home office 1-2 computers where upload speeds arenrsquot critical where consistent speed isnrsquot critical for day-to-day operations
HOME ADSL2+ WITH ANNEX MSpeed Up to 24Mbps download up to 25Mbps upload (theoretical peak speeds Actual speeds will be slower)Pros Relatively cheap compared to business services Faster upload speed than regular ADSL2+Cons Speed depends on distance from telephone exchange Shared with other usersRecommended Home office 1-2 computers where faster upload speeds are useful but not critical where consistent speed isnrsquot critical for day-to-day operations
CABLE INTERNETSpeed Up to 100Mbps download up to 2Mbps upload (theoretical peak speeds Actual
speeds will be slower)Pros Relatively cheap compared to business services Much faster potential download speeds than ADSL2+Cons Limited to certain cities upload speeds much slower than download shared with other usersRecommended Home office 1-2 computers where faster download speeds than ADSL2+ are needed where fast upload speeds are not necessary where consistent speed isnrsquot critical for day-to-day operations
WIRELESS 3G Speed ldquoTypicalrdquo speeds up to 20Mbps download up to 3Mbps upload (actual speeds could be much slower speed depends on network type)Pros You can use it on the moveCons Speed varies a lot depending on where you are Speed decreases as more users share network Latency generally higher than ADSL Upload speeds much lower than downloadRecommended Secondary connection for accessing email and websites while on the move and where fast upload speeds are not required Where a reliable connection and consistent speed isnrsquot important
WIRELESS 4GSpeed ldquoTypicalrdquo speeds up
22 bitcomau
to 40MBps download up to 10Mbps upload (actual speeds could be much slower)Pros You can use it on the move Higher upload speeds than ADSL2+ and 3G are possibleCons Speed varies a lot depending on where you are Speed decreases as more users share network Theoretical upload speeds slower than download (though not always the case in practice) Limited to Telstra and Optus at time of writing
Recommended Secondary connection while on the move and where faster upload speeds than 3G are required for transferring large files For connecting several gadgets (tablet and laptop) to the Internet at the same time Where a reliable connection and consistent speed isnrsquot important
BUSINESS ADSL2+Speed up to 24Mbps download up to 25Mbps upload
DATA SPEED COMPARISON DOWNLOADSUPLOADS
0Mbps 10Mbps 20Mbps 30Mbps 40Mbps 50Mbps 100Mbps 1000Mbps
HOME ADSL2+
HOME ADSL2+ WITH ANNEX M
CABLE INTERNET
WIRELESS 3G (PEAK ldquoTYPICALrdquo SPEED)
WIRELESS 4G (PEAK ldquoTYPICALrdquo SPEED)
BUSINESS ADSL2+
BONDED DSL
SHDSL
ETHERNET OVER COPPER
ETHERNET OVER FIBRE
NBN (FIBRE)
NBN (FIXED WIRELESS)
NBN (SATELLITE)
23bitcomau
OPTIONS
with Annex M (theoretical peak speeds Actual speeds will be slower)Pros Relatively cheap compared to other business broadband services Might include priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratioCons Speed depends on distance from telephone exchange Upload speed much slower than downloadRecommended Home office 1-3 computers where upload
speeds arenrsquot critical where consistent speed isnrsquot critical for day-to-day operations
BONDED DSLSpeed Typical speeds up to 30Mbps download up to 26Mbps upload with Annex M (by combining copper lines) (actual speeds could be slower)Pros Faster speeds than ADSL2+ possible Relatively cheap compared to other business broadband services
Please note The information on these pages is intended to be a general guide only Exact speeds and other factors can differ between providers Check these details with your provider before purchasing a data service Unless otherwise noted we have quoted maximum potential speeds real life speeds can be significantly slower (especially for wireless and ADSL) and maximum potential speeds can vary according to which technology variant your network uses Note For wireless 3G and 4G we have followed the lead of carriers and quoted the maximum ldquotypicalrdquo speed you are likely to achieve not the maximum theoretical speed
Some of these services will not be available at a certain point after the NBN is connected in your area For example in areas where fibre cable is installed to connect customers to the NBN copper telephone lines will be decommissioned 18 months after the fibre is connected HFC (cable Internet) networks are also expected to be decommissioned in each area once the NBN is rolled out
0Mbps 10Mbps 20Mbps 30Mbps 40Mbps 50Mbps 100Mbps 1000Mbps
DOWNLOADUPLOAD
24 bitcomau
Might include priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratioCons Speed depends on distance from telephone exchange Upload speed much slower than downloads Two telephone lines neededRecommended Homesmall office that needs faster speeds than ADSL2+ or canrsquot get fast enough ADSL2+ speeds because of distance from telephone exchange Where having the same uploaddownload speed isnrsquot necessary
SHDSLSpeed Up to 46Mbps download up to 46Mbps uploadPros Same upload and download speeds Speeds are guaranteed Usually includes priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratioCons More expensive than ADSL2+ Download speeds offered often slower than theoretical ADSL2+ peak speedsRecommende Office that needs faster speeds than ADSL2+ especially where upload speed is crucial for videoconferencing regularly sending large files multiple Voice over IP telephone lines or connecting several offices Where fibre isnrsquot available Where consistent speed is critical
ETHERNET OVER COPPER(MIDBAND ETHERNET)Speed Up to 40Mbps download up to 40Mbps upload (by combining copper lines)Pros Same upload and download speeds Much faster upload speeds than ADSL2+ available Usually includes priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratio Cheaper overall than fibreCons More expensive than ADSL2+Recommended Office with many people at the same time regularly sending large files videoconferencing backup hosted applications VPN using VOIP or connecting to servers in other offices Where fibre isnrsquot available or is too expensive
ETHERNET OVER FIBRESpeed Up to 1000Mbps download up to 1000 Mbps uploadPros Same upload and download speeds Much faster speeds available than other services Usually includes priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratioCons Generally the most expensive option ndash can cost several thousand dollars a month Limited availabilityRecommended Large offices with many people at the same time regularly sending large
Latency Sometimes
refers to the delay between sending data and receiving a response Higher latency is a disadvantage when using certain applications like video-conferencing Latency is generally higher on satellite and wireless networks such as 3G although 4G has a theoretical lower latency than 3G
25bitcomau
OPTIONS
files videoconferencing backup hosted applications VPN using VOIP or connecting to servers in other offices Where a reliable connection and consistent very high speed is critical for day to day operations
NBN (FIBRE)Speed Up to 100MBps download up to 40Mbps upload (fastest plans available at time of writing Faster speeds theoretically possible in future)Pros Much faster speeds available than ADSL2+ including much faster upload speeds Provides minimum peak speeds unlike ADSL2+ More reliable than ADSL Business plans can include priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) (though residential NBN plans might not include this) Generally much cheaper than other business services with comparable speedsCons Very limited availability at time of writingRecommended Where several users need to senddownload large files videoconference backup use hosted applications VPN use VOIP or connect to servers in other offices at the same time Where a reliable connection and consistent speeds are critical Where much faster downloadupload speeds than ADSL2+ are important
NBN (FIXED WIRELESS)Speed Minimum 12Mbps download up to 1Mbps upload (Faster speeds planned)Pros Unlike mobile 4G and 3G networks ldquorelatively steadyrdquo speeds are promisedCons Very limited availability at time of writing Upload speeds much slower than download Top download speed currently much slower than NBN fibre and some other business servicesRecommended Where ADSL2+ isnrsquot available or is unreliable or slow For home office or small office where very high downloadupload speeds arenrsquot critical
NBN (SATELLITE)Speed Up to 6Mbps download up to 1Mbps upload (12Mbps download speeds planned for 2015)Pros Better speeds than some locations could otherwise getCons Top download speed relatively slow compared to NBN fibre and theoretical peak ADSL2+ download speed Upload speed much slower than download speed Higher latency than fixed line services Generally smaller download limits than ADSL2+ and fibreRecommended Locations that donrsquot have access to other broadband Where fast upload speeds arenrsquot needed Where latency-sensitive applications like VPNs arenrsquot required
26 bitcomau
My BookmarksFor more information on the best NBN plans and more click these links
Show me when I am getting connected
General NBN info
Show me all the NBN providers
Tell me if I can get NBN satellite
Give me more info on fibre NBN
I want more info on wireless NBN
I want more info about
the NBN fibre termination unit
Show me all the towns on
the current NBN rollout plan
Show me the NBN FAQ
27bitcomau
MORE INFO
Show me the best plans
Tell me about finding
a registered cabler
I want to try videoconferencing
Show me a list of cablers
I want Microsoft to host my servers
for me
Show me more about
getting connected
I want to read what users are
saying about Internet
providers
I want a web site
Help me make better
use of the NBN for
my business
Teach me about
online marketing
I want Google to
host my servers for me
28 bitcomau
The tech-talk in plain English
AnnexMrsaquorsaquo An add-on feature that some ADSL Internet providers offer to increase the speed of uploads iiNet for example says that customers will get a theoretical maximum upload speed of 275Mbps
ATArsaquorsaquo If you want to use a VOIP telephone service and donrsquot have a suitable VOIP router your VOIP provider can provide this adapter which you plug your telephone into
BondedDSLrsaquorsaquo By combining several phone lines higher broadband speeds are possible Unlike SHDSL upload speeds are still a lot slower than download speeds
Brownfieldrsaquorsaquo Premises that have already been built The focus is on connecting brownfields in regional areas to the NBN first so people currently with the worst broadband get it first
Businessgradebroadbandrsaquorsaquo Can cost more than home broadband but can include guaranteed uptime service agreements and sometimes your
data will travel over a separate network meaning less traffic congestion
Cat6rsaquorsaquo Category 6 cables are recommended for Gigabit Ethernet speeds in an office network
Cloudrsaquorsaquo Instead of buying and installing software on your own businessrsquos server a cloud company owns and runs the server hardware and software ndash you pay to access it over the Internet Examples include Microsoft Office 365 Salesforce Gmail and Dropbox
Contentionratiorsaquorsaquo A term used to indicate how many users have to share the same bandwidth Generally the lower the contention ratio the better Business grade broadband can sometimes have better contention ratios than home broadband
Copperrsaquorsaquo The public telephone lines also used for broadband services like ADSL SHDSL and Midband Ethernet Data services over copper reduce in speed the further your building is from your local telephone exchange
Dualbandwirelessrsaquorsaquo Dual band wireless routers can use two frequency bands (24GHz and 5GHz) to send and receive data unlike some wireless routers which can only use 24GHz This Brownfield
29bitcomau
JARGON BUSTER
can mean faster speeds but the tablet phone or laptop you are using needs to work on 5GHz or you wonrsquot see any difference
Ethernetrsaquorsaquo A network protocol often used for networks inside your building but can also be used for data services delivered over copper telephone lines or optical fibre cable Ethernet broadband services generally have same uploaddownload as opposed to ADSL
Exchangersaquorsaquo Can refer to Microsoft Exchange software which runs on a companyrsquos server and operates their company email or a telephone exchange
FSAMrsaquorsaquo A group of up to 3000 buildings connected to the NBN
GigabitEthernetrsaquorsaquo If you are using Ethernet cable to network your office Gigabit Ethernet will provide faster speeds (1Gbps) than Fast Ethernet (100Mbps)
Greenfieldrsaquorsaquo New housing developments Many of these streets will receive the NBN before Brownfield locations as they will be connected on a demand-driven basis Developers apply to have the NBN connected in their development
HostedITrsaquorsaquo Instead of buying and installing IT equipment yourself you can use another companyrsquos servers This can
include servers to run your email and website as well as hosted applications that users access over the network You can also hire a ldquomanaged service providerrdquo to setup and run your own IT
Latencyrsaquorsaquo Sometimes refers to the delay between sending data and receiving a response Higher latency is a disadvantage when using certain applications like videoconferencing Latency is generally higher on satellite and wireless networks such as 3G although 4G has a theoretical lower latency than 3G
LTErsaquorsaquo Higher speed wireless broadband used in the latest generation of smartphones and if you are getting the NBN via fixed wireless Much faster speeds than ADSL are possible but latency is much higher than optical fibre cable meaning itrsquos not suitable for videoconferencing Sometimes referred to as ldquo4Grdquo
Continued over page
Greenfield
LTE
WirelessRouter
30 bitcomau
MidbandEthernetrsaquorsaquo Provides up to 40Mbps over multiple copper lines Unlike ADSL you get the same upload and download speed but cost is usually several hundred dollars a month
NTDrsaquorsaquo Network Termination Device This is supplied free and is attached to a wall inside your building It takes the place of a modem when you get the NBN This is the box your router and phones will plug in to
Paymentgatewayrsaquorsaquo Used if you want to let customers buy products from your website When a customer buys a product on your website the transaction is sent to a third party the payment gateway which authorises the payment with the bank
PCDrsaquorsaquo Premises Connection Device This is a small box that is attached to an outside wall of your building when you are connected to the NBN via fibre cable The NBN fibre cable runs through this box to the inside of your building where it connects to the NTD
Powerlinenetworkrsaquorsaquo If a wireless router isnrsquot enough to spread your Internet connection
around your business (due to brick walls or multiple stories) and having Ethernet cables installed is too difficult another option is a powerline network An adaptor is plugged into each power point and data can be sent through the buildingrsquos internal wiring
PSTNrsaquorsaquo The public switched telephone network The copper network your analogue telephone connects to
RSPrsaquorsaquo Retail Service Provider Another name for an Internet provider such as Telstra Optus iiNet or Internode Once your building is connected you can contact an RSP to pay for an Internet plan and start using the NBN
Serverrsaquorsaquo A central computer that other computers on a network connect to A server might be in your own building providing a central location so all your staff can access the same files from their computers or an Internet server to which you connect to to access web sites or other services
SHDSLrsaquorsaquo Unlike ADSL SHDSL provides the same upload and download speeds Speeds up to 40Mbps are available by combining several phone lines in the form of Extreme SHDSL
SIPrsaquorsaquo A protocol used in devices for delivering multiple VOIP telephone calls at once
PCD
NTD
PCD
31bitcomau
JARGON BUSTER
SLArsaquorsaquo business-grade broadband contracts can include a Service Level Agreement ndash the provider commits to providing a certain level of service (995 Internet uptime for example)
Synchronousrsaquorsaquo The same upload and download speeds Midband Ethernet and SHDSL are synchronous but ADSL services are not meaning upload speeds are much slower than download speeds
UNI-Vportrsaquorsaquo A port on the NBN network termination device (NTD) where you plug in a telephone Alternatively if you use a VOIP telephone service your telephone can be plugged into a wireless router with a VOIP feature which then plugs into the data port on the NTD
Batterybackupunitrsaquorsaquo A separate box supplied free with your NBN connection that is installed alongside the NTD on a wall inside your building This unit lets you continue to make telephone calls during a blackout if you are using an analogue phone running through the UNI-V port
Uploadspeedrsaquorsaquo If you use applications that send data such as videoconferencing and sending large email attachments as opposed to downloading large files and watching videos then look for an Internet service with higher upload speeds
UPSrsaquorsaquo Uninterruptible Power Supply A device that plugs into your server or computer so that it can continue to run if the main power supply stops
VOIPrsaquorsaquo Voice over IP Unlike regular telephone services VOIP telephone calls are converted to data and travel over data networks Call rates can be much cheaper though call quality can suffer if your VOIP service and your broadband connection arenrsquot suitable
VPNrsaquorsaquo A secure way to upload and download files to and from your officersquos internal network drives and servers when you are not in the office (eg at a hotel or from another office)
WANrsaquorsaquo Wide Area Network Offices in different towns or cities can be connected via the same WAN
Wirelessextenderrsaquorsaquo If you already have a wireless router this is a separate device which plugs into a power point and extends the range of the signal
WirelessNrsaquorsaquo Compatible routers are recommended for spreading your Internet connection around your office wirelessly Will be superseded by the faster 80211ac standard but there are not currently many compatible laptops and devices that will connect at 80211ac speeds
Batterybackupunit
UNI-Vport
WirelessRouter
28bitcomau
Their small businesses have the technology edgeDoes yoursSometimes you can be so busy that keeping up with technology seems too much What you really want to know is what it can do for your business BIT will keep you up to date with the technology that can help you do your job and grow your business ndash whether you are a florist a plumber an accountant or any type of Australian small business
B U S I N E S S I T
Make technology work for your business
Click to return to
Bit
- 001
- 002-003
- 004-009
- 010-011
- 012-017
- 018-019
- 020-025
- 026-027
- 028-031
- 032
-
16 bitcomau
2 INSIDE MY OFFICEHow will your computers desk phones and other devices connect to the NBN boxOnce the NBN is installed in your building and yoursquove signed up with your Internet provider for an NBN Internet plan yoursquoll need to connect your computers to the NBN box
If you have more than one computer one way of doing this is to connect them via Wi-Fi to a
wireless router you plug into the NBN box If all you need to do is browse the web send email
send documents and watch the occasional video then this might be ok If you are sending and
receiving a lot of very big files though or you need to regularly watch high definition video or backup large amounts of data using the NBN then therersquos
the possibility Wi-Fi might slow things down
WIRELESSROUTER[1]
Another option is to connect all your computers to the NBN box with network cable This will give you the fastest throughput from the NBN box to your computers Wersquore not about to go out on a limb and suggest everyone start planning when to get their floorboards ripped up for cabling though Not only is it an extra expense running cables throughout your building isnrsquot a simple job
NETWORKCABLE[2]
17bitcomau
OFFICE READY
Powerline networking is another option You plug network ports to the power points in your house The system uses the electricity wiring instead of network cables It should give you a better connection than Wi-Fi
WARNINGOne big surprise is that yoursquore not to install any data cabling yourself if it connects to the telecoms network A licensed professional is supposed to do the job badly installed network cable can result in slow speed dropouts or in extreme cases injury And while there might be electricians with excellent data expertise itrsquos a different set of skills and theyrsquore not always the best choice If in doubt ask for their registration card or check with the registrar yourself The ACMA web site has a fact sheet
POWERLINENETWORKING[3]
3 CHOOSING MY ROUTERWORDS JOHN GILLOOLY
Once you have the NBN you need a router to spread the Internet to each computer in your building
You might see lsquoNBN readyrsquo modem routers for sale ndash this means that the ADSL modem can be disabled once you get the NBN (because the NBN box takes care of that function) But these routers might be designed for low ADSL speeds and may not actually cope with the demands of the highest NBN speeds of 100Mbit download 40Mbit upload If your NBN plan isnrsquot that fast your router might cope ok but it is best to think of any lsquoNBN Readyrsquo ADSL modemrouter as a temporary solution We suggest looking for
Routers that can cope with sustained high-speed transfers We like ASUSrsquo RT-N56U the FritzBox Fon WLAN 7390 and Netgearrsquos DGND3700 N600
If yoursquore using Wi-Fi a dual band wireless router (these will work at the 5GHz band) is ideal but your Wi-Fi devices must be compatible
80211ac wireless routers will work better with Wi-Fi devices and have the fastest technology on the market but arenrsquot a must-have yet
If you have network cable installed a Gigabit Ethernet router is ideal
Want more Click to see photos of common wiring mistakes
Fritzbox Fon WLAN 7390
18 bitcomau
Tips and advice from real NBN usersWORDS WILLIAM MAHER
TOP
1 PLAN AHEAD
Itrsquos generally a good idea to have the NBN termination unit installed as close to your computers and router as possible ndash everything that connects to the Internet will need to connect to it This might cost extra
2 GET HERITAGE CLEARANCE
Installation will likely involve holes being drilled in your wall to attach equipment feeds to the cable If you work in a heritage building then this might not be allowed
4 DONrsquoT EXPECT THE INTERNET TO BE PERFECT ALL THE TIME
Yes despite all the hype some NBN users have told us that web browsing
on the NBN is sometimes not noticeably any faster than ADSL Your connection might be fast but web servers on the other side of the world can still struggle to cope with congestion On the upside it should cope much
better with several users uploads should be faster and it should be
less prone to dropouts
3 DONrsquoT RUSH IN
Just because your building gets connected doesnrsquot mean you have to start using the NBN straight away Generally the plan is for the copper telephone lines to be kept for 18 months after the NBN is rolled out before being disconnected Where the NBN is delivered by wireless or satellite telephone lines wonrsquot be disconnected for at least 10 years
19bitcomau
NEED TO KNOW
7 BE WARY OF CHEAP ROUTERS
Your router will need to be able to cope with NBN speeds as well as be able to spread the data around your building fast enough If it doesnrsquot have gigabit Ethernet (for wired networks) or dual band wireless (for wireless networks) you might want to think about upgrading See page 19
9 GET A BACKUP POWER SUPPLY
Even if you have a battery backup box supplied with the NBN connection it wonrsquot keep your Internet running during a blackout only your phone If data access is critical to your business even during a blackout get an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) for a few hundred dollars
8 COMPARE VOICE PLANS
The Internet provider you have a data plan with might give you a better deal on a UNI-V phone service than other providers But call rates might be cheaper on a phone plan through the UNI-D ports
6 REWIRE YOUR PHONES
If you have lots of phone extensions in different rooms itrsquos still possible to keep using them for phone calls but the wiring will need to be connected to the NBN box An alternative is to connect a cordless phone base station to the NBN box
10 WATCH FOR BOTTLENECKS
Wersquove heard stories of people complaining that the NBN isnrsquot any faster but in the end something on their network was limiting the speed ndash like a wireless router that was affected by interference Remember that your own network can cause problems if itrsquos not set up correctly Bad cabling can also cause problems
5 CHECK YOU HAVE ENOUGH PHONE PORTS
The NBN termination unit has two phone ports If you need more phone lines once the copper telephone lines are disconnected consider switching to a VOIP telephone plan This gives you lots of ldquovirtualrdquo lines which run through the data ports instead
20 bitcomau
o you donrsquot want to wait for the NBN to arrive You need faster
more reliable Internet now On these pages wersquove listed ways you can get it without waiting for the NBN
The cheapest broadband is a home plan and they can provide relatively fast speeds if you only have one or two computers But if your business has grown or you want to connect a small office full of people business-grade broadband might serve you better
Generally business-grade services cost more ndash anywhere from around the $100-a-month mark up to $1000 or more
Yes the more expensive services can be much faster than a home ADSL service but download speeds are only one benefit
Other benefits of a business data service might include
A commitment that the connection will be working for a certain amount of time Eg ldquo9995 uptimerdquo
Fewer customers to share the bandwidth with This means your connection is less likely to slow down when lots of other businesses are using the network too
Faster upload speeds than home ADSL Very important to prevent your connection slowing down if you have several people sending large files at the same time Upload speeds are very limited on home ADSL services
Some services include 24x7 technical support
NBN plans are generally shaping up to be good value compared to what you see on the following pages but not everyone wants to wait
What if I donrsquot have the NBN yetEven if the roll-out hasnrsquot reached your area yet there are still several other options to get better Internet performance nowWORDS WILLIAM MAHER
SSLA
A Service Level Agreement is offered with many business data plans It sets out formal responsibilities of the service provider covering things like how fast they should respond to you if there is a problem what hours of the day technical support is available a commitment that problems will be fixed within a certain number of hours and that the service will be running without problems for a certain amount of time
21bitcomau
OPTIONS
HOME ADSL2+Speed Up to 24Mbps download 1Mbps upload (theoretical peak speeds actual speeds will be slower)Pros Relatively cheap compared to business servicesCons Speed depends on distance from telephone exchange Slow upload speed Shared with other usersRecommended Home office 1-2 computers where upload speeds arenrsquot critical where consistent speed isnrsquot critical for day-to-day operations
HOME ADSL2+ WITH ANNEX MSpeed Up to 24Mbps download up to 25Mbps upload (theoretical peak speeds Actual speeds will be slower)Pros Relatively cheap compared to business services Faster upload speed than regular ADSL2+Cons Speed depends on distance from telephone exchange Shared with other usersRecommended Home office 1-2 computers where faster upload speeds are useful but not critical where consistent speed isnrsquot critical for day-to-day operations
CABLE INTERNETSpeed Up to 100Mbps download up to 2Mbps upload (theoretical peak speeds Actual
speeds will be slower)Pros Relatively cheap compared to business services Much faster potential download speeds than ADSL2+Cons Limited to certain cities upload speeds much slower than download shared with other usersRecommended Home office 1-2 computers where faster download speeds than ADSL2+ are needed where fast upload speeds are not necessary where consistent speed isnrsquot critical for day-to-day operations
WIRELESS 3G Speed ldquoTypicalrdquo speeds up to 20Mbps download up to 3Mbps upload (actual speeds could be much slower speed depends on network type)Pros You can use it on the moveCons Speed varies a lot depending on where you are Speed decreases as more users share network Latency generally higher than ADSL Upload speeds much lower than downloadRecommended Secondary connection for accessing email and websites while on the move and where fast upload speeds are not required Where a reliable connection and consistent speed isnrsquot important
WIRELESS 4GSpeed ldquoTypicalrdquo speeds up
22 bitcomau
to 40MBps download up to 10Mbps upload (actual speeds could be much slower)Pros You can use it on the move Higher upload speeds than ADSL2+ and 3G are possibleCons Speed varies a lot depending on where you are Speed decreases as more users share network Theoretical upload speeds slower than download (though not always the case in practice) Limited to Telstra and Optus at time of writing
Recommended Secondary connection while on the move and where faster upload speeds than 3G are required for transferring large files For connecting several gadgets (tablet and laptop) to the Internet at the same time Where a reliable connection and consistent speed isnrsquot important
BUSINESS ADSL2+Speed up to 24Mbps download up to 25Mbps upload
DATA SPEED COMPARISON DOWNLOADSUPLOADS
0Mbps 10Mbps 20Mbps 30Mbps 40Mbps 50Mbps 100Mbps 1000Mbps
HOME ADSL2+
HOME ADSL2+ WITH ANNEX M
CABLE INTERNET
WIRELESS 3G (PEAK ldquoTYPICALrdquo SPEED)
WIRELESS 4G (PEAK ldquoTYPICALrdquo SPEED)
BUSINESS ADSL2+
BONDED DSL
SHDSL
ETHERNET OVER COPPER
ETHERNET OVER FIBRE
NBN (FIBRE)
NBN (FIXED WIRELESS)
NBN (SATELLITE)
23bitcomau
OPTIONS
with Annex M (theoretical peak speeds Actual speeds will be slower)Pros Relatively cheap compared to other business broadband services Might include priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratioCons Speed depends on distance from telephone exchange Upload speed much slower than downloadRecommended Home office 1-3 computers where upload
speeds arenrsquot critical where consistent speed isnrsquot critical for day-to-day operations
BONDED DSLSpeed Typical speeds up to 30Mbps download up to 26Mbps upload with Annex M (by combining copper lines) (actual speeds could be slower)Pros Faster speeds than ADSL2+ possible Relatively cheap compared to other business broadband services
Please note The information on these pages is intended to be a general guide only Exact speeds and other factors can differ between providers Check these details with your provider before purchasing a data service Unless otherwise noted we have quoted maximum potential speeds real life speeds can be significantly slower (especially for wireless and ADSL) and maximum potential speeds can vary according to which technology variant your network uses Note For wireless 3G and 4G we have followed the lead of carriers and quoted the maximum ldquotypicalrdquo speed you are likely to achieve not the maximum theoretical speed
Some of these services will not be available at a certain point after the NBN is connected in your area For example in areas where fibre cable is installed to connect customers to the NBN copper telephone lines will be decommissioned 18 months after the fibre is connected HFC (cable Internet) networks are also expected to be decommissioned in each area once the NBN is rolled out
0Mbps 10Mbps 20Mbps 30Mbps 40Mbps 50Mbps 100Mbps 1000Mbps
DOWNLOADUPLOAD
24 bitcomau
Might include priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratioCons Speed depends on distance from telephone exchange Upload speed much slower than downloads Two telephone lines neededRecommended Homesmall office that needs faster speeds than ADSL2+ or canrsquot get fast enough ADSL2+ speeds because of distance from telephone exchange Where having the same uploaddownload speed isnrsquot necessary
SHDSLSpeed Up to 46Mbps download up to 46Mbps uploadPros Same upload and download speeds Speeds are guaranteed Usually includes priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratioCons More expensive than ADSL2+ Download speeds offered often slower than theoretical ADSL2+ peak speedsRecommende Office that needs faster speeds than ADSL2+ especially where upload speed is crucial for videoconferencing regularly sending large files multiple Voice over IP telephone lines or connecting several offices Where fibre isnrsquot available Where consistent speed is critical
ETHERNET OVER COPPER(MIDBAND ETHERNET)Speed Up to 40Mbps download up to 40Mbps upload (by combining copper lines)Pros Same upload and download speeds Much faster upload speeds than ADSL2+ available Usually includes priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratio Cheaper overall than fibreCons More expensive than ADSL2+Recommended Office with many people at the same time regularly sending large files videoconferencing backup hosted applications VPN using VOIP or connecting to servers in other offices Where fibre isnrsquot available or is too expensive
ETHERNET OVER FIBRESpeed Up to 1000Mbps download up to 1000 Mbps uploadPros Same upload and download speeds Much faster speeds available than other services Usually includes priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratioCons Generally the most expensive option ndash can cost several thousand dollars a month Limited availabilityRecommended Large offices with many people at the same time regularly sending large
Latency Sometimes
refers to the delay between sending data and receiving a response Higher latency is a disadvantage when using certain applications like video-conferencing Latency is generally higher on satellite and wireless networks such as 3G although 4G has a theoretical lower latency than 3G
25bitcomau
OPTIONS
files videoconferencing backup hosted applications VPN using VOIP or connecting to servers in other offices Where a reliable connection and consistent very high speed is critical for day to day operations
NBN (FIBRE)Speed Up to 100MBps download up to 40Mbps upload (fastest plans available at time of writing Faster speeds theoretically possible in future)Pros Much faster speeds available than ADSL2+ including much faster upload speeds Provides minimum peak speeds unlike ADSL2+ More reliable than ADSL Business plans can include priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) (though residential NBN plans might not include this) Generally much cheaper than other business services with comparable speedsCons Very limited availability at time of writingRecommended Where several users need to senddownload large files videoconference backup use hosted applications VPN use VOIP or connect to servers in other offices at the same time Where a reliable connection and consistent speeds are critical Where much faster downloadupload speeds than ADSL2+ are important
NBN (FIXED WIRELESS)Speed Minimum 12Mbps download up to 1Mbps upload (Faster speeds planned)Pros Unlike mobile 4G and 3G networks ldquorelatively steadyrdquo speeds are promisedCons Very limited availability at time of writing Upload speeds much slower than download Top download speed currently much slower than NBN fibre and some other business servicesRecommended Where ADSL2+ isnrsquot available or is unreliable or slow For home office or small office where very high downloadupload speeds arenrsquot critical
NBN (SATELLITE)Speed Up to 6Mbps download up to 1Mbps upload (12Mbps download speeds planned for 2015)Pros Better speeds than some locations could otherwise getCons Top download speed relatively slow compared to NBN fibre and theoretical peak ADSL2+ download speed Upload speed much slower than download speed Higher latency than fixed line services Generally smaller download limits than ADSL2+ and fibreRecommended Locations that donrsquot have access to other broadband Where fast upload speeds arenrsquot needed Where latency-sensitive applications like VPNs arenrsquot required
26 bitcomau
My BookmarksFor more information on the best NBN plans and more click these links
Show me when I am getting connected
General NBN info
Show me all the NBN providers
Tell me if I can get NBN satellite
Give me more info on fibre NBN
I want more info on wireless NBN
I want more info about
the NBN fibre termination unit
Show me all the towns on
the current NBN rollout plan
Show me the NBN FAQ
27bitcomau
MORE INFO
Show me the best plans
Tell me about finding
a registered cabler
I want to try videoconferencing
Show me a list of cablers
I want Microsoft to host my servers
for me
Show me more about
getting connected
I want to read what users are
saying about Internet
providers
I want a web site
Help me make better
use of the NBN for
my business
Teach me about
online marketing
I want Google to
host my servers for me
28 bitcomau
The tech-talk in plain English
AnnexMrsaquorsaquo An add-on feature that some ADSL Internet providers offer to increase the speed of uploads iiNet for example says that customers will get a theoretical maximum upload speed of 275Mbps
ATArsaquorsaquo If you want to use a VOIP telephone service and donrsquot have a suitable VOIP router your VOIP provider can provide this adapter which you plug your telephone into
BondedDSLrsaquorsaquo By combining several phone lines higher broadband speeds are possible Unlike SHDSL upload speeds are still a lot slower than download speeds
Brownfieldrsaquorsaquo Premises that have already been built The focus is on connecting brownfields in regional areas to the NBN first so people currently with the worst broadband get it first
Businessgradebroadbandrsaquorsaquo Can cost more than home broadband but can include guaranteed uptime service agreements and sometimes your
data will travel over a separate network meaning less traffic congestion
Cat6rsaquorsaquo Category 6 cables are recommended for Gigabit Ethernet speeds in an office network
Cloudrsaquorsaquo Instead of buying and installing software on your own businessrsquos server a cloud company owns and runs the server hardware and software ndash you pay to access it over the Internet Examples include Microsoft Office 365 Salesforce Gmail and Dropbox
Contentionratiorsaquorsaquo A term used to indicate how many users have to share the same bandwidth Generally the lower the contention ratio the better Business grade broadband can sometimes have better contention ratios than home broadband
Copperrsaquorsaquo The public telephone lines also used for broadband services like ADSL SHDSL and Midband Ethernet Data services over copper reduce in speed the further your building is from your local telephone exchange
Dualbandwirelessrsaquorsaquo Dual band wireless routers can use two frequency bands (24GHz and 5GHz) to send and receive data unlike some wireless routers which can only use 24GHz This Brownfield
29bitcomau
JARGON BUSTER
can mean faster speeds but the tablet phone or laptop you are using needs to work on 5GHz or you wonrsquot see any difference
Ethernetrsaquorsaquo A network protocol often used for networks inside your building but can also be used for data services delivered over copper telephone lines or optical fibre cable Ethernet broadband services generally have same uploaddownload as opposed to ADSL
Exchangersaquorsaquo Can refer to Microsoft Exchange software which runs on a companyrsquos server and operates their company email or a telephone exchange
FSAMrsaquorsaquo A group of up to 3000 buildings connected to the NBN
GigabitEthernetrsaquorsaquo If you are using Ethernet cable to network your office Gigabit Ethernet will provide faster speeds (1Gbps) than Fast Ethernet (100Mbps)
Greenfieldrsaquorsaquo New housing developments Many of these streets will receive the NBN before Brownfield locations as they will be connected on a demand-driven basis Developers apply to have the NBN connected in their development
HostedITrsaquorsaquo Instead of buying and installing IT equipment yourself you can use another companyrsquos servers This can
include servers to run your email and website as well as hosted applications that users access over the network You can also hire a ldquomanaged service providerrdquo to setup and run your own IT
Latencyrsaquorsaquo Sometimes refers to the delay between sending data and receiving a response Higher latency is a disadvantage when using certain applications like videoconferencing Latency is generally higher on satellite and wireless networks such as 3G although 4G has a theoretical lower latency than 3G
LTErsaquorsaquo Higher speed wireless broadband used in the latest generation of smartphones and if you are getting the NBN via fixed wireless Much faster speeds than ADSL are possible but latency is much higher than optical fibre cable meaning itrsquos not suitable for videoconferencing Sometimes referred to as ldquo4Grdquo
Continued over page
Greenfield
LTE
WirelessRouter
30 bitcomau
MidbandEthernetrsaquorsaquo Provides up to 40Mbps over multiple copper lines Unlike ADSL you get the same upload and download speed but cost is usually several hundred dollars a month
NTDrsaquorsaquo Network Termination Device This is supplied free and is attached to a wall inside your building It takes the place of a modem when you get the NBN This is the box your router and phones will plug in to
Paymentgatewayrsaquorsaquo Used if you want to let customers buy products from your website When a customer buys a product on your website the transaction is sent to a third party the payment gateway which authorises the payment with the bank
PCDrsaquorsaquo Premises Connection Device This is a small box that is attached to an outside wall of your building when you are connected to the NBN via fibre cable The NBN fibre cable runs through this box to the inside of your building where it connects to the NTD
Powerlinenetworkrsaquorsaquo If a wireless router isnrsquot enough to spread your Internet connection
around your business (due to brick walls or multiple stories) and having Ethernet cables installed is too difficult another option is a powerline network An adaptor is plugged into each power point and data can be sent through the buildingrsquos internal wiring
PSTNrsaquorsaquo The public switched telephone network The copper network your analogue telephone connects to
RSPrsaquorsaquo Retail Service Provider Another name for an Internet provider such as Telstra Optus iiNet or Internode Once your building is connected you can contact an RSP to pay for an Internet plan and start using the NBN
Serverrsaquorsaquo A central computer that other computers on a network connect to A server might be in your own building providing a central location so all your staff can access the same files from their computers or an Internet server to which you connect to to access web sites or other services
SHDSLrsaquorsaquo Unlike ADSL SHDSL provides the same upload and download speeds Speeds up to 40Mbps are available by combining several phone lines in the form of Extreme SHDSL
SIPrsaquorsaquo A protocol used in devices for delivering multiple VOIP telephone calls at once
PCD
NTD
PCD
31bitcomau
JARGON BUSTER
SLArsaquorsaquo business-grade broadband contracts can include a Service Level Agreement ndash the provider commits to providing a certain level of service (995 Internet uptime for example)
Synchronousrsaquorsaquo The same upload and download speeds Midband Ethernet and SHDSL are synchronous but ADSL services are not meaning upload speeds are much slower than download speeds
UNI-Vportrsaquorsaquo A port on the NBN network termination device (NTD) where you plug in a telephone Alternatively if you use a VOIP telephone service your telephone can be plugged into a wireless router with a VOIP feature which then plugs into the data port on the NTD
Batterybackupunitrsaquorsaquo A separate box supplied free with your NBN connection that is installed alongside the NTD on a wall inside your building This unit lets you continue to make telephone calls during a blackout if you are using an analogue phone running through the UNI-V port
Uploadspeedrsaquorsaquo If you use applications that send data such as videoconferencing and sending large email attachments as opposed to downloading large files and watching videos then look for an Internet service with higher upload speeds
UPSrsaquorsaquo Uninterruptible Power Supply A device that plugs into your server or computer so that it can continue to run if the main power supply stops
VOIPrsaquorsaquo Voice over IP Unlike regular telephone services VOIP telephone calls are converted to data and travel over data networks Call rates can be much cheaper though call quality can suffer if your VOIP service and your broadband connection arenrsquot suitable
VPNrsaquorsaquo A secure way to upload and download files to and from your officersquos internal network drives and servers when you are not in the office (eg at a hotel or from another office)
WANrsaquorsaquo Wide Area Network Offices in different towns or cities can be connected via the same WAN
Wirelessextenderrsaquorsaquo If you already have a wireless router this is a separate device which plugs into a power point and extends the range of the signal
WirelessNrsaquorsaquo Compatible routers are recommended for spreading your Internet connection around your office wirelessly Will be superseded by the faster 80211ac standard but there are not currently many compatible laptops and devices that will connect at 80211ac speeds
Batterybackupunit
UNI-Vport
WirelessRouter
28bitcomau
Their small businesses have the technology edgeDoes yoursSometimes you can be so busy that keeping up with technology seems too much What you really want to know is what it can do for your business BIT will keep you up to date with the technology that can help you do your job and grow your business ndash whether you are a florist a plumber an accountant or any type of Australian small business
B U S I N E S S I T
Make technology work for your business
Click to return to
Bit
- 001
- 002-003
- 004-009
- 010-011
- 012-017
- 018-019
- 020-025
- 026-027
- 028-031
- 032
-
17bitcomau
OFFICE READY
Powerline networking is another option You plug network ports to the power points in your house The system uses the electricity wiring instead of network cables It should give you a better connection than Wi-Fi
WARNINGOne big surprise is that yoursquore not to install any data cabling yourself if it connects to the telecoms network A licensed professional is supposed to do the job badly installed network cable can result in slow speed dropouts or in extreme cases injury And while there might be electricians with excellent data expertise itrsquos a different set of skills and theyrsquore not always the best choice If in doubt ask for their registration card or check with the registrar yourself The ACMA web site has a fact sheet
POWERLINENETWORKING[3]
3 CHOOSING MY ROUTERWORDS JOHN GILLOOLY
Once you have the NBN you need a router to spread the Internet to each computer in your building
You might see lsquoNBN readyrsquo modem routers for sale ndash this means that the ADSL modem can be disabled once you get the NBN (because the NBN box takes care of that function) But these routers might be designed for low ADSL speeds and may not actually cope with the demands of the highest NBN speeds of 100Mbit download 40Mbit upload If your NBN plan isnrsquot that fast your router might cope ok but it is best to think of any lsquoNBN Readyrsquo ADSL modemrouter as a temporary solution We suggest looking for
Routers that can cope with sustained high-speed transfers We like ASUSrsquo RT-N56U the FritzBox Fon WLAN 7390 and Netgearrsquos DGND3700 N600
If yoursquore using Wi-Fi a dual band wireless router (these will work at the 5GHz band) is ideal but your Wi-Fi devices must be compatible
80211ac wireless routers will work better with Wi-Fi devices and have the fastest technology on the market but arenrsquot a must-have yet
If you have network cable installed a Gigabit Ethernet router is ideal
Want more Click to see photos of common wiring mistakes
Fritzbox Fon WLAN 7390
18 bitcomau
Tips and advice from real NBN usersWORDS WILLIAM MAHER
TOP
1 PLAN AHEAD
Itrsquos generally a good idea to have the NBN termination unit installed as close to your computers and router as possible ndash everything that connects to the Internet will need to connect to it This might cost extra
2 GET HERITAGE CLEARANCE
Installation will likely involve holes being drilled in your wall to attach equipment feeds to the cable If you work in a heritage building then this might not be allowed
4 DONrsquoT EXPECT THE INTERNET TO BE PERFECT ALL THE TIME
Yes despite all the hype some NBN users have told us that web browsing
on the NBN is sometimes not noticeably any faster than ADSL Your connection might be fast but web servers on the other side of the world can still struggle to cope with congestion On the upside it should cope much
better with several users uploads should be faster and it should be
less prone to dropouts
3 DONrsquoT RUSH IN
Just because your building gets connected doesnrsquot mean you have to start using the NBN straight away Generally the plan is for the copper telephone lines to be kept for 18 months after the NBN is rolled out before being disconnected Where the NBN is delivered by wireless or satellite telephone lines wonrsquot be disconnected for at least 10 years
19bitcomau
NEED TO KNOW
7 BE WARY OF CHEAP ROUTERS
Your router will need to be able to cope with NBN speeds as well as be able to spread the data around your building fast enough If it doesnrsquot have gigabit Ethernet (for wired networks) or dual band wireless (for wireless networks) you might want to think about upgrading See page 19
9 GET A BACKUP POWER SUPPLY
Even if you have a battery backup box supplied with the NBN connection it wonrsquot keep your Internet running during a blackout only your phone If data access is critical to your business even during a blackout get an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) for a few hundred dollars
8 COMPARE VOICE PLANS
The Internet provider you have a data plan with might give you a better deal on a UNI-V phone service than other providers But call rates might be cheaper on a phone plan through the UNI-D ports
6 REWIRE YOUR PHONES
If you have lots of phone extensions in different rooms itrsquos still possible to keep using them for phone calls but the wiring will need to be connected to the NBN box An alternative is to connect a cordless phone base station to the NBN box
10 WATCH FOR BOTTLENECKS
Wersquove heard stories of people complaining that the NBN isnrsquot any faster but in the end something on their network was limiting the speed ndash like a wireless router that was affected by interference Remember that your own network can cause problems if itrsquos not set up correctly Bad cabling can also cause problems
5 CHECK YOU HAVE ENOUGH PHONE PORTS
The NBN termination unit has two phone ports If you need more phone lines once the copper telephone lines are disconnected consider switching to a VOIP telephone plan This gives you lots of ldquovirtualrdquo lines which run through the data ports instead
20 bitcomau
o you donrsquot want to wait for the NBN to arrive You need faster
more reliable Internet now On these pages wersquove listed ways you can get it without waiting for the NBN
The cheapest broadband is a home plan and they can provide relatively fast speeds if you only have one or two computers But if your business has grown or you want to connect a small office full of people business-grade broadband might serve you better
Generally business-grade services cost more ndash anywhere from around the $100-a-month mark up to $1000 or more
Yes the more expensive services can be much faster than a home ADSL service but download speeds are only one benefit
Other benefits of a business data service might include
A commitment that the connection will be working for a certain amount of time Eg ldquo9995 uptimerdquo
Fewer customers to share the bandwidth with This means your connection is less likely to slow down when lots of other businesses are using the network too
Faster upload speeds than home ADSL Very important to prevent your connection slowing down if you have several people sending large files at the same time Upload speeds are very limited on home ADSL services
Some services include 24x7 technical support
NBN plans are generally shaping up to be good value compared to what you see on the following pages but not everyone wants to wait
What if I donrsquot have the NBN yetEven if the roll-out hasnrsquot reached your area yet there are still several other options to get better Internet performance nowWORDS WILLIAM MAHER
SSLA
A Service Level Agreement is offered with many business data plans It sets out formal responsibilities of the service provider covering things like how fast they should respond to you if there is a problem what hours of the day technical support is available a commitment that problems will be fixed within a certain number of hours and that the service will be running without problems for a certain amount of time
21bitcomau
OPTIONS
HOME ADSL2+Speed Up to 24Mbps download 1Mbps upload (theoretical peak speeds actual speeds will be slower)Pros Relatively cheap compared to business servicesCons Speed depends on distance from telephone exchange Slow upload speed Shared with other usersRecommended Home office 1-2 computers where upload speeds arenrsquot critical where consistent speed isnrsquot critical for day-to-day operations
HOME ADSL2+ WITH ANNEX MSpeed Up to 24Mbps download up to 25Mbps upload (theoretical peak speeds Actual speeds will be slower)Pros Relatively cheap compared to business services Faster upload speed than regular ADSL2+Cons Speed depends on distance from telephone exchange Shared with other usersRecommended Home office 1-2 computers where faster upload speeds are useful but not critical where consistent speed isnrsquot critical for day-to-day operations
CABLE INTERNETSpeed Up to 100Mbps download up to 2Mbps upload (theoretical peak speeds Actual
speeds will be slower)Pros Relatively cheap compared to business services Much faster potential download speeds than ADSL2+Cons Limited to certain cities upload speeds much slower than download shared with other usersRecommended Home office 1-2 computers where faster download speeds than ADSL2+ are needed where fast upload speeds are not necessary where consistent speed isnrsquot critical for day-to-day operations
WIRELESS 3G Speed ldquoTypicalrdquo speeds up to 20Mbps download up to 3Mbps upload (actual speeds could be much slower speed depends on network type)Pros You can use it on the moveCons Speed varies a lot depending on where you are Speed decreases as more users share network Latency generally higher than ADSL Upload speeds much lower than downloadRecommended Secondary connection for accessing email and websites while on the move and where fast upload speeds are not required Where a reliable connection and consistent speed isnrsquot important
WIRELESS 4GSpeed ldquoTypicalrdquo speeds up
22 bitcomau
to 40MBps download up to 10Mbps upload (actual speeds could be much slower)Pros You can use it on the move Higher upload speeds than ADSL2+ and 3G are possibleCons Speed varies a lot depending on where you are Speed decreases as more users share network Theoretical upload speeds slower than download (though not always the case in practice) Limited to Telstra and Optus at time of writing
Recommended Secondary connection while on the move and where faster upload speeds than 3G are required for transferring large files For connecting several gadgets (tablet and laptop) to the Internet at the same time Where a reliable connection and consistent speed isnrsquot important
BUSINESS ADSL2+Speed up to 24Mbps download up to 25Mbps upload
DATA SPEED COMPARISON DOWNLOADSUPLOADS
0Mbps 10Mbps 20Mbps 30Mbps 40Mbps 50Mbps 100Mbps 1000Mbps
HOME ADSL2+
HOME ADSL2+ WITH ANNEX M
CABLE INTERNET
WIRELESS 3G (PEAK ldquoTYPICALrdquo SPEED)
WIRELESS 4G (PEAK ldquoTYPICALrdquo SPEED)
BUSINESS ADSL2+
BONDED DSL
SHDSL
ETHERNET OVER COPPER
ETHERNET OVER FIBRE
NBN (FIBRE)
NBN (FIXED WIRELESS)
NBN (SATELLITE)
23bitcomau
OPTIONS
with Annex M (theoretical peak speeds Actual speeds will be slower)Pros Relatively cheap compared to other business broadband services Might include priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratioCons Speed depends on distance from telephone exchange Upload speed much slower than downloadRecommended Home office 1-3 computers where upload
speeds arenrsquot critical where consistent speed isnrsquot critical for day-to-day operations
BONDED DSLSpeed Typical speeds up to 30Mbps download up to 26Mbps upload with Annex M (by combining copper lines) (actual speeds could be slower)Pros Faster speeds than ADSL2+ possible Relatively cheap compared to other business broadband services
Please note The information on these pages is intended to be a general guide only Exact speeds and other factors can differ between providers Check these details with your provider before purchasing a data service Unless otherwise noted we have quoted maximum potential speeds real life speeds can be significantly slower (especially for wireless and ADSL) and maximum potential speeds can vary according to which technology variant your network uses Note For wireless 3G and 4G we have followed the lead of carriers and quoted the maximum ldquotypicalrdquo speed you are likely to achieve not the maximum theoretical speed
Some of these services will not be available at a certain point after the NBN is connected in your area For example in areas where fibre cable is installed to connect customers to the NBN copper telephone lines will be decommissioned 18 months after the fibre is connected HFC (cable Internet) networks are also expected to be decommissioned in each area once the NBN is rolled out
0Mbps 10Mbps 20Mbps 30Mbps 40Mbps 50Mbps 100Mbps 1000Mbps
DOWNLOADUPLOAD
24 bitcomau
Might include priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratioCons Speed depends on distance from telephone exchange Upload speed much slower than downloads Two telephone lines neededRecommended Homesmall office that needs faster speeds than ADSL2+ or canrsquot get fast enough ADSL2+ speeds because of distance from telephone exchange Where having the same uploaddownload speed isnrsquot necessary
SHDSLSpeed Up to 46Mbps download up to 46Mbps uploadPros Same upload and download speeds Speeds are guaranteed Usually includes priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratioCons More expensive than ADSL2+ Download speeds offered often slower than theoretical ADSL2+ peak speedsRecommende Office that needs faster speeds than ADSL2+ especially where upload speed is crucial for videoconferencing regularly sending large files multiple Voice over IP telephone lines or connecting several offices Where fibre isnrsquot available Where consistent speed is critical
ETHERNET OVER COPPER(MIDBAND ETHERNET)Speed Up to 40Mbps download up to 40Mbps upload (by combining copper lines)Pros Same upload and download speeds Much faster upload speeds than ADSL2+ available Usually includes priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratio Cheaper overall than fibreCons More expensive than ADSL2+Recommended Office with many people at the same time regularly sending large files videoconferencing backup hosted applications VPN using VOIP or connecting to servers in other offices Where fibre isnrsquot available or is too expensive
ETHERNET OVER FIBRESpeed Up to 1000Mbps download up to 1000 Mbps uploadPros Same upload and download speeds Much faster speeds available than other services Usually includes priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratioCons Generally the most expensive option ndash can cost several thousand dollars a month Limited availabilityRecommended Large offices with many people at the same time regularly sending large
Latency Sometimes
refers to the delay between sending data and receiving a response Higher latency is a disadvantage when using certain applications like video-conferencing Latency is generally higher on satellite and wireless networks such as 3G although 4G has a theoretical lower latency than 3G
25bitcomau
OPTIONS
files videoconferencing backup hosted applications VPN using VOIP or connecting to servers in other offices Where a reliable connection and consistent very high speed is critical for day to day operations
NBN (FIBRE)Speed Up to 100MBps download up to 40Mbps upload (fastest plans available at time of writing Faster speeds theoretically possible in future)Pros Much faster speeds available than ADSL2+ including much faster upload speeds Provides minimum peak speeds unlike ADSL2+ More reliable than ADSL Business plans can include priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) (though residential NBN plans might not include this) Generally much cheaper than other business services with comparable speedsCons Very limited availability at time of writingRecommended Where several users need to senddownload large files videoconference backup use hosted applications VPN use VOIP or connect to servers in other offices at the same time Where a reliable connection and consistent speeds are critical Where much faster downloadupload speeds than ADSL2+ are important
NBN (FIXED WIRELESS)Speed Minimum 12Mbps download up to 1Mbps upload (Faster speeds planned)Pros Unlike mobile 4G and 3G networks ldquorelatively steadyrdquo speeds are promisedCons Very limited availability at time of writing Upload speeds much slower than download Top download speed currently much slower than NBN fibre and some other business servicesRecommended Where ADSL2+ isnrsquot available or is unreliable or slow For home office or small office where very high downloadupload speeds arenrsquot critical
NBN (SATELLITE)Speed Up to 6Mbps download up to 1Mbps upload (12Mbps download speeds planned for 2015)Pros Better speeds than some locations could otherwise getCons Top download speed relatively slow compared to NBN fibre and theoretical peak ADSL2+ download speed Upload speed much slower than download speed Higher latency than fixed line services Generally smaller download limits than ADSL2+ and fibreRecommended Locations that donrsquot have access to other broadband Where fast upload speeds arenrsquot needed Where latency-sensitive applications like VPNs arenrsquot required
26 bitcomau
My BookmarksFor more information on the best NBN plans and more click these links
Show me when I am getting connected
General NBN info
Show me all the NBN providers
Tell me if I can get NBN satellite
Give me more info on fibre NBN
I want more info on wireless NBN
I want more info about
the NBN fibre termination unit
Show me all the towns on
the current NBN rollout plan
Show me the NBN FAQ
27bitcomau
MORE INFO
Show me the best plans
Tell me about finding
a registered cabler
I want to try videoconferencing
Show me a list of cablers
I want Microsoft to host my servers
for me
Show me more about
getting connected
I want to read what users are
saying about Internet
providers
I want a web site
Help me make better
use of the NBN for
my business
Teach me about
online marketing
I want Google to
host my servers for me
28 bitcomau
The tech-talk in plain English
AnnexMrsaquorsaquo An add-on feature that some ADSL Internet providers offer to increase the speed of uploads iiNet for example says that customers will get a theoretical maximum upload speed of 275Mbps
ATArsaquorsaquo If you want to use a VOIP telephone service and donrsquot have a suitable VOIP router your VOIP provider can provide this adapter which you plug your telephone into
BondedDSLrsaquorsaquo By combining several phone lines higher broadband speeds are possible Unlike SHDSL upload speeds are still a lot slower than download speeds
Brownfieldrsaquorsaquo Premises that have already been built The focus is on connecting brownfields in regional areas to the NBN first so people currently with the worst broadband get it first
Businessgradebroadbandrsaquorsaquo Can cost more than home broadband but can include guaranteed uptime service agreements and sometimes your
data will travel over a separate network meaning less traffic congestion
Cat6rsaquorsaquo Category 6 cables are recommended for Gigabit Ethernet speeds in an office network
Cloudrsaquorsaquo Instead of buying and installing software on your own businessrsquos server a cloud company owns and runs the server hardware and software ndash you pay to access it over the Internet Examples include Microsoft Office 365 Salesforce Gmail and Dropbox
Contentionratiorsaquorsaquo A term used to indicate how many users have to share the same bandwidth Generally the lower the contention ratio the better Business grade broadband can sometimes have better contention ratios than home broadband
Copperrsaquorsaquo The public telephone lines also used for broadband services like ADSL SHDSL and Midband Ethernet Data services over copper reduce in speed the further your building is from your local telephone exchange
Dualbandwirelessrsaquorsaquo Dual band wireless routers can use two frequency bands (24GHz and 5GHz) to send and receive data unlike some wireless routers which can only use 24GHz This Brownfield
29bitcomau
JARGON BUSTER
can mean faster speeds but the tablet phone or laptop you are using needs to work on 5GHz or you wonrsquot see any difference
Ethernetrsaquorsaquo A network protocol often used for networks inside your building but can also be used for data services delivered over copper telephone lines or optical fibre cable Ethernet broadband services generally have same uploaddownload as opposed to ADSL
Exchangersaquorsaquo Can refer to Microsoft Exchange software which runs on a companyrsquos server and operates their company email or a telephone exchange
FSAMrsaquorsaquo A group of up to 3000 buildings connected to the NBN
GigabitEthernetrsaquorsaquo If you are using Ethernet cable to network your office Gigabit Ethernet will provide faster speeds (1Gbps) than Fast Ethernet (100Mbps)
Greenfieldrsaquorsaquo New housing developments Many of these streets will receive the NBN before Brownfield locations as they will be connected on a demand-driven basis Developers apply to have the NBN connected in their development
HostedITrsaquorsaquo Instead of buying and installing IT equipment yourself you can use another companyrsquos servers This can
include servers to run your email and website as well as hosted applications that users access over the network You can also hire a ldquomanaged service providerrdquo to setup and run your own IT
Latencyrsaquorsaquo Sometimes refers to the delay between sending data and receiving a response Higher latency is a disadvantage when using certain applications like videoconferencing Latency is generally higher on satellite and wireless networks such as 3G although 4G has a theoretical lower latency than 3G
LTErsaquorsaquo Higher speed wireless broadband used in the latest generation of smartphones and if you are getting the NBN via fixed wireless Much faster speeds than ADSL are possible but latency is much higher than optical fibre cable meaning itrsquos not suitable for videoconferencing Sometimes referred to as ldquo4Grdquo
Continued over page
Greenfield
LTE
WirelessRouter
30 bitcomau
MidbandEthernetrsaquorsaquo Provides up to 40Mbps over multiple copper lines Unlike ADSL you get the same upload and download speed but cost is usually several hundred dollars a month
NTDrsaquorsaquo Network Termination Device This is supplied free and is attached to a wall inside your building It takes the place of a modem when you get the NBN This is the box your router and phones will plug in to
Paymentgatewayrsaquorsaquo Used if you want to let customers buy products from your website When a customer buys a product on your website the transaction is sent to a third party the payment gateway which authorises the payment with the bank
PCDrsaquorsaquo Premises Connection Device This is a small box that is attached to an outside wall of your building when you are connected to the NBN via fibre cable The NBN fibre cable runs through this box to the inside of your building where it connects to the NTD
Powerlinenetworkrsaquorsaquo If a wireless router isnrsquot enough to spread your Internet connection
around your business (due to brick walls or multiple stories) and having Ethernet cables installed is too difficult another option is a powerline network An adaptor is plugged into each power point and data can be sent through the buildingrsquos internal wiring
PSTNrsaquorsaquo The public switched telephone network The copper network your analogue telephone connects to
RSPrsaquorsaquo Retail Service Provider Another name for an Internet provider such as Telstra Optus iiNet or Internode Once your building is connected you can contact an RSP to pay for an Internet plan and start using the NBN
Serverrsaquorsaquo A central computer that other computers on a network connect to A server might be in your own building providing a central location so all your staff can access the same files from their computers or an Internet server to which you connect to to access web sites or other services
SHDSLrsaquorsaquo Unlike ADSL SHDSL provides the same upload and download speeds Speeds up to 40Mbps are available by combining several phone lines in the form of Extreme SHDSL
SIPrsaquorsaquo A protocol used in devices for delivering multiple VOIP telephone calls at once
PCD
NTD
PCD
31bitcomau
JARGON BUSTER
SLArsaquorsaquo business-grade broadband contracts can include a Service Level Agreement ndash the provider commits to providing a certain level of service (995 Internet uptime for example)
Synchronousrsaquorsaquo The same upload and download speeds Midband Ethernet and SHDSL are synchronous but ADSL services are not meaning upload speeds are much slower than download speeds
UNI-Vportrsaquorsaquo A port on the NBN network termination device (NTD) where you plug in a telephone Alternatively if you use a VOIP telephone service your telephone can be plugged into a wireless router with a VOIP feature which then plugs into the data port on the NTD
Batterybackupunitrsaquorsaquo A separate box supplied free with your NBN connection that is installed alongside the NTD on a wall inside your building This unit lets you continue to make telephone calls during a blackout if you are using an analogue phone running through the UNI-V port
Uploadspeedrsaquorsaquo If you use applications that send data such as videoconferencing and sending large email attachments as opposed to downloading large files and watching videos then look for an Internet service with higher upload speeds
UPSrsaquorsaquo Uninterruptible Power Supply A device that plugs into your server or computer so that it can continue to run if the main power supply stops
VOIPrsaquorsaquo Voice over IP Unlike regular telephone services VOIP telephone calls are converted to data and travel over data networks Call rates can be much cheaper though call quality can suffer if your VOIP service and your broadband connection arenrsquot suitable
VPNrsaquorsaquo A secure way to upload and download files to and from your officersquos internal network drives and servers when you are not in the office (eg at a hotel or from another office)
WANrsaquorsaquo Wide Area Network Offices in different towns or cities can be connected via the same WAN
Wirelessextenderrsaquorsaquo If you already have a wireless router this is a separate device which plugs into a power point and extends the range of the signal
WirelessNrsaquorsaquo Compatible routers are recommended for spreading your Internet connection around your office wirelessly Will be superseded by the faster 80211ac standard but there are not currently many compatible laptops and devices that will connect at 80211ac speeds
Batterybackupunit
UNI-Vport
WirelessRouter
28bitcomau
Their small businesses have the technology edgeDoes yoursSometimes you can be so busy that keeping up with technology seems too much What you really want to know is what it can do for your business BIT will keep you up to date with the technology that can help you do your job and grow your business ndash whether you are a florist a plumber an accountant or any type of Australian small business
B U S I N E S S I T
Make technology work for your business
Click to return to
Bit
- 001
- 002-003
- 004-009
- 010-011
- 012-017
- 018-019
- 020-025
- 026-027
- 028-031
- 032
-
18 bitcomau
Tips and advice from real NBN usersWORDS WILLIAM MAHER
TOP
1 PLAN AHEAD
Itrsquos generally a good idea to have the NBN termination unit installed as close to your computers and router as possible ndash everything that connects to the Internet will need to connect to it This might cost extra
2 GET HERITAGE CLEARANCE
Installation will likely involve holes being drilled in your wall to attach equipment feeds to the cable If you work in a heritage building then this might not be allowed
4 DONrsquoT EXPECT THE INTERNET TO BE PERFECT ALL THE TIME
Yes despite all the hype some NBN users have told us that web browsing
on the NBN is sometimes not noticeably any faster than ADSL Your connection might be fast but web servers on the other side of the world can still struggle to cope with congestion On the upside it should cope much
better with several users uploads should be faster and it should be
less prone to dropouts
3 DONrsquoT RUSH IN
Just because your building gets connected doesnrsquot mean you have to start using the NBN straight away Generally the plan is for the copper telephone lines to be kept for 18 months after the NBN is rolled out before being disconnected Where the NBN is delivered by wireless or satellite telephone lines wonrsquot be disconnected for at least 10 years
19bitcomau
NEED TO KNOW
7 BE WARY OF CHEAP ROUTERS
Your router will need to be able to cope with NBN speeds as well as be able to spread the data around your building fast enough If it doesnrsquot have gigabit Ethernet (for wired networks) or dual band wireless (for wireless networks) you might want to think about upgrading See page 19
9 GET A BACKUP POWER SUPPLY
Even if you have a battery backup box supplied with the NBN connection it wonrsquot keep your Internet running during a blackout only your phone If data access is critical to your business even during a blackout get an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) for a few hundred dollars
8 COMPARE VOICE PLANS
The Internet provider you have a data plan with might give you a better deal on a UNI-V phone service than other providers But call rates might be cheaper on a phone plan through the UNI-D ports
6 REWIRE YOUR PHONES
If you have lots of phone extensions in different rooms itrsquos still possible to keep using them for phone calls but the wiring will need to be connected to the NBN box An alternative is to connect a cordless phone base station to the NBN box
10 WATCH FOR BOTTLENECKS
Wersquove heard stories of people complaining that the NBN isnrsquot any faster but in the end something on their network was limiting the speed ndash like a wireless router that was affected by interference Remember that your own network can cause problems if itrsquos not set up correctly Bad cabling can also cause problems
5 CHECK YOU HAVE ENOUGH PHONE PORTS
The NBN termination unit has two phone ports If you need more phone lines once the copper telephone lines are disconnected consider switching to a VOIP telephone plan This gives you lots of ldquovirtualrdquo lines which run through the data ports instead
20 bitcomau
o you donrsquot want to wait for the NBN to arrive You need faster
more reliable Internet now On these pages wersquove listed ways you can get it without waiting for the NBN
The cheapest broadband is a home plan and they can provide relatively fast speeds if you only have one or two computers But if your business has grown or you want to connect a small office full of people business-grade broadband might serve you better
Generally business-grade services cost more ndash anywhere from around the $100-a-month mark up to $1000 or more
Yes the more expensive services can be much faster than a home ADSL service but download speeds are only one benefit
Other benefits of a business data service might include
A commitment that the connection will be working for a certain amount of time Eg ldquo9995 uptimerdquo
Fewer customers to share the bandwidth with This means your connection is less likely to slow down when lots of other businesses are using the network too
Faster upload speeds than home ADSL Very important to prevent your connection slowing down if you have several people sending large files at the same time Upload speeds are very limited on home ADSL services
Some services include 24x7 technical support
NBN plans are generally shaping up to be good value compared to what you see on the following pages but not everyone wants to wait
What if I donrsquot have the NBN yetEven if the roll-out hasnrsquot reached your area yet there are still several other options to get better Internet performance nowWORDS WILLIAM MAHER
SSLA
A Service Level Agreement is offered with many business data plans It sets out formal responsibilities of the service provider covering things like how fast they should respond to you if there is a problem what hours of the day technical support is available a commitment that problems will be fixed within a certain number of hours and that the service will be running without problems for a certain amount of time
21bitcomau
OPTIONS
HOME ADSL2+Speed Up to 24Mbps download 1Mbps upload (theoretical peak speeds actual speeds will be slower)Pros Relatively cheap compared to business servicesCons Speed depends on distance from telephone exchange Slow upload speed Shared with other usersRecommended Home office 1-2 computers where upload speeds arenrsquot critical where consistent speed isnrsquot critical for day-to-day operations
HOME ADSL2+ WITH ANNEX MSpeed Up to 24Mbps download up to 25Mbps upload (theoretical peak speeds Actual speeds will be slower)Pros Relatively cheap compared to business services Faster upload speed than regular ADSL2+Cons Speed depends on distance from telephone exchange Shared with other usersRecommended Home office 1-2 computers where faster upload speeds are useful but not critical where consistent speed isnrsquot critical for day-to-day operations
CABLE INTERNETSpeed Up to 100Mbps download up to 2Mbps upload (theoretical peak speeds Actual
speeds will be slower)Pros Relatively cheap compared to business services Much faster potential download speeds than ADSL2+Cons Limited to certain cities upload speeds much slower than download shared with other usersRecommended Home office 1-2 computers where faster download speeds than ADSL2+ are needed where fast upload speeds are not necessary where consistent speed isnrsquot critical for day-to-day operations
WIRELESS 3G Speed ldquoTypicalrdquo speeds up to 20Mbps download up to 3Mbps upload (actual speeds could be much slower speed depends on network type)Pros You can use it on the moveCons Speed varies a lot depending on where you are Speed decreases as more users share network Latency generally higher than ADSL Upload speeds much lower than downloadRecommended Secondary connection for accessing email and websites while on the move and where fast upload speeds are not required Where a reliable connection and consistent speed isnrsquot important
WIRELESS 4GSpeed ldquoTypicalrdquo speeds up
22 bitcomau
to 40MBps download up to 10Mbps upload (actual speeds could be much slower)Pros You can use it on the move Higher upload speeds than ADSL2+ and 3G are possibleCons Speed varies a lot depending on where you are Speed decreases as more users share network Theoretical upload speeds slower than download (though not always the case in practice) Limited to Telstra and Optus at time of writing
Recommended Secondary connection while on the move and where faster upload speeds than 3G are required for transferring large files For connecting several gadgets (tablet and laptop) to the Internet at the same time Where a reliable connection and consistent speed isnrsquot important
BUSINESS ADSL2+Speed up to 24Mbps download up to 25Mbps upload
DATA SPEED COMPARISON DOWNLOADSUPLOADS
0Mbps 10Mbps 20Mbps 30Mbps 40Mbps 50Mbps 100Mbps 1000Mbps
HOME ADSL2+
HOME ADSL2+ WITH ANNEX M
CABLE INTERNET
WIRELESS 3G (PEAK ldquoTYPICALrdquo SPEED)
WIRELESS 4G (PEAK ldquoTYPICALrdquo SPEED)
BUSINESS ADSL2+
BONDED DSL
SHDSL
ETHERNET OVER COPPER
ETHERNET OVER FIBRE
NBN (FIBRE)
NBN (FIXED WIRELESS)
NBN (SATELLITE)
23bitcomau
OPTIONS
with Annex M (theoretical peak speeds Actual speeds will be slower)Pros Relatively cheap compared to other business broadband services Might include priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratioCons Speed depends on distance from telephone exchange Upload speed much slower than downloadRecommended Home office 1-3 computers where upload
speeds arenrsquot critical where consistent speed isnrsquot critical for day-to-day operations
BONDED DSLSpeed Typical speeds up to 30Mbps download up to 26Mbps upload with Annex M (by combining copper lines) (actual speeds could be slower)Pros Faster speeds than ADSL2+ possible Relatively cheap compared to other business broadband services
Please note The information on these pages is intended to be a general guide only Exact speeds and other factors can differ between providers Check these details with your provider before purchasing a data service Unless otherwise noted we have quoted maximum potential speeds real life speeds can be significantly slower (especially for wireless and ADSL) and maximum potential speeds can vary according to which technology variant your network uses Note For wireless 3G and 4G we have followed the lead of carriers and quoted the maximum ldquotypicalrdquo speed you are likely to achieve not the maximum theoretical speed
Some of these services will not be available at a certain point after the NBN is connected in your area For example in areas where fibre cable is installed to connect customers to the NBN copper telephone lines will be decommissioned 18 months after the fibre is connected HFC (cable Internet) networks are also expected to be decommissioned in each area once the NBN is rolled out
0Mbps 10Mbps 20Mbps 30Mbps 40Mbps 50Mbps 100Mbps 1000Mbps
DOWNLOADUPLOAD
24 bitcomau
Might include priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratioCons Speed depends on distance from telephone exchange Upload speed much slower than downloads Two telephone lines neededRecommended Homesmall office that needs faster speeds than ADSL2+ or canrsquot get fast enough ADSL2+ speeds because of distance from telephone exchange Where having the same uploaddownload speed isnrsquot necessary
SHDSLSpeed Up to 46Mbps download up to 46Mbps uploadPros Same upload and download speeds Speeds are guaranteed Usually includes priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratioCons More expensive than ADSL2+ Download speeds offered often slower than theoretical ADSL2+ peak speedsRecommende Office that needs faster speeds than ADSL2+ especially where upload speed is crucial for videoconferencing regularly sending large files multiple Voice over IP telephone lines or connecting several offices Where fibre isnrsquot available Where consistent speed is critical
ETHERNET OVER COPPER(MIDBAND ETHERNET)Speed Up to 40Mbps download up to 40Mbps upload (by combining copper lines)Pros Same upload and download speeds Much faster upload speeds than ADSL2+ available Usually includes priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratio Cheaper overall than fibreCons More expensive than ADSL2+Recommended Office with many people at the same time regularly sending large files videoconferencing backup hosted applications VPN using VOIP or connecting to servers in other offices Where fibre isnrsquot available or is too expensive
ETHERNET OVER FIBRESpeed Up to 1000Mbps download up to 1000 Mbps uploadPros Same upload and download speeds Much faster speeds available than other services Usually includes priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratioCons Generally the most expensive option ndash can cost several thousand dollars a month Limited availabilityRecommended Large offices with many people at the same time regularly sending large
Latency Sometimes
refers to the delay between sending data and receiving a response Higher latency is a disadvantage when using certain applications like video-conferencing Latency is generally higher on satellite and wireless networks such as 3G although 4G has a theoretical lower latency than 3G
25bitcomau
OPTIONS
files videoconferencing backup hosted applications VPN using VOIP or connecting to servers in other offices Where a reliable connection and consistent very high speed is critical for day to day operations
NBN (FIBRE)Speed Up to 100MBps download up to 40Mbps upload (fastest plans available at time of writing Faster speeds theoretically possible in future)Pros Much faster speeds available than ADSL2+ including much faster upload speeds Provides minimum peak speeds unlike ADSL2+ More reliable than ADSL Business plans can include priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) (though residential NBN plans might not include this) Generally much cheaper than other business services with comparable speedsCons Very limited availability at time of writingRecommended Where several users need to senddownload large files videoconference backup use hosted applications VPN use VOIP or connect to servers in other offices at the same time Where a reliable connection and consistent speeds are critical Where much faster downloadupload speeds than ADSL2+ are important
NBN (FIXED WIRELESS)Speed Minimum 12Mbps download up to 1Mbps upload (Faster speeds planned)Pros Unlike mobile 4G and 3G networks ldquorelatively steadyrdquo speeds are promisedCons Very limited availability at time of writing Upload speeds much slower than download Top download speed currently much slower than NBN fibre and some other business servicesRecommended Where ADSL2+ isnrsquot available or is unreliable or slow For home office or small office where very high downloadupload speeds arenrsquot critical
NBN (SATELLITE)Speed Up to 6Mbps download up to 1Mbps upload (12Mbps download speeds planned for 2015)Pros Better speeds than some locations could otherwise getCons Top download speed relatively slow compared to NBN fibre and theoretical peak ADSL2+ download speed Upload speed much slower than download speed Higher latency than fixed line services Generally smaller download limits than ADSL2+ and fibreRecommended Locations that donrsquot have access to other broadband Where fast upload speeds arenrsquot needed Where latency-sensitive applications like VPNs arenrsquot required
26 bitcomau
My BookmarksFor more information on the best NBN plans and more click these links
Show me when I am getting connected
General NBN info
Show me all the NBN providers
Tell me if I can get NBN satellite
Give me more info on fibre NBN
I want more info on wireless NBN
I want more info about
the NBN fibre termination unit
Show me all the towns on
the current NBN rollout plan
Show me the NBN FAQ
27bitcomau
MORE INFO
Show me the best plans
Tell me about finding
a registered cabler
I want to try videoconferencing
Show me a list of cablers
I want Microsoft to host my servers
for me
Show me more about
getting connected
I want to read what users are
saying about Internet
providers
I want a web site
Help me make better
use of the NBN for
my business
Teach me about
online marketing
I want Google to
host my servers for me
28 bitcomau
The tech-talk in plain English
AnnexMrsaquorsaquo An add-on feature that some ADSL Internet providers offer to increase the speed of uploads iiNet for example says that customers will get a theoretical maximum upload speed of 275Mbps
ATArsaquorsaquo If you want to use a VOIP telephone service and donrsquot have a suitable VOIP router your VOIP provider can provide this adapter which you plug your telephone into
BondedDSLrsaquorsaquo By combining several phone lines higher broadband speeds are possible Unlike SHDSL upload speeds are still a lot slower than download speeds
Brownfieldrsaquorsaquo Premises that have already been built The focus is on connecting brownfields in regional areas to the NBN first so people currently with the worst broadband get it first
Businessgradebroadbandrsaquorsaquo Can cost more than home broadband but can include guaranteed uptime service agreements and sometimes your
data will travel over a separate network meaning less traffic congestion
Cat6rsaquorsaquo Category 6 cables are recommended for Gigabit Ethernet speeds in an office network
Cloudrsaquorsaquo Instead of buying and installing software on your own businessrsquos server a cloud company owns and runs the server hardware and software ndash you pay to access it over the Internet Examples include Microsoft Office 365 Salesforce Gmail and Dropbox
Contentionratiorsaquorsaquo A term used to indicate how many users have to share the same bandwidth Generally the lower the contention ratio the better Business grade broadband can sometimes have better contention ratios than home broadband
Copperrsaquorsaquo The public telephone lines also used for broadband services like ADSL SHDSL and Midband Ethernet Data services over copper reduce in speed the further your building is from your local telephone exchange
Dualbandwirelessrsaquorsaquo Dual band wireless routers can use two frequency bands (24GHz and 5GHz) to send and receive data unlike some wireless routers which can only use 24GHz This Brownfield
29bitcomau
JARGON BUSTER
can mean faster speeds but the tablet phone or laptop you are using needs to work on 5GHz or you wonrsquot see any difference
Ethernetrsaquorsaquo A network protocol often used for networks inside your building but can also be used for data services delivered over copper telephone lines or optical fibre cable Ethernet broadband services generally have same uploaddownload as opposed to ADSL
Exchangersaquorsaquo Can refer to Microsoft Exchange software which runs on a companyrsquos server and operates their company email or a telephone exchange
FSAMrsaquorsaquo A group of up to 3000 buildings connected to the NBN
GigabitEthernetrsaquorsaquo If you are using Ethernet cable to network your office Gigabit Ethernet will provide faster speeds (1Gbps) than Fast Ethernet (100Mbps)
Greenfieldrsaquorsaquo New housing developments Many of these streets will receive the NBN before Brownfield locations as they will be connected on a demand-driven basis Developers apply to have the NBN connected in their development
HostedITrsaquorsaquo Instead of buying and installing IT equipment yourself you can use another companyrsquos servers This can
include servers to run your email and website as well as hosted applications that users access over the network You can also hire a ldquomanaged service providerrdquo to setup and run your own IT
Latencyrsaquorsaquo Sometimes refers to the delay between sending data and receiving a response Higher latency is a disadvantage when using certain applications like videoconferencing Latency is generally higher on satellite and wireless networks such as 3G although 4G has a theoretical lower latency than 3G
LTErsaquorsaquo Higher speed wireless broadband used in the latest generation of smartphones and if you are getting the NBN via fixed wireless Much faster speeds than ADSL are possible but latency is much higher than optical fibre cable meaning itrsquos not suitable for videoconferencing Sometimes referred to as ldquo4Grdquo
Continued over page
Greenfield
LTE
WirelessRouter
30 bitcomau
MidbandEthernetrsaquorsaquo Provides up to 40Mbps over multiple copper lines Unlike ADSL you get the same upload and download speed but cost is usually several hundred dollars a month
NTDrsaquorsaquo Network Termination Device This is supplied free and is attached to a wall inside your building It takes the place of a modem when you get the NBN This is the box your router and phones will plug in to
Paymentgatewayrsaquorsaquo Used if you want to let customers buy products from your website When a customer buys a product on your website the transaction is sent to a third party the payment gateway which authorises the payment with the bank
PCDrsaquorsaquo Premises Connection Device This is a small box that is attached to an outside wall of your building when you are connected to the NBN via fibre cable The NBN fibre cable runs through this box to the inside of your building where it connects to the NTD
Powerlinenetworkrsaquorsaquo If a wireless router isnrsquot enough to spread your Internet connection
around your business (due to brick walls or multiple stories) and having Ethernet cables installed is too difficult another option is a powerline network An adaptor is plugged into each power point and data can be sent through the buildingrsquos internal wiring
PSTNrsaquorsaquo The public switched telephone network The copper network your analogue telephone connects to
RSPrsaquorsaquo Retail Service Provider Another name for an Internet provider such as Telstra Optus iiNet or Internode Once your building is connected you can contact an RSP to pay for an Internet plan and start using the NBN
Serverrsaquorsaquo A central computer that other computers on a network connect to A server might be in your own building providing a central location so all your staff can access the same files from their computers or an Internet server to which you connect to to access web sites or other services
SHDSLrsaquorsaquo Unlike ADSL SHDSL provides the same upload and download speeds Speeds up to 40Mbps are available by combining several phone lines in the form of Extreme SHDSL
SIPrsaquorsaquo A protocol used in devices for delivering multiple VOIP telephone calls at once
PCD
NTD
PCD
31bitcomau
JARGON BUSTER
SLArsaquorsaquo business-grade broadband contracts can include a Service Level Agreement ndash the provider commits to providing a certain level of service (995 Internet uptime for example)
Synchronousrsaquorsaquo The same upload and download speeds Midband Ethernet and SHDSL are synchronous but ADSL services are not meaning upload speeds are much slower than download speeds
UNI-Vportrsaquorsaquo A port on the NBN network termination device (NTD) where you plug in a telephone Alternatively if you use a VOIP telephone service your telephone can be plugged into a wireless router with a VOIP feature which then plugs into the data port on the NTD
Batterybackupunitrsaquorsaquo A separate box supplied free with your NBN connection that is installed alongside the NTD on a wall inside your building This unit lets you continue to make telephone calls during a blackout if you are using an analogue phone running through the UNI-V port
Uploadspeedrsaquorsaquo If you use applications that send data such as videoconferencing and sending large email attachments as opposed to downloading large files and watching videos then look for an Internet service with higher upload speeds
UPSrsaquorsaquo Uninterruptible Power Supply A device that plugs into your server or computer so that it can continue to run if the main power supply stops
VOIPrsaquorsaquo Voice over IP Unlike regular telephone services VOIP telephone calls are converted to data and travel over data networks Call rates can be much cheaper though call quality can suffer if your VOIP service and your broadband connection arenrsquot suitable
VPNrsaquorsaquo A secure way to upload and download files to and from your officersquos internal network drives and servers when you are not in the office (eg at a hotel or from another office)
WANrsaquorsaquo Wide Area Network Offices in different towns or cities can be connected via the same WAN
Wirelessextenderrsaquorsaquo If you already have a wireless router this is a separate device which plugs into a power point and extends the range of the signal
WirelessNrsaquorsaquo Compatible routers are recommended for spreading your Internet connection around your office wirelessly Will be superseded by the faster 80211ac standard but there are not currently many compatible laptops and devices that will connect at 80211ac speeds
Batterybackupunit
UNI-Vport
WirelessRouter
28bitcomau
Their small businesses have the technology edgeDoes yoursSometimes you can be so busy that keeping up with technology seems too much What you really want to know is what it can do for your business BIT will keep you up to date with the technology that can help you do your job and grow your business ndash whether you are a florist a plumber an accountant or any type of Australian small business
B U S I N E S S I T
Make technology work for your business
Click to return to
Bit
- 001
- 002-003
- 004-009
- 010-011
- 012-017
- 018-019
- 020-025
- 026-027
- 028-031
- 032
-
19bitcomau
NEED TO KNOW
7 BE WARY OF CHEAP ROUTERS
Your router will need to be able to cope with NBN speeds as well as be able to spread the data around your building fast enough If it doesnrsquot have gigabit Ethernet (for wired networks) or dual band wireless (for wireless networks) you might want to think about upgrading See page 19
9 GET A BACKUP POWER SUPPLY
Even if you have a battery backup box supplied with the NBN connection it wonrsquot keep your Internet running during a blackout only your phone If data access is critical to your business even during a blackout get an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) for a few hundred dollars
8 COMPARE VOICE PLANS
The Internet provider you have a data plan with might give you a better deal on a UNI-V phone service than other providers But call rates might be cheaper on a phone plan through the UNI-D ports
6 REWIRE YOUR PHONES
If you have lots of phone extensions in different rooms itrsquos still possible to keep using them for phone calls but the wiring will need to be connected to the NBN box An alternative is to connect a cordless phone base station to the NBN box
10 WATCH FOR BOTTLENECKS
Wersquove heard stories of people complaining that the NBN isnrsquot any faster but in the end something on their network was limiting the speed ndash like a wireless router that was affected by interference Remember that your own network can cause problems if itrsquos not set up correctly Bad cabling can also cause problems
5 CHECK YOU HAVE ENOUGH PHONE PORTS
The NBN termination unit has two phone ports If you need more phone lines once the copper telephone lines are disconnected consider switching to a VOIP telephone plan This gives you lots of ldquovirtualrdquo lines which run through the data ports instead
20 bitcomau
o you donrsquot want to wait for the NBN to arrive You need faster
more reliable Internet now On these pages wersquove listed ways you can get it without waiting for the NBN
The cheapest broadband is a home plan and they can provide relatively fast speeds if you only have one or two computers But if your business has grown or you want to connect a small office full of people business-grade broadband might serve you better
Generally business-grade services cost more ndash anywhere from around the $100-a-month mark up to $1000 or more
Yes the more expensive services can be much faster than a home ADSL service but download speeds are only one benefit
Other benefits of a business data service might include
A commitment that the connection will be working for a certain amount of time Eg ldquo9995 uptimerdquo
Fewer customers to share the bandwidth with This means your connection is less likely to slow down when lots of other businesses are using the network too
Faster upload speeds than home ADSL Very important to prevent your connection slowing down if you have several people sending large files at the same time Upload speeds are very limited on home ADSL services
Some services include 24x7 technical support
NBN plans are generally shaping up to be good value compared to what you see on the following pages but not everyone wants to wait
What if I donrsquot have the NBN yetEven if the roll-out hasnrsquot reached your area yet there are still several other options to get better Internet performance nowWORDS WILLIAM MAHER
SSLA
A Service Level Agreement is offered with many business data plans It sets out formal responsibilities of the service provider covering things like how fast they should respond to you if there is a problem what hours of the day technical support is available a commitment that problems will be fixed within a certain number of hours and that the service will be running without problems for a certain amount of time
21bitcomau
OPTIONS
HOME ADSL2+Speed Up to 24Mbps download 1Mbps upload (theoretical peak speeds actual speeds will be slower)Pros Relatively cheap compared to business servicesCons Speed depends on distance from telephone exchange Slow upload speed Shared with other usersRecommended Home office 1-2 computers where upload speeds arenrsquot critical where consistent speed isnrsquot critical for day-to-day operations
HOME ADSL2+ WITH ANNEX MSpeed Up to 24Mbps download up to 25Mbps upload (theoretical peak speeds Actual speeds will be slower)Pros Relatively cheap compared to business services Faster upload speed than regular ADSL2+Cons Speed depends on distance from telephone exchange Shared with other usersRecommended Home office 1-2 computers where faster upload speeds are useful but not critical where consistent speed isnrsquot critical for day-to-day operations
CABLE INTERNETSpeed Up to 100Mbps download up to 2Mbps upload (theoretical peak speeds Actual
speeds will be slower)Pros Relatively cheap compared to business services Much faster potential download speeds than ADSL2+Cons Limited to certain cities upload speeds much slower than download shared with other usersRecommended Home office 1-2 computers where faster download speeds than ADSL2+ are needed where fast upload speeds are not necessary where consistent speed isnrsquot critical for day-to-day operations
WIRELESS 3G Speed ldquoTypicalrdquo speeds up to 20Mbps download up to 3Mbps upload (actual speeds could be much slower speed depends on network type)Pros You can use it on the moveCons Speed varies a lot depending on where you are Speed decreases as more users share network Latency generally higher than ADSL Upload speeds much lower than downloadRecommended Secondary connection for accessing email and websites while on the move and where fast upload speeds are not required Where a reliable connection and consistent speed isnrsquot important
WIRELESS 4GSpeed ldquoTypicalrdquo speeds up
22 bitcomau
to 40MBps download up to 10Mbps upload (actual speeds could be much slower)Pros You can use it on the move Higher upload speeds than ADSL2+ and 3G are possibleCons Speed varies a lot depending on where you are Speed decreases as more users share network Theoretical upload speeds slower than download (though not always the case in practice) Limited to Telstra and Optus at time of writing
Recommended Secondary connection while on the move and where faster upload speeds than 3G are required for transferring large files For connecting several gadgets (tablet and laptop) to the Internet at the same time Where a reliable connection and consistent speed isnrsquot important
BUSINESS ADSL2+Speed up to 24Mbps download up to 25Mbps upload
DATA SPEED COMPARISON DOWNLOADSUPLOADS
0Mbps 10Mbps 20Mbps 30Mbps 40Mbps 50Mbps 100Mbps 1000Mbps
HOME ADSL2+
HOME ADSL2+ WITH ANNEX M
CABLE INTERNET
WIRELESS 3G (PEAK ldquoTYPICALrdquo SPEED)
WIRELESS 4G (PEAK ldquoTYPICALrdquo SPEED)
BUSINESS ADSL2+
BONDED DSL
SHDSL
ETHERNET OVER COPPER
ETHERNET OVER FIBRE
NBN (FIBRE)
NBN (FIXED WIRELESS)
NBN (SATELLITE)
23bitcomau
OPTIONS
with Annex M (theoretical peak speeds Actual speeds will be slower)Pros Relatively cheap compared to other business broadband services Might include priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratioCons Speed depends on distance from telephone exchange Upload speed much slower than downloadRecommended Home office 1-3 computers where upload
speeds arenrsquot critical where consistent speed isnrsquot critical for day-to-day operations
BONDED DSLSpeed Typical speeds up to 30Mbps download up to 26Mbps upload with Annex M (by combining copper lines) (actual speeds could be slower)Pros Faster speeds than ADSL2+ possible Relatively cheap compared to other business broadband services
Please note The information on these pages is intended to be a general guide only Exact speeds and other factors can differ between providers Check these details with your provider before purchasing a data service Unless otherwise noted we have quoted maximum potential speeds real life speeds can be significantly slower (especially for wireless and ADSL) and maximum potential speeds can vary according to which technology variant your network uses Note For wireless 3G and 4G we have followed the lead of carriers and quoted the maximum ldquotypicalrdquo speed you are likely to achieve not the maximum theoretical speed
Some of these services will not be available at a certain point after the NBN is connected in your area For example in areas where fibre cable is installed to connect customers to the NBN copper telephone lines will be decommissioned 18 months after the fibre is connected HFC (cable Internet) networks are also expected to be decommissioned in each area once the NBN is rolled out
0Mbps 10Mbps 20Mbps 30Mbps 40Mbps 50Mbps 100Mbps 1000Mbps
DOWNLOADUPLOAD
24 bitcomau
Might include priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratioCons Speed depends on distance from telephone exchange Upload speed much slower than downloads Two telephone lines neededRecommended Homesmall office that needs faster speeds than ADSL2+ or canrsquot get fast enough ADSL2+ speeds because of distance from telephone exchange Where having the same uploaddownload speed isnrsquot necessary
SHDSLSpeed Up to 46Mbps download up to 46Mbps uploadPros Same upload and download speeds Speeds are guaranteed Usually includes priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratioCons More expensive than ADSL2+ Download speeds offered often slower than theoretical ADSL2+ peak speedsRecommende Office that needs faster speeds than ADSL2+ especially where upload speed is crucial for videoconferencing regularly sending large files multiple Voice over IP telephone lines or connecting several offices Where fibre isnrsquot available Where consistent speed is critical
ETHERNET OVER COPPER(MIDBAND ETHERNET)Speed Up to 40Mbps download up to 40Mbps upload (by combining copper lines)Pros Same upload and download speeds Much faster upload speeds than ADSL2+ available Usually includes priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratio Cheaper overall than fibreCons More expensive than ADSL2+Recommended Office with many people at the same time regularly sending large files videoconferencing backup hosted applications VPN using VOIP or connecting to servers in other offices Where fibre isnrsquot available or is too expensive
ETHERNET OVER FIBRESpeed Up to 1000Mbps download up to 1000 Mbps uploadPros Same upload and download speeds Much faster speeds available than other services Usually includes priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratioCons Generally the most expensive option ndash can cost several thousand dollars a month Limited availabilityRecommended Large offices with many people at the same time regularly sending large
Latency Sometimes
refers to the delay between sending data and receiving a response Higher latency is a disadvantage when using certain applications like video-conferencing Latency is generally higher on satellite and wireless networks such as 3G although 4G has a theoretical lower latency than 3G
25bitcomau
OPTIONS
files videoconferencing backup hosted applications VPN using VOIP or connecting to servers in other offices Where a reliable connection and consistent very high speed is critical for day to day operations
NBN (FIBRE)Speed Up to 100MBps download up to 40Mbps upload (fastest plans available at time of writing Faster speeds theoretically possible in future)Pros Much faster speeds available than ADSL2+ including much faster upload speeds Provides minimum peak speeds unlike ADSL2+ More reliable than ADSL Business plans can include priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) (though residential NBN plans might not include this) Generally much cheaper than other business services with comparable speedsCons Very limited availability at time of writingRecommended Where several users need to senddownload large files videoconference backup use hosted applications VPN use VOIP or connect to servers in other offices at the same time Where a reliable connection and consistent speeds are critical Where much faster downloadupload speeds than ADSL2+ are important
NBN (FIXED WIRELESS)Speed Minimum 12Mbps download up to 1Mbps upload (Faster speeds planned)Pros Unlike mobile 4G and 3G networks ldquorelatively steadyrdquo speeds are promisedCons Very limited availability at time of writing Upload speeds much slower than download Top download speed currently much slower than NBN fibre and some other business servicesRecommended Where ADSL2+ isnrsquot available or is unreliable or slow For home office or small office where very high downloadupload speeds arenrsquot critical
NBN (SATELLITE)Speed Up to 6Mbps download up to 1Mbps upload (12Mbps download speeds planned for 2015)Pros Better speeds than some locations could otherwise getCons Top download speed relatively slow compared to NBN fibre and theoretical peak ADSL2+ download speed Upload speed much slower than download speed Higher latency than fixed line services Generally smaller download limits than ADSL2+ and fibreRecommended Locations that donrsquot have access to other broadband Where fast upload speeds arenrsquot needed Where latency-sensitive applications like VPNs arenrsquot required
26 bitcomau
My BookmarksFor more information on the best NBN plans and more click these links
Show me when I am getting connected
General NBN info
Show me all the NBN providers
Tell me if I can get NBN satellite
Give me more info on fibre NBN
I want more info on wireless NBN
I want more info about
the NBN fibre termination unit
Show me all the towns on
the current NBN rollout plan
Show me the NBN FAQ
27bitcomau
MORE INFO
Show me the best plans
Tell me about finding
a registered cabler
I want to try videoconferencing
Show me a list of cablers
I want Microsoft to host my servers
for me
Show me more about
getting connected
I want to read what users are
saying about Internet
providers
I want a web site
Help me make better
use of the NBN for
my business
Teach me about
online marketing
I want Google to
host my servers for me
28 bitcomau
The tech-talk in plain English
AnnexMrsaquorsaquo An add-on feature that some ADSL Internet providers offer to increase the speed of uploads iiNet for example says that customers will get a theoretical maximum upload speed of 275Mbps
ATArsaquorsaquo If you want to use a VOIP telephone service and donrsquot have a suitable VOIP router your VOIP provider can provide this adapter which you plug your telephone into
BondedDSLrsaquorsaquo By combining several phone lines higher broadband speeds are possible Unlike SHDSL upload speeds are still a lot slower than download speeds
Brownfieldrsaquorsaquo Premises that have already been built The focus is on connecting brownfields in regional areas to the NBN first so people currently with the worst broadband get it first
Businessgradebroadbandrsaquorsaquo Can cost more than home broadband but can include guaranteed uptime service agreements and sometimes your
data will travel over a separate network meaning less traffic congestion
Cat6rsaquorsaquo Category 6 cables are recommended for Gigabit Ethernet speeds in an office network
Cloudrsaquorsaquo Instead of buying and installing software on your own businessrsquos server a cloud company owns and runs the server hardware and software ndash you pay to access it over the Internet Examples include Microsoft Office 365 Salesforce Gmail and Dropbox
Contentionratiorsaquorsaquo A term used to indicate how many users have to share the same bandwidth Generally the lower the contention ratio the better Business grade broadband can sometimes have better contention ratios than home broadband
Copperrsaquorsaquo The public telephone lines also used for broadband services like ADSL SHDSL and Midband Ethernet Data services over copper reduce in speed the further your building is from your local telephone exchange
Dualbandwirelessrsaquorsaquo Dual band wireless routers can use two frequency bands (24GHz and 5GHz) to send and receive data unlike some wireless routers which can only use 24GHz This Brownfield
29bitcomau
JARGON BUSTER
can mean faster speeds but the tablet phone or laptop you are using needs to work on 5GHz or you wonrsquot see any difference
Ethernetrsaquorsaquo A network protocol often used for networks inside your building but can also be used for data services delivered over copper telephone lines or optical fibre cable Ethernet broadband services generally have same uploaddownload as opposed to ADSL
Exchangersaquorsaquo Can refer to Microsoft Exchange software which runs on a companyrsquos server and operates their company email or a telephone exchange
FSAMrsaquorsaquo A group of up to 3000 buildings connected to the NBN
GigabitEthernetrsaquorsaquo If you are using Ethernet cable to network your office Gigabit Ethernet will provide faster speeds (1Gbps) than Fast Ethernet (100Mbps)
Greenfieldrsaquorsaquo New housing developments Many of these streets will receive the NBN before Brownfield locations as they will be connected on a demand-driven basis Developers apply to have the NBN connected in their development
HostedITrsaquorsaquo Instead of buying and installing IT equipment yourself you can use another companyrsquos servers This can
include servers to run your email and website as well as hosted applications that users access over the network You can also hire a ldquomanaged service providerrdquo to setup and run your own IT
Latencyrsaquorsaquo Sometimes refers to the delay between sending data and receiving a response Higher latency is a disadvantage when using certain applications like videoconferencing Latency is generally higher on satellite and wireless networks such as 3G although 4G has a theoretical lower latency than 3G
LTErsaquorsaquo Higher speed wireless broadband used in the latest generation of smartphones and if you are getting the NBN via fixed wireless Much faster speeds than ADSL are possible but latency is much higher than optical fibre cable meaning itrsquos not suitable for videoconferencing Sometimes referred to as ldquo4Grdquo
Continued over page
Greenfield
LTE
WirelessRouter
30 bitcomau
MidbandEthernetrsaquorsaquo Provides up to 40Mbps over multiple copper lines Unlike ADSL you get the same upload and download speed but cost is usually several hundred dollars a month
NTDrsaquorsaquo Network Termination Device This is supplied free and is attached to a wall inside your building It takes the place of a modem when you get the NBN This is the box your router and phones will plug in to
Paymentgatewayrsaquorsaquo Used if you want to let customers buy products from your website When a customer buys a product on your website the transaction is sent to a third party the payment gateway which authorises the payment with the bank
PCDrsaquorsaquo Premises Connection Device This is a small box that is attached to an outside wall of your building when you are connected to the NBN via fibre cable The NBN fibre cable runs through this box to the inside of your building where it connects to the NTD
Powerlinenetworkrsaquorsaquo If a wireless router isnrsquot enough to spread your Internet connection
around your business (due to brick walls or multiple stories) and having Ethernet cables installed is too difficult another option is a powerline network An adaptor is plugged into each power point and data can be sent through the buildingrsquos internal wiring
PSTNrsaquorsaquo The public switched telephone network The copper network your analogue telephone connects to
RSPrsaquorsaquo Retail Service Provider Another name for an Internet provider such as Telstra Optus iiNet or Internode Once your building is connected you can contact an RSP to pay for an Internet plan and start using the NBN
Serverrsaquorsaquo A central computer that other computers on a network connect to A server might be in your own building providing a central location so all your staff can access the same files from their computers or an Internet server to which you connect to to access web sites or other services
SHDSLrsaquorsaquo Unlike ADSL SHDSL provides the same upload and download speeds Speeds up to 40Mbps are available by combining several phone lines in the form of Extreme SHDSL
SIPrsaquorsaquo A protocol used in devices for delivering multiple VOIP telephone calls at once
PCD
NTD
PCD
31bitcomau
JARGON BUSTER
SLArsaquorsaquo business-grade broadband contracts can include a Service Level Agreement ndash the provider commits to providing a certain level of service (995 Internet uptime for example)
Synchronousrsaquorsaquo The same upload and download speeds Midband Ethernet and SHDSL are synchronous but ADSL services are not meaning upload speeds are much slower than download speeds
UNI-Vportrsaquorsaquo A port on the NBN network termination device (NTD) where you plug in a telephone Alternatively if you use a VOIP telephone service your telephone can be plugged into a wireless router with a VOIP feature which then plugs into the data port on the NTD
Batterybackupunitrsaquorsaquo A separate box supplied free with your NBN connection that is installed alongside the NTD on a wall inside your building This unit lets you continue to make telephone calls during a blackout if you are using an analogue phone running through the UNI-V port
Uploadspeedrsaquorsaquo If you use applications that send data such as videoconferencing and sending large email attachments as opposed to downloading large files and watching videos then look for an Internet service with higher upload speeds
UPSrsaquorsaquo Uninterruptible Power Supply A device that plugs into your server or computer so that it can continue to run if the main power supply stops
VOIPrsaquorsaquo Voice over IP Unlike regular telephone services VOIP telephone calls are converted to data and travel over data networks Call rates can be much cheaper though call quality can suffer if your VOIP service and your broadband connection arenrsquot suitable
VPNrsaquorsaquo A secure way to upload and download files to and from your officersquos internal network drives and servers when you are not in the office (eg at a hotel or from another office)
WANrsaquorsaquo Wide Area Network Offices in different towns or cities can be connected via the same WAN
Wirelessextenderrsaquorsaquo If you already have a wireless router this is a separate device which plugs into a power point and extends the range of the signal
WirelessNrsaquorsaquo Compatible routers are recommended for spreading your Internet connection around your office wirelessly Will be superseded by the faster 80211ac standard but there are not currently many compatible laptops and devices that will connect at 80211ac speeds
Batterybackupunit
UNI-Vport
WirelessRouter
28bitcomau
Their small businesses have the technology edgeDoes yoursSometimes you can be so busy that keeping up with technology seems too much What you really want to know is what it can do for your business BIT will keep you up to date with the technology that can help you do your job and grow your business ndash whether you are a florist a plumber an accountant or any type of Australian small business
B U S I N E S S I T
Make technology work for your business
Click to return to
Bit
- 001
- 002-003
- 004-009
- 010-011
- 012-017
- 018-019
- 020-025
- 026-027
- 028-031
- 032
-
20 bitcomau
o you donrsquot want to wait for the NBN to arrive You need faster
more reliable Internet now On these pages wersquove listed ways you can get it without waiting for the NBN
The cheapest broadband is a home plan and they can provide relatively fast speeds if you only have one or two computers But if your business has grown or you want to connect a small office full of people business-grade broadband might serve you better
Generally business-grade services cost more ndash anywhere from around the $100-a-month mark up to $1000 or more
Yes the more expensive services can be much faster than a home ADSL service but download speeds are only one benefit
Other benefits of a business data service might include
A commitment that the connection will be working for a certain amount of time Eg ldquo9995 uptimerdquo
Fewer customers to share the bandwidth with This means your connection is less likely to slow down when lots of other businesses are using the network too
Faster upload speeds than home ADSL Very important to prevent your connection slowing down if you have several people sending large files at the same time Upload speeds are very limited on home ADSL services
Some services include 24x7 technical support
NBN plans are generally shaping up to be good value compared to what you see on the following pages but not everyone wants to wait
What if I donrsquot have the NBN yetEven if the roll-out hasnrsquot reached your area yet there are still several other options to get better Internet performance nowWORDS WILLIAM MAHER
SSLA
A Service Level Agreement is offered with many business data plans It sets out formal responsibilities of the service provider covering things like how fast they should respond to you if there is a problem what hours of the day technical support is available a commitment that problems will be fixed within a certain number of hours and that the service will be running without problems for a certain amount of time
21bitcomau
OPTIONS
HOME ADSL2+Speed Up to 24Mbps download 1Mbps upload (theoretical peak speeds actual speeds will be slower)Pros Relatively cheap compared to business servicesCons Speed depends on distance from telephone exchange Slow upload speed Shared with other usersRecommended Home office 1-2 computers where upload speeds arenrsquot critical where consistent speed isnrsquot critical for day-to-day operations
HOME ADSL2+ WITH ANNEX MSpeed Up to 24Mbps download up to 25Mbps upload (theoretical peak speeds Actual speeds will be slower)Pros Relatively cheap compared to business services Faster upload speed than regular ADSL2+Cons Speed depends on distance from telephone exchange Shared with other usersRecommended Home office 1-2 computers where faster upload speeds are useful but not critical where consistent speed isnrsquot critical for day-to-day operations
CABLE INTERNETSpeed Up to 100Mbps download up to 2Mbps upload (theoretical peak speeds Actual
speeds will be slower)Pros Relatively cheap compared to business services Much faster potential download speeds than ADSL2+Cons Limited to certain cities upload speeds much slower than download shared with other usersRecommended Home office 1-2 computers where faster download speeds than ADSL2+ are needed where fast upload speeds are not necessary where consistent speed isnrsquot critical for day-to-day operations
WIRELESS 3G Speed ldquoTypicalrdquo speeds up to 20Mbps download up to 3Mbps upload (actual speeds could be much slower speed depends on network type)Pros You can use it on the moveCons Speed varies a lot depending on where you are Speed decreases as more users share network Latency generally higher than ADSL Upload speeds much lower than downloadRecommended Secondary connection for accessing email and websites while on the move and where fast upload speeds are not required Where a reliable connection and consistent speed isnrsquot important
WIRELESS 4GSpeed ldquoTypicalrdquo speeds up
22 bitcomau
to 40MBps download up to 10Mbps upload (actual speeds could be much slower)Pros You can use it on the move Higher upload speeds than ADSL2+ and 3G are possibleCons Speed varies a lot depending on where you are Speed decreases as more users share network Theoretical upload speeds slower than download (though not always the case in practice) Limited to Telstra and Optus at time of writing
Recommended Secondary connection while on the move and where faster upload speeds than 3G are required for transferring large files For connecting several gadgets (tablet and laptop) to the Internet at the same time Where a reliable connection and consistent speed isnrsquot important
BUSINESS ADSL2+Speed up to 24Mbps download up to 25Mbps upload
DATA SPEED COMPARISON DOWNLOADSUPLOADS
0Mbps 10Mbps 20Mbps 30Mbps 40Mbps 50Mbps 100Mbps 1000Mbps
HOME ADSL2+
HOME ADSL2+ WITH ANNEX M
CABLE INTERNET
WIRELESS 3G (PEAK ldquoTYPICALrdquo SPEED)
WIRELESS 4G (PEAK ldquoTYPICALrdquo SPEED)
BUSINESS ADSL2+
BONDED DSL
SHDSL
ETHERNET OVER COPPER
ETHERNET OVER FIBRE
NBN (FIBRE)
NBN (FIXED WIRELESS)
NBN (SATELLITE)
23bitcomau
OPTIONS
with Annex M (theoretical peak speeds Actual speeds will be slower)Pros Relatively cheap compared to other business broadband services Might include priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratioCons Speed depends on distance from telephone exchange Upload speed much slower than downloadRecommended Home office 1-3 computers where upload
speeds arenrsquot critical where consistent speed isnrsquot critical for day-to-day operations
BONDED DSLSpeed Typical speeds up to 30Mbps download up to 26Mbps upload with Annex M (by combining copper lines) (actual speeds could be slower)Pros Faster speeds than ADSL2+ possible Relatively cheap compared to other business broadband services
Please note The information on these pages is intended to be a general guide only Exact speeds and other factors can differ between providers Check these details with your provider before purchasing a data service Unless otherwise noted we have quoted maximum potential speeds real life speeds can be significantly slower (especially for wireless and ADSL) and maximum potential speeds can vary according to which technology variant your network uses Note For wireless 3G and 4G we have followed the lead of carriers and quoted the maximum ldquotypicalrdquo speed you are likely to achieve not the maximum theoretical speed
Some of these services will not be available at a certain point after the NBN is connected in your area For example in areas where fibre cable is installed to connect customers to the NBN copper telephone lines will be decommissioned 18 months after the fibre is connected HFC (cable Internet) networks are also expected to be decommissioned in each area once the NBN is rolled out
0Mbps 10Mbps 20Mbps 30Mbps 40Mbps 50Mbps 100Mbps 1000Mbps
DOWNLOADUPLOAD
24 bitcomau
Might include priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratioCons Speed depends on distance from telephone exchange Upload speed much slower than downloads Two telephone lines neededRecommended Homesmall office that needs faster speeds than ADSL2+ or canrsquot get fast enough ADSL2+ speeds because of distance from telephone exchange Where having the same uploaddownload speed isnrsquot necessary
SHDSLSpeed Up to 46Mbps download up to 46Mbps uploadPros Same upload and download speeds Speeds are guaranteed Usually includes priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratioCons More expensive than ADSL2+ Download speeds offered often slower than theoretical ADSL2+ peak speedsRecommende Office that needs faster speeds than ADSL2+ especially where upload speed is crucial for videoconferencing regularly sending large files multiple Voice over IP telephone lines or connecting several offices Where fibre isnrsquot available Where consistent speed is critical
ETHERNET OVER COPPER(MIDBAND ETHERNET)Speed Up to 40Mbps download up to 40Mbps upload (by combining copper lines)Pros Same upload and download speeds Much faster upload speeds than ADSL2+ available Usually includes priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratio Cheaper overall than fibreCons More expensive than ADSL2+Recommended Office with many people at the same time regularly sending large files videoconferencing backup hosted applications VPN using VOIP or connecting to servers in other offices Where fibre isnrsquot available or is too expensive
ETHERNET OVER FIBRESpeed Up to 1000Mbps download up to 1000 Mbps uploadPros Same upload and download speeds Much faster speeds available than other services Usually includes priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratioCons Generally the most expensive option ndash can cost several thousand dollars a month Limited availabilityRecommended Large offices with many people at the same time regularly sending large
Latency Sometimes
refers to the delay between sending data and receiving a response Higher latency is a disadvantage when using certain applications like video-conferencing Latency is generally higher on satellite and wireless networks such as 3G although 4G has a theoretical lower latency than 3G
25bitcomau
OPTIONS
files videoconferencing backup hosted applications VPN using VOIP or connecting to servers in other offices Where a reliable connection and consistent very high speed is critical for day to day operations
NBN (FIBRE)Speed Up to 100MBps download up to 40Mbps upload (fastest plans available at time of writing Faster speeds theoretically possible in future)Pros Much faster speeds available than ADSL2+ including much faster upload speeds Provides minimum peak speeds unlike ADSL2+ More reliable than ADSL Business plans can include priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) (though residential NBN plans might not include this) Generally much cheaper than other business services with comparable speedsCons Very limited availability at time of writingRecommended Where several users need to senddownload large files videoconference backup use hosted applications VPN use VOIP or connect to servers in other offices at the same time Where a reliable connection and consistent speeds are critical Where much faster downloadupload speeds than ADSL2+ are important
NBN (FIXED WIRELESS)Speed Minimum 12Mbps download up to 1Mbps upload (Faster speeds planned)Pros Unlike mobile 4G and 3G networks ldquorelatively steadyrdquo speeds are promisedCons Very limited availability at time of writing Upload speeds much slower than download Top download speed currently much slower than NBN fibre and some other business servicesRecommended Where ADSL2+ isnrsquot available or is unreliable or slow For home office or small office where very high downloadupload speeds arenrsquot critical
NBN (SATELLITE)Speed Up to 6Mbps download up to 1Mbps upload (12Mbps download speeds planned for 2015)Pros Better speeds than some locations could otherwise getCons Top download speed relatively slow compared to NBN fibre and theoretical peak ADSL2+ download speed Upload speed much slower than download speed Higher latency than fixed line services Generally smaller download limits than ADSL2+ and fibreRecommended Locations that donrsquot have access to other broadband Where fast upload speeds arenrsquot needed Where latency-sensitive applications like VPNs arenrsquot required
26 bitcomau
My BookmarksFor more information on the best NBN plans and more click these links
Show me when I am getting connected
General NBN info
Show me all the NBN providers
Tell me if I can get NBN satellite
Give me more info on fibre NBN
I want more info on wireless NBN
I want more info about
the NBN fibre termination unit
Show me all the towns on
the current NBN rollout plan
Show me the NBN FAQ
27bitcomau
MORE INFO
Show me the best plans
Tell me about finding
a registered cabler
I want to try videoconferencing
Show me a list of cablers
I want Microsoft to host my servers
for me
Show me more about
getting connected
I want to read what users are
saying about Internet
providers
I want a web site
Help me make better
use of the NBN for
my business
Teach me about
online marketing
I want Google to
host my servers for me
28 bitcomau
The tech-talk in plain English
AnnexMrsaquorsaquo An add-on feature that some ADSL Internet providers offer to increase the speed of uploads iiNet for example says that customers will get a theoretical maximum upload speed of 275Mbps
ATArsaquorsaquo If you want to use a VOIP telephone service and donrsquot have a suitable VOIP router your VOIP provider can provide this adapter which you plug your telephone into
BondedDSLrsaquorsaquo By combining several phone lines higher broadband speeds are possible Unlike SHDSL upload speeds are still a lot slower than download speeds
Brownfieldrsaquorsaquo Premises that have already been built The focus is on connecting brownfields in regional areas to the NBN first so people currently with the worst broadband get it first
Businessgradebroadbandrsaquorsaquo Can cost more than home broadband but can include guaranteed uptime service agreements and sometimes your
data will travel over a separate network meaning less traffic congestion
Cat6rsaquorsaquo Category 6 cables are recommended for Gigabit Ethernet speeds in an office network
Cloudrsaquorsaquo Instead of buying and installing software on your own businessrsquos server a cloud company owns and runs the server hardware and software ndash you pay to access it over the Internet Examples include Microsoft Office 365 Salesforce Gmail and Dropbox
Contentionratiorsaquorsaquo A term used to indicate how many users have to share the same bandwidth Generally the lower the contention ratio the better Business grade broadband can sometimes have better contention ratios than home broadband
Copperrsaquorsaquo The public telephone lines also used for broadband services like ADSL SHDSL and Midband Ethernet Data services over copper reduce in speed the further your building is from your local telephone exchange
Dualbandwirelessrsaquorsaquo Dual band wireless routers can use two frequency bands (24GHz and 5GHz) to send and receive data unlike some wireless routers which can only use 24GHz This Brownfield
29bitcomau
JARGON BUSTER
can mean faster speeds but the tablet phone or laptop you are using needs to work on 5GHz or you wonrsquot see any difference
Ethernetrsaquorsaquo A network protocol often used for networks inside your building but can also be used for data services delivered over copper telephone lines or optical fibre cable Ethernet broadband services generally have same uploaddownload as opposed to ADSL
Exchangersaquorsaquo Can refer to Microsoft Exchange software which runs on a companyrsquos server and operates their company email or a telephone exchange
FSAMrsaquorsaquo A group of up to 3000 buildings connected to the NBN
GigabitEthernetrsaquorsaquo If you are using Ethernet cable to network your office Gigabit Ethernet will provide faster speeds (1Gbps) than Fast Ethernet (100Mbps)
Greenfieldrsaquorsaquo New housing developments Many of these streets will receive the NBN before Brownfield locations as they will be connected on a demand-driven basis Developers apply to have the NBN connected in their development
HostedITrsaquorsaquo Instead of buying and installing IT equipment yourself you can use another companyrsquos servers This can
include servers to run your email and website as well as hosted applications that users access over the network You can also hire a ldquomanaged service providerrdquo to setup and run your own IT
Latencyrsaquorsaquo Sometimes refers to the delay between sending data and receiving a response Higher latency is a disadvantage when using certain applications like videoconferencing Latency is generally higher on satellite and wireless networks such as 3G although 4G has a theoretical lower latency than 3G
LTErsaquorsaquo Higher speed wireless broadband used in the latest generation of smartphones and if you are getting the NBN via fixed wireless Much faster speeds than ADSL are possible but latency is much higher than optical fibre cable meaning itrsquos not suitable for videoconferencing Sometimes referred to as ldquo4Grdquo
Continued over page
Greenfield
LTE
WirelessRouter
30 bitcomau
MidbandEthernetrsaquorsaquo Provides up to 40Mbps over multiple copper lines Unlike ADSL you get the same upload and download speed but cost is usually several hundred dollars a month
NTDrsaquorsaquo Network Termination Device This is supplied free and is attached to a wall inside your building It takes the place of a modem when you get the NBN This is the box your router and phones will plug in to
Paymentgatewayrsaquorsaquo Used if you want to let customers buy products from your website When a customer buys a product on your website the transaction is sent to a third party the payment gateway which authorises the payment with the bank
PCDrsaquorsaquo Premises Connection Device This is a small box that is attached to an outside wall of your building when you are connected to the NBN via fibre cable The NBN fibre cable runs through this box to the inside of your building where it connects to the NTD
Powerlinenetworkrsaquorsaquo If a wireless router isnrsquot enough to spread your Internet connection
around your business (due to brick walls or multiple stories) and having Ethernet cables installed is too difficult another option is a powerline network An adaptor is plugged into each power point and data can be sent through the buildingrsquos internal wiring
PSTNrsaquorsaquo The public switched telephone network The copper network your analogue telephone connects to
RSPrsaquorsaquo Retail Service Provider Another name for an Internet provider such as Telstra Optus iiNet or Internode Once your building is connected you can contact an RSP to pay for an Internet plan and start using the NBN
Serverrsaquorsaquo A central computer that other computers on a network connect to A server might be in your own building providing a central location so all your staff can access the same files from their computers or an Internet server to which you connect to to access web sites or other services
SHDSLrsaquorsaquo Unlike ADSL SHDSL provides the same upload and download speeds Speeds up to 40Mbps are available by combining several phone lines in the form of Extreme SHDSL
SIPrsaquorsaquo A protocol used in devices for delivering multiple VOIP telephone calls at once
PCD
NTD
PCD
31bitcomau
JARGON BUSTER
SLArsaquorsaquo business-grade broadband contracts can include a Service Level Agreement ndash the provider commits to providing a certain level of service (995 Internet uptime for example)
Synchronousrsaquorsaquo The same upload and download speeds Midband Ethernet and SHDSL are synchronous but ADSL services are not meaning upload speeds are much slower than download speeds
UNI-Vportrsaquorsaquo A port on the NBN network termination device (NTD) where you plug in a telephone Alternatively if you use a VOIP telephone service your telephone can be plugged into a wireless router with a VOIP feature which then plugs into the data port on the NTD
Batterybackupunitrsaquorsaquo A separate box supplied free with your NBN connection that is installed alongside the NTD on a wall inside your building This unit lets you continue to make telephone calls during a blackout if you are using an analogue phone running through the UNI-V port
Uploadspeedrsaquorsaquo If you use applications that send data such as videoconferencing and sending large email attachments as opposed to downloading large files and watching videos then look for an Internet service with higher upload speeds
UPSrsaquorsaquo Uninterruptible Power Supply A device that plugs into your server or computer so that it can continue to run if the main power supply stops
VOIPrsaquorsaquo Voice over IP Unlike regular telephone services VOIP telephone calls are converted to data and travel over data networks Call rates can be much cheaper though call quality can suffer if your VOIP service and your broadband connection arenrsquot suitable
VPNrsaquorsaquo A secure way to upload and download files to and from your officersquos internal network drives and servers when you are not in the office (eg at a hotel or from another office)
WANrsaquorsaquo Wide Area Network Offices in different towns or cities can be connected via the same WAN
Wirelessextenderrsaquorsaquo If you already have a wireless router this is a separate device which plugs into a power point and extends the range of the signal
WirelessNrsaquorsaquo Compatible routers are recommended for spreading your Internet connection around your office wirelessly Will be superseded by the faster 80211ac standard but there are not currently many compatible laptops and devices that will connect at 80211ac speeds
Batterybackupunit
UNI-Vport
WirelessRouter
28bitcomau
Their small businesses have the technology edgeDoes yoursSometimes you can be so busy that keeping up with technology seems too much What you really want to know is what it can do for your business BIT will keep you up to date with the technology that can help you do your job and grow your business ndash whether you are a florist a plumber an accountant or any type of Australian small business
B U S I N E S S I T
Make technology work for your business
Click to return to
Bit
- 001
- 002-003
- 004-009
- 010-011
- 012-017
- 018-019
- 020-025
- 026-027
- 028-031
- 032
-
21bitcomau
OPTIONS
HOME ADSL2+Speed Up to 24Mbps download 1Mbps upload (theoretical peak speeds actual speeds will be slower)Pros Relatively cheap compared to business servicesCons Speed depends on distance from telephone exchange Slow upload speed Shared with other usersRecommended Home office 1-2 computers where upload speeds arenrsquot critical where consistent speed isnrsquot critical for day-to-day operations
HOME ADSL2+ WITH ANNEX MSpeed Up to 24Mbps download up to 25Mbps upload (theoretical peak speeds Actual speeds will be slower)Pros Relatively cheap compared to business services Faster upload speed than regular ADSL2+Cons Speed depends on distance from telephone exchange Shared with other usersRecommended Home office 1-2 computers where faster upload speeds are useful but not critical where consistent speed isnrsquot critical for day-to-day operations
CABLE INTERNETSpeed Up to 100Mbps download up to 2Mbps upload (theoretical peak speeds Actual
speeds will be slower)Pros Relatively cheap compared to business services Much faster potential download speeds than ADSL2+Cons Limited to certain cities upload speeds much slower than download shared with other usersRecommended Home office 1-2 computers where faster download speeds than ADSL2+ are needed where fast upload speeds are not necessary where consistent speed isnrsquot critical for day-to-day operations
WIRELESS 3G Speed ldquoTypicalrdquo speeds up to 20Mbps download up to 3Mbps upload (actual speeds could be much slower speed depends on network type)Pros You can use it on the moveCons Speed varies a lot depending on where you are Speed decreases as more users share network Latency generally higher than ADSL Upload speeds much lower than downloadRecommended Secondary connection for accessing email and websites while on the move and where fast upload speeds are not required Where a reliable connection and consistent speed isnrsquot important
WIRELESS 4GSpeed ldquoTypicalrdquo speeds up
22 bitcomau
to 40MBps download up to 10Mbps upload (actual speeds could be much slower)Pros You can use it on the move Higher upload speeds than ADSL2+ and 3G are possibleCons Speed varies a lot depending on where you are Speed decreases as more users share network Theoretical upload speeds slower than download (though not always the case in practice) Limited to Telstra and Optus at time of writing
Recommended Secondary connection while on the move and where faster upload speeds than 3G are required for transferring large files For connecting several gadgets (tablet and laptop) to the Internet at the same time Where a reliable connection and consistent speed isnrsquot important
BUSINESS ADSL2+Speed up to 24Mbps download up to 25Mbps upload
DATA SPEED COMPARISON DOWNLOADSUPLOADS
0Mbps 10Mbps 20Mbps 30Mbps 40Mbps 50Mbps 100Mbps 1000Mbps
HOME ADSL2+
HOME ADSL2+ WITH ANNEX M
CABLE INTERNET
WIRELESS 3G (PEAK ldquoTYPICALrdquo SPEED)
WIRELESS 4G (PEAK ldquoTYPICALrdquo SPEED)
BUSINESS ADSL2+
BONDED DSL
SHDSL
ETHERNET OVER COPPER
ETHERNET OVER FIBRE
NBN (FIBRE)
NBN (FIXED WIRELESS)
NBN (SATELLITE)
23bitcomau
OPTIONS
with Annex M (theoretical peak speeds Actual speeds will be slower)Pros Relatively cheap compared to other business broadband services Might include priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratioCons Speed depends on distance from telephone exchange Upload speed much slower than downloadRecommended Home office 1-3 computers where upload
speeds arenrsquot critical where consistent speed isnrsquot critical for day-to-day operations
BONDED DSLSpeed Typical speeds up to 30Mbps download up to 26Mbps upload with Annex M (by combining copper lines) (actual speeds could be slower)Pros Faster speeds than ADSL2+ possible Relatively cheap compared to other business broadband services
Please note The information on these pages is intended to be a general guide only Exact speeds and other factors can differ between providers Check these details with your provider before purchasing a data service Unless otherwise noted we have quoted maximum potential speeds real life speeds can be significantly slower (especially for wireless and ADSL) and maximum potential speeds can vary according to which technology variant your network uses Note For wireless 3G and 4G we have followed the lead of carriers and quoted the maximum ldquotypicalrdquo speed you are likely to achieve not the maximum theoretical speed
Some of these services will not be available at a certain point after the NBN is connected in your area For example in areas where fibre cable is installed to connect customers to the NBN copper telephone lines will be decommissioned 18 months after the fibre is connected HFC (cable Internet) networks are also expected to be decommissioned in each area once the NBN is rolled out
0Mbps 10Mbps 20Mbps 30Mbps 40Mbps 50Mbps 100Mbps 1000Mbps
DOWNLOADUPLOAD
24 bitcomau
Might include priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratioCons Speed depends on distance from telephone exchange Upload speed much slower than downloads Two telephone lines neededRecommended Homesmall office that needs faster speeds than ADSL2+ or canrsquot get fast enough ADSL2+ speeds because of distance from telephone exchange Where having the same uploaddownload speed isnrsquot necessary
SHDSLSpeed Up to 46Mbps download up to 46Mbps uploadPros Same upload and download speeds Speeds are guaranteed Usually includes priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratioCons More expensive than ADSL2+ Download speeds offered often slower than theoretical ADSL2+ peak speedsRecommende Office that needs faster speeds than ADSL2+ especially where upload speed is crucial for videoconferencing regularly sending large files multiple Voice over IP telephone lines or connecting several offices Where fibre isnrsquot available Where consistent speed is critical
ETHERNET OVER COPPER(MIDBAND ETHERNET)Speed Up to 40Mbps download up to 40Mbps upload (by combining copper lines)Pros Same upload and download speeds Much faster upload speeds than ADSL2+ available Usually includes priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratio Cheaper overall than fibreCons More expensive than ADSL2+Recommended Office with many people at the same time regularly sending large files videoconferencing backup hosted applications VPN using VOIP or connecting to servers in other offices Where fibre isnrsquot available or is too expensive
ETHERNET OVER FIBRESpeed Up to 1000Mbps download up to 1000 Mbps uploadPros Same upload and download speeds Much faster speeds available than other services Usually includes priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratioCons Generally the most expensive option ndash can cost several thousand dollars a month Limited availabilityRecommended Large offices with many people at the same time regularly sending large
Latency Sometimes
refers to the delay between sending data and receiving a response Higher latency is a disadvantage when using certain applications like video-conferencing Latency is generally higher on satellite and wireless networks such as 3G although 4G has a theoretical lower latency than 3G
25bitcomau
OPTIONS
files videoconferencing backup hosted applications VPN using VOIP or connecting to servers in other offices Where a reliable connection and consistent very high speed is critical for day to day operations
NBN (FIBRE)Speed Up to 100MBps download up to 40Mbps upload (fastest plans available at time of writing Faster speeds theoretically possible in future)Pros Much faster speeds available than ADSL2+ including much faster upload speeds Provides minimum peak speeds unlike ADSL2+ More reliable than ADSL Business plans can include priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) (though residential NBN plans might not include this) Generally much cheaper than other business services with comparable speedsCons Very limited availability at time of writingRecommended Where several users need to senddownload large files videoconference backup use hosted applications VPN use VOIP or connect to servers in other offices at the same time Where a reliable connection and consistent speeds are critical Where much faster downloadupload speeds than ADSL2+ are important
NBN (FIXED WIRELESS)Speed Minimum 12Mbps download up to 1Mbps upload (Faster speeds planned)Pros Unlike mobile 4G and 3G networks ldquorelatively steadyrdquo speeds are promisedCons Very limited availability at time of writing Upload speeds much slower than download Top download speed currently much slower than NBN fibre and some other business servicesRecommended Where ADSL2+ isnrsquot available or is unreliable or slow For home office or small office where very high downloadupload speeds arenrsquot critical
NBN (SATELLITE)Speed Up to 6Mbps download up to 1Mbps upload (12Mbps download speeds planned for 2015)Pros Better speeds than some locations could otherwise getCons Top download speed relatively slow compared to NBN fibre and theoretical peak ADSL2+ download speed Upload speed much slower than download speed Higher latency than fixed line services Generally smaller download limits than ADSL2+ and fibreRecommended Locations that donrsquot have access to other broadband Where fast upload speeds arenrsquot needed Where latency-sensitive applications like VPNs arenrsquot required
26 bitcomau
My BookmarksFor more information on the best NBN plans and more click these links
Show me when I am getting connected
General NBN info
Show me all the NBN providers
Tell me if I can get NBN satellite
Give me more info on fibre NBN
I want more info on wireless NBN
I want more info about
the NBN fibre termination unit
Show me all the towns on
the current NBN rollout plan
Show me the NBN FAQ
27bitcomau
MORE INFO
Show me the best plans
Tell me about finding
a registered cabler
I want to try videoconferencing
Show me a list of cablers
I want Microsoft to host my servers
for me
Show me more about
getting connected
I want to read what users are
saying about Internet
providers
I want a web site
Help me make better
use of the NBN for
my business
Teach me about
online marketing
I want Google to
host my servers for me
28 bitcomau
The tech-talk in plain English
AnnexMrsaquorsaquo An add-on feature that some ADSL Internet providers offer to increase the speed of uploads iiNet for example says that customers will get a theoretical maximum upload speed of 275Mbps
ATArsaquorsaquo If you want to use a VOIP telephone service and donrsquot have a suitable VOIP router your VOIP provider can provide this adapter which you plug your telephone into
BondedDSLrsaquorsaquo By combining several phone lines higher broadband speeds are possible Unlike SHDSL upload speeds are still a lot slower than download speeds
Brownfieldrsaquorsaquo Premises that have already been built The focus is on connecting brownfields in regional areas to the NBN first so people currently with the worst broadband get it first
Businessgradebroadbandrsaquorsaquo Can cost more than home broadband but can include guaranteed uptime service agreements and sometimes your
data will travel over a separate network meaning less traffic congestion
Cat6rsaquorsaquo Category 6 cables are recommended for Gigabit Ethernet speeds in an office network
Cloudrsaquorsaquo Instead of buying and installing software on your own businessrsquos server a cloud company owns and runs the server hardware and software ndash you pay to access it over the Internet Examples include Microsoft Office 365 Salesforce Gmail and Dropbox
Contentionratiorsaquorsaquo A term used to indicate how many users have to share the same bandwidth Generally the lower the contention ratio the better Business grade broadband can sometimes have better contention ratios than home broadband
Copperrsaquorsaquo The public telephone lines also used for broadband services like ADSL SHDSL and Midband Ethernet Data services over copper reduce in speed the further your building is from your local telephone exchange
Dualbandwirelessrsaquorsaquo Dual band wireless routers can use two frequency bands (24GHz and 5GHz) to send and receive data unlike some wireless routers which can only use 24GHz This Brownfield
29bitcomau
JARGON BUSTER
can mean faster speeds but the tablet phone or laptop you are using needs to work on 5GHz or you wonrsquot see any difference
Ethernetrsaquorsaquo A network protocol often used for networks inside your building but can also be used for data services delivered over copper telephone lines or optical fibre cable Ethernet broadband services generally have same uploaddownload as opposed to ADSL
Exchangersaquorsaquo Can refer to Microsoft Exchange software which runs on a companyrsquos server and operates their company email or a telephone exchange
FSAMrsaquorsaquo A group of up to 3000 buildings connected to the NBN
GigabitEthernetrsaquorsaquo If you are using Ethernet cable to network your office Gigabit Ethernet will provide faster speeds (1Gbps) than Fast Ethernet (100Mbps)
Greenfieldrsaquorsaquo New housing developments Many of these streets will receive the NBN before Brownfield locations as they will be connected on a demand-driven basis Developers apply to have the NBN connected in their development
HostedITrsaquorsaquo Instead of buying and installing IT equipment yourself you can use another companyrsquos servers This can
include servers to run your email and website as well as hosted applications that users access over the network You can also hire a ldquomanaged service providerrdquo to setup and run your own IT
Latencyrsaquorsaquo Sometimes refers to the delay between sending data and receiving a response Higher latency is a disadvantage when using certain applications like videoconferencing Latency is generally higher on satellite and wireless networks such as 3G although 4G has a theoretical lower latency than 3G
LTErsaquorsaquo Higher speed wireless broadband used in the latest generation of smartphones and if you are getting the NBN via fixed wireless Much faster speeds than ADSL are possible but latency is much higher than optical fibre cable meaning itrsquos not suitable for videoconferencing Sometimes referred to as ldquo4Grdquo
Continued over page
Greenfield
LTE
WirelessRouter
30 bitcomau
MidbandEthernetrsaquorsaquo Provides up to 40Mbps over multiple copper lines Unlike ADSL you get the same upload and download speed but cost is usually several hundred dollars a month
NTDrsaquorsaquo Network Termination Device This is supplied free and is attached to a wall inside your building It takes the place of a modem when you get the NBN This is the box your router and phones will plug in to
Paymentgatewayrsaquorsaquo Used if you want to let customers buy products from your website When a customer buys a product on your website the transaction is sent to a third party the payment gateway which authorises the payment with the bank
PCDrsaquorsaquo Premises Connection Device This is a small box that is attached to an outside wall of your building when you are connected to the NBN via fibre cable The NBN fibre cable runs through this box to the inside of your building where it connects to the NTD
Powerlinenetworkrsaquorsaquo If a wireless router isnrsquot enough to spread your Internet connection
around your business (due to brick walls or multiple stories) and having Ethernet cables installed is too difficult another option is a powerline network An adaptor is plugged into each power point and data can be sent through the buildingrsquos internal wiring
PSTNrsaquorsaquo The public switched telephone network The copper network your analogue telephone connects to
RSPrsaquorsaquo Retail Service Provider Another name for an Internet provider such as Telstra Optus iiNet or Internode Once your building is connected you can contact an RSP to pay for an Internet plan and start using the NBN
Serverrsaquorsaquo A central computer that other computers on a network connect to A server might be in your own building providing a central location so all your staff can access the same files from their computers or an Internet server to which you connect to to access web sites or other services
SHDSLrsaquorsaquo Unlike ADSL SHDSL provides the same upload and download speeds Speeds up to 40Mbps are available by combining several phone lines in the form of Extreme SHDSL
SIPrsaquorsaquo A protocol used in devices for delivering multiple VOIP telephone calls at once
PCD
NTD
PCD
31bitcomau
JARGON BUSTER
SLArsaquorsaquo business-grade broadband contracts can include a Service Level Agreement ndash the provider commits to providing a certain level of service (995 Internet uptime for example)
Synchronousrsaquorsaquo The same upload and download speeds Midband Ethernet and SHDSL are synchronous but ADSL services are not meaning upload speeds are much slower than download speeds
UNI-Vportrsaquorsaquo A port on the NBN network termination device (NTD) where you plug in a telephone Alternatively if you use a VOIP telephone service your telephone can be plugged into a wireless router with a VOIP feature which then plugs into the data port on the NTD
Batterybackupunitrsaquorsaquo A separate box supplied free with your NBN connection that is installed alongside the NTD on a wall inside your building This unit lets you continue to make telephone calls during a blackout if you are using an analogue phone running through the UNI-V port
Uploadspeedrsaquorsaquo If you use applications that send data such as videoconferencing and sending large email attachments as opposed to downloading large files and watching videos then look for an Internet service with higher upload speeds
UPSrsaquorsaquo Uninterruptible Power Supply A device that plugs into your server or computer so that it can continue to run if the main power supply stops
VOIPrsaquorsaquo Voice over IP Unlike regular telephone services VOIP telephone calls are converted to data and travel over data networks Call rates can be much cheaper though call quality can suffer if your VOIP service and your broadband connection arenrsquot suitable
VPNrsaquorsaquo A secure way to upload and download files to and from your officersquos internal network drives and servers when you are not in the office (eg at a hotel or from another office)
WANrsaquorsaquo Wide Area Network Offices in different towns or cities can be connected via the same WAN
Wirelessextenderrsaquorsaquo If you already have a wireless router this is a separate device which plugs into a power point and extends the range of the signal
WirelessNrsaquorsaquo Compatible routers are recommended for spreading your Internet connection around your office wirelessly Will be superseded by the faster 80211ac standard but there are not currently many compatible laptops and devices that will connect at 80211ac speeds
Batterybackupunit
UNI-Vport
WirelessRouter
28bitcomau
Their small businesses have the technology edgeDoes yoursSometimes you can be so busy that keeping up with technology seems too much What you really want to know is what it can do for your business BIT will keep you up to date with the technology that can help you do your job and grow your business ndash whether you are a florist a plumber an accountant or any type of Australian small business
B U S I N E S S I T
Make technology work for your business
Click to return to
Bit
- 001
- 002-003
- 004-009
- 010-011
- 012-017
- 018-019
- 020-025
- 026-027
- 028-031
- 032
-
22 bitcomau
to 40MBps download up to 10Mbps upload (actual speeds could be much slower)Pros You can use it on the move Higher upload speeds than ADSL2+ and 3G are possibleCons Speed varies a lot depending on where you are Speed decreases as more users share network Theoretical upload speeds slower than download (though not always the case in practice) Limited to Telstra and Optus at time of writing
Recommended Secondary connection while on the move and where faster upload speeds than 3G are required for transferring large files For connecting several gadgets (tablet and laptop) to the Internet at the same time Where a reliable connection and consistent speed isnrsquot important
BUSINESS ADSL2+Speed up to 24Mbps download up to 25Mbps upload
DATA SPEED COMPARISON DOWNLOADSUPLOADS
0Mbps 10Mbps 20Mbps 30Mbps 40Mbps 50Mbps 100Mbps 1000Mbps
HOME ADSL2+
HOME ADSL2+ WITH ANNEX M
CABLE INTERNET
WIRELESS 3G (PEAK ldquoTYPICALrdquo SPEED)
WIRELESS 4G (PEAK ldquoTYPICALrdquo SPEED)
BUSINESS ADSL2+
BONDED DSL
SHDSL
ETHERNET OVER COPPER
ETHERNET OVER FIBRE
NBN (FIBRE)
NBN (FIXED WIRELESS)
NBN (SATELLITE)
23bitcomau
OPTIONS
with Annex M (theoretical peak speeds Actual speeds will be slower)Pros Relatively cheap compared to other business broadband services Might include priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratioCons Speed depends on distance from telephone exchange Upload speed much slower than downloadRecommended Home office 1-3 computers where upload
speeds arenrsquot critical where consistent speed isnrsquot critical for day-to-day operations
BONDED DSLSpeed Typical speeds up to 30Mbps download up to 26Mbps upload with Annex M (by combining copper lines) (actual speeds could be slower)Pros Faster speeds than ADSL2+ possible Relatively cheap compared to other business broadband services
Please note The information on these pages is intended to be a general guide only Exact speeds and other factors can differ between providers Check these details with your provider before purchasing a data service Unless otherwise noted we have quoted maximum potential speeds real life speeds can be significantly slower (especially for wireless and ADSL) and maximum potential speeds can vary according to which technology variant your network uses Note For wireless 3G and 4G we have followed the lead of carriers and quoted the maximum ldquotypicalrdquo speed you are likely to achieve not the maximum theoretical speed
Some of these services will not be available at a certain point after the NBN is connected in your area For example in areas where fibre cable is installed to connect customers to the NBN copper telephone lines will be decommissioned 18 months after the fibre is connected HFC (cable Internet) networks are also expected to be decommissioned in each area once the NBN is rolled out
0Mbps 10Mbps 20Mbps 30Mbps 40Mbps 50Mbps 100Mbps 1000Mbps
DOWNLOADUPLOAD
24 bitcomau
Might include priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratioCons Speed depends on distance from telephone exchange Upload speed much slower than downloads Two telephone lines neededRecommended Homesmall office that needs faster speeds than ADSL2+ or canrsquot get fast enough ADSL2+ speeds because of distance from telephone exchange Where having the same uploaddownload speed isnrsquot necessary
SHDSLSpeed Up to 46Mbps download up to 46Mbps uploadPros Same upload and download speeds Speeds are guaranteed Usually includes priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratioCons More expensive than ADSL2+ Download speeds offered often slower than theoretical ADSL2+ peak speedsRecommende Office that needs faster speeds than ADSL2+ especially where upload speed is crucial for videoconferencing regularly sending large files multiple Voice over IP telephone lines or connecting several offices Where fibre isnrsquot available Where consistent speed is critical
ETHERNET OVER COPPER(MIDBAND ETHERNET)Speed Up to 40Mbps download up to 40Mbps upload (by combining copper lines)Pros Same upload and download speeds Much faster upload speeds than ADSL2+ available Usually includes priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratio Cheaper overall than fibreCons More expensive than ADSL2+Recommended Office with many people at the same time regularly sending large files videoconferencing backup hosted applications VPN using VOIP or connecting to servers in other offices Where fibre isnrsquot available or is too expensive
ETHERNET OVER FIBRESpeed Up to 1000Mbps download up to 1000 Mbps uploadPros Same upload and download speeds Much faster speeds available than other services Usually includes priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratioCons Generally the most expensive option ndash can cost several thousand dollars a month Limited availabilityRecommended Large offices with many people at the same time regularly sending large
Latency Sometimes
refers to the delay between sending data and receiving a response Higher latency is a disadvantage when using certain applications like video-conferencing Latency is generally higher on satellite and wireless networks such as 3G although 4G has a theoretical lower latency than 3G
25bitcomau
OPTIONS
files videoconferencing backup hosted applications VPN using VOIP or connecting to servers in other offices Where a reliable connection and consistent very high speed is critical for day to day operations
NBN (FIBRE)Speed Up to 100MBps download up to 40Mbps upload (fastest plans available at time of writing Faster speeds theoretically possible in future)Pros Much faster speeds available than ADSL2+ including much faster upload speeds Provides minimum peak speeds unlike ADSL2+ More reliable than ADSL Business plans can include priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) (though residential NBN plans might not include this) Generally much cheaper than other business services with comparable speedsCons Very limited availability at time of writingRecommended Where several users need to senddownload large files videoconference backup use hosted applications VPN use VOIP or connect to servers in other offices at the same time Where a reliable connection and consistent speeds are critical Where much faster downloadupload speeds than ADSL2+ are important
NBN (FIXED WIRELESS)Speed Minimum 12Mbps download up to 1Mbps upload (Faster speeds planned)Pros Unlike mobile 4G and 3G networks ldquorelatively steadyrdquo speeds are promisedCons Very limited availability at time of writing Upload speeds much slower than download Top download speed currently much slower than NBN fibre and some other business servicesRecommended Where ADSL2+ isnrsquot available or is unreliable or slow For home office or small office where very high downloadupload speeds arenrsquot critical
NBN (SATELLITE)Speed Up to 6Mbps download up to 1Mbps upload (12Mbps download speeds planned for 2015)Pros Better speeds than some locations could otherwise getCons Top download speed relatively slow compared to NBN fibre and theoretical peak ADSL2+ download speed Upload speed much slower than download speed Higher latency than fixed line services Generally smaller download limits than ADSL2+ and fibreRecommended Locations that donrsquot have access to other broadband Where fast upload speeds arenrsquot needed Where latency-sensitive applications like VPNs arenrsquot required
26 bitcomau
My BookmarksFor more information on the best NBN plans and more click these links
Show me when I am getting connected
General NBN info
Show me all the NBN providers
Tell me if I can get NBN satellite
Give me more info on fibre NBN
I want more info on wireless NBN
I want more info about
the NBN fibre termination unit
Show me all the towns on
the current NBN rollout plan
Show me the NBN FAQ
27bitcomau
MORE INFO
Show me the best plans
Tell me about finding
a registered cabler
I want to try videoconferencing
Show me a list of cablers
I want Microsoft to host my servers
for me
Show me more about
getting connected
I want to read what users are
saying about Internet
providers
I want a web site
Help me make better
use of the NBN for
my business
Teach me about
online marketing
I want Google to
host my servers for me
28 bitcomau
The tech-talk in plain English
AnnexMrsaquorsaquo An add-on feature that some ADSL Internet providers offer to increase the speed of uploads iiNet for example says that customers will get a theoretical maximum upload speed of 275Mbps
ATArsaquorsaquo If you want to use a VOIP telephone service and donrsquot have a suitable VOIP router your VOIP provider can provide this adapter which you plug your telephone into
BondedDSLrsaquorsaquo By combining several phone lines higher broadband speeds are possible Unlike SHDSL upload speeds are still a lot slower than download speeds
Brownfieldrsaquorsaquo Premises that have already been built The focus is on connecting brownfields in regional areas to the NBN first so people currently with the worst broadband get it first
Businessgradebroadbandrsaquorsaquo Can cost more than home broadband but can include guaranteed uptime service agreements and sometimes your
data will travel over a separate network meaning less traffic congestion
Cat6rsaquorsaquo Category 6 cables are recommended for Gigabit Ethernet speeds in an office network
Cloudrsaquorsaquo Instead of buying and installing software on your own businessrsquos server a cloud company owns and runs the server hardware and software ndash you pay to access it over the Internet Examples include Microsoft Office 365 Salesforce Gmail and Dropbox
Contentionratiorsaquorsaquo A term used to indicate how many users have to share the same bandwidth Generally the lower the contention ratio the better Business grade broadband can sometimes have better contention ratios than home broadband
Copperrsaquorsaquo The public telephone lines also used for broadband services like ADSL SHDSL and Midband Ethernet Data services over copper reduce in speed the further your building is from your local telephone exchange
Dualbandwirelessrsaquorsaquo Dual band wireless routers can use two frequency bands (24GHz and 5GHz) to send and receive data unlike some wireless routers which can only use 24GHz This Brownfield
29bitcomau
JARGON BUSTER
can mean faster speeds but the tablet phone or laptop you are using needs to work on 5GHz or you wonrsquot see any difference
Ethernetrsaquorsaquo A network protocol often used for networks inside your building but can also be used for data services delivered over copper telephone lines or optical fibre cable Ethernet broadband services generally have same uploaddownload as opposed to ADSL
Exchangersaquorsaquo Can refer to Microsoft Exchange software which runs on a companyrsquos server and operates their company email or a telephone exchange
FSAMrsaquorsaquo A group of up to 3000 buildings connected to the NBN
GigabitEthernetrsaquorsaquo If you are using Ethernet cable to network your office Gigabit Ethernet will provide faster speeds (1Gbps) than Fast Ethernet (100Mbps)
Greenfieldrsaquorsaquo New housing developments Many of these streets will receive the NBN before Brownfield locations as they will be connected on a demand-driven basis Developers apply to have the NBN connected in their development
HostedITrsaquorsaquo Instead of buying and installing IT equipment yourself you can use another companyrsquos servers This can
include servers to run your email and website as well as hosted applications that users access over the network You can also hire a ldquomanaged service providerrdquo to setup and run your own IT
Latencyrsaquorsaquo Sometimes refers to the delay between sending data and receiving a response Higher latency is a disadvantage when using certain applications like videoconferencing Latency is generally higher on satellite and wireless networks such as 3G although 4G has a theoretical lower latency than 3G
LTErsaquorsaquo Higher speed wireless broadband used in the latest generation of smartphones and if you are getting the NBN via fixed wireless Much faster speeds than ADSL are possible but latency is much higher than optical fibre cable meaning itrsquos not suitable for videoconferencing Sometimes referred to as ldquo4Grdquo
Continued over page
Greenfield
LTE
WirelessRouter
30 bitcomau
MidbandEthernetrsaquorsaquo Provides up to 40Mbps over multiple copper lines Unlike ADSL you get the same upload and download speed but cost is usually several hundred dollars a month
NTDrsaquorsaquo Network Termination Device This is supplied free and is attached to a wall inside your building It takes the place of a modem when you get the NBN This is the box your router and phones will plug in to
Paymentgatewayrsaquorsaquo Used if you want to let customers buy products from your website When a customer buys a product on your website the transaction is sent to a third party the payment gateway which authorises the payment with the bank
PCDrsaquorsaquo Premises Connection Device This is a small box that is attached to an outside wall of your building when you are connected to the NBN via fibre cable The NBN fibre cable runs through this box to the inside of your building where it connects to the NTD
Powerlinenetworkrsaquorsaquo If a wireless router isnrsquot enough to spread your Internet connection
around your business (due to brick walls or multiple stories) and having Ethernet cables installed is too difficult another option is a powerline network An adaptor is plugged into each power point and data can be sent through the buildingrsquos internal wiring
PSTNrsaquorsaquo The public switched telephone network The copper network your analogue telephone connects to
RSPrsaquorsaquo Retail Service Provider Another name for an Internet provider such as Telstra Optus iiNet or Internode Once your building is connected you can contact an RSP to pay for an Internet plan and start using the NBN
Serverrsaquorsaquo A central computer that other computers on a network connect to A server might be in your own building providing a central location so all your staff can access the same files from their computers or an Internet server to which you connect to to access web sites or other services
SHDSLrsaquorsaquo Unlike ADSL SHDSL provides the same upload and download speeds Speeds up to 40Mbps are available by combining several phone lines in the form of Extreme SHDSL
SIPrsaquorsaquo A protocol used in devices for delivering multiple VOIP telephone calls at once
PCD
NTD
PCD
31bitcomau
JARGON BUSTER
SLArsaquorsaquo business-grade broadband contracts can include a Service Level Agreement ndash the provider commits to providing a certain level of service (995 Internet uptime for example)
Synchronousrsaquorsaquo The same upload and download speeds Midband Ethernet and SHDSL are synchronous but ADSL services are not meaning upload speeds are much slower than download speeds
UNI-Vportrsaquorsaquo A port on the NBN network termination device (NTD) where you plug in a telephone Alternatively if you use a VOIP telephone service your telephone can be plugged into a wireless router with a VOIP feature which then plugs into the data port on the NTD
Batterybackupunitrsaquorsaquo A separate box supplied free with your NBN connection that is installed alongside the NTD on a wall inside your building This unit lets you continue to make telephone calls during a blackout if you are using an analogue phone running through the UNI-V port
Uploadspeedrsaquorsaquo If you use applications that send data such as videoconferencing and sending large email attachments as opposed to downloading large files and watching videos then look for an Internet service with higher upload speeds
UPSrsaquorsaquo Uninterruptible Power Supply A device that plugs into your server or computer so that it can continue to run if the main power supply stops
VOIPrsaquorsaquo Voice over IP Unlike regular telephone services VOIP telephone calls are converted to data and travel over data networks Call rates can be much cheaper though call quality can suffer if your VOIP service and your broadband connection arenrsquot suitable
VPNrsaquorsaquo A secure way to upload and download files to and from your officersquos internal network drives and servers when you are not in the office (eg at a hotel or from another office)
WANrsaquorsaquo Wide Area Network Offices in different towns or cities can be connected via the same WAN
Wirelessextenderrsaquorsaquo If you already have a wireless router this is a separate device which plugs into a power point and extends the range of the signal
WirelessNrsaquorsaquo Compatible routers are recommended for spreading your Internet connection around your office wirelessly Will be superseded by the faster 80211ac standard but there are not currently many compatible laptops and devices that will connect at 80211ac speeds
Batterybackupunit
UNI-Vport
WirelessRouter
28bitcomau
Their small businesses have the technology edgeDoes yoursSometimes you can be so busy that keeping up with technology seems too much What you really want to know is what it can do for your business BIT will keep you up to date with the technology that can help you do your job and grow your business ndash whether you are a florist a plumber an accountant or any type of Australian small business
B U S I N E S S I T
Make technology work for your business
Click to return to
Bit
- 001
- 002-003
- 004-009
- 010-011
- 012-017
- 018-019
- 020-025
- 026-027
- 028-031
- 032
-
23bitcomau
OPTIONS
with Annex M (theoretical peak speeds Actual speeds will be slower)Pros Relatively cheap compared to other business broadband services Might include priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratioCons Speed depends on distance from telephone exchange Upload speed much slower than downloadRecommended Home office 1-3 computers where upload
speeds arenrsquot critical where consistent speed isnrsquot critical for day-to-day operations
BONDED DSLSpeed Typical speeds up to 30Mbps download up to 26Mbps upload with Annex M (by combining copper lines) (actual speeds could be slower)Pros Faster speeds than ADSL2+ possible Relatively cheap compared to other business broadband services
Please note The information on these pages is intended to be a general guide only Exact speeds and other factors can differ between providers Check these details with your provider before purchasing a data service Unless otherwise noted we have quoted maximum potential speeds real life speeds can be significantly slower (especially for wireless and ADSL) and maximum potential speeds can vary according to which technology variant your network uses Note For wireless 3G and 4G we have followed the lead of carriers and quoted the maximum ldquotypicalrdquo speed you are likely to achieve not the maximum theoretical speed
Some of these services will not be available at a certain point after the NBN is connected in your area For example in areas where fibre cable is installed to connect customers to the NBN copper telephone lines will be decommissioned 18 months after the fibre is connected HFC (cable Internet) networks are also expected to be decommissioned in each area once the NBN is rolled out
0Mbps 10Mbps 20Mbps 30Mbps 40Mbps 50Mbps 100Mbps 1000Mbps
DOWNLOADUPLOAD
24 bitcomau
Might include priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratioCons Speed depends on distance from telephone exchange Upload speed much slower than downloads Two telephone lines neededRecommended Homesmall office that needs faster speeds than ADSL2+ or canrsquot get fast enough ADSL2+ speeds because of distance from telephone exchange Where having the same uploaddownload speed isnrsquot necessary
SHDSLSpeed Up to 46Mbps download up to 46Mbps uploadPros Same upload and download speeds Speeds are guaranteed Usually includes priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratioCons More expensive than ADSL2+ Download speeds offered often slower than theoretical ADSL2+ peak speedsRecommende Office that needs faster speeds than ADSL2+ especially where upload speed is crucial for videoconferencing regularly sending large files multiple Voice over IP telephone lines or connecting several offices Where fibre isnrsquot available Where consistent speed is critical
ETHERNET OVER COPPER(MIDBAND ETHERNET)Speed Up to 40Mbps download up to 40Mbps upload (by combining copper lines)Pros Same upload and download speeds Much faster upload speeds than ADSL2+ available Usually includes priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratio Cheaper overall than fibreCons More expensive than ADSL2+Recommended Office with many people at the same time regularly sending large files videoconferencing backup hosted applications VPN using VOIP or connecting to servers in other offices Where fibre isnrsquot available or is too expensive
ETHERNET OVER FIBRESpeed Up to 1000Mbps download up to 1000 Mbps uploadPros Same upload and download speeds Much faster speeds available than other services Usually includes priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratioCons Generally the most expensive option ndash can cost several thousand dollars a month Limited availabilityRecommended Large offices with many people at the same time regularly sending large
Latency Sometimes
refers to the delay between sending data and receiving a response Higher latency is a disadvantage when using certain applications like video-conferencing Latency is generally higher on satellite and wireless networks such as 3G although 4G has a theoretical lower latency than 3G
25bitcomau
OPTIONS
files videoconferencing backup hosted applications VPN using VOIP or connecting to servers in other offices Where a reliable connection and consistent very high speed is critical for day to day operations
NBN (FIBRE)Speed Up to 100MBps download up to 40Mbps upload (fastest plans available at time of writing Faster speeds theoretically possible in future)Pros Much faster speeds available than ADSL2+ including much faster upload speeds Provides minimum peak speeds unlike ADSL2+ More reliable than ADSL Business plans can include priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) (though residential NBN plans might not include this) Generally much cheaper than other business services with comparable speedsCons Very limited availability at time of writingRecommended Where several users need to senddownload large files videoconference backup use hosted applications VPN use VOIP or connect to servers in other offices at the same time Where a reliable connection and consistent speeds are critical Where much faster downloadupload speeds than ADSL2+ are important
NBN (FIXED WIRELESS)Speed Minimum 12Mbps download up to 1Mbps upload (Faster speeds planned)Pros Unlike mobile 4G and 3G networks ldquorelatively steadyrdquo speeds are promisedCons Very limited availability at time of writing Upload speeds much slower than download Top download speed currently much slower than NBN fibre and some other business servicesRecommended Where ADSL2+ isnrsquot available or is unreliable or slow For home office or small office where very high downloadupload speeds arenrsquot critical
NBN (SATELLITE)Speed Up to 6Mbps download up to 1Mbps upload (12Mbps download speeds planned for 2015)Pros Better speeds than some locations could otherwise getCons Top download speed relatively slow compared to NBN fibre and theoretical peak ADSL2+ download speed Upload speed much slower than download speed Higher latency than fixed line services Generally smaller download limits than ADSL2+ and fibreRecommended Locations that donrsquot have access to other broadband Where fast upload speeds arenrsquot needed Where latency-sensitive applications like VPNs arenrsquot required
26 bitcomau
My BookmarksFor more information on the best NBN plans and more click these links
Show me when I am getting connected
General NBN info
Show me all the NBN providers
Tell me if I can get NBN satellite
Give me more info on fibre NBN
I want more info on wireless NBN
I want more info about
the NBN fibre termination unit
Show me all the towns on
the current NBN rollout plan
Show me the NBN FAQ
27bitcomau
MORE INFO
Show me the best plans
Tell me about finding
a registered cabler
I want to try videoconferencing
Show me a list of cablers
I want Microsoft to host my servers
for me
Show me more about
getting connected
I want to read what users are
saying about Internet
providers
I want a web site
Help me make better
use of the NBN for
my business
Teach me about
online marketing
I want Google to
host my servers for me
28 bitcomau
The tech-talk in plain English
AnnexMrsaquorsaquo An add-on feature that some ADSL Internet providers offer to increase the speed of uploads iiNet for example says that customers will get a theoretical maximum upload speed of 275Mbps
ATArsaquorsaquo If you want to use a VOIP telephone service and donrsquot have a suitable VOIP router your VOIP provider can provide this adapter which you plug your telephone into
BondedDSLrsaquorsaquo By combining several phone lines higher broadband speeds are possible Unlike SHDSL upload speeds are still a lot slower than download speeds
Brownfieldrsaquorsaquo Premises that have already been built The focus is on connecting brownfields in regional areas to the NBN first so people currently with the worst broadband get it first
Businessgradebroadbandrsaquorsaquo Can cost more than home broadband but can include guaranteed uptime service agreements and sometimes your
data will travel over a separate network meaning less traffic congestion
Cat6rsaquorsaquo Category 6 cables are recommended for Gigabit Ethernet speeds in an office network
Cloudrsaquorsaquo Instead of buying and installing software on your own businessrsquos server a cloud company owns and runs the server hardware and software ndash you pay to access it over the Internet Examples include Microsoft Office 365 Salesforce Gmail and Dropbox
Contentionratiorsaquorsaquo A term used to indicate how many users have to share the same bandwidth Generally the lower the contention ratio the better Business grade broadband can sometimes have better contention ratios than home broadband
Copperrsaquorsaquo The public telephone lines also used for broadband services like ADSL SHDSL and Midband Ethernet Data services over copper reduce in speed the further your building is from your local telephone exchange
Dualbandwirelessrsaquorsaquo Dual band wireless routers can use two frequency bands (24GHz and 5GHz) to send and receive data unlike some wireless routers which can only use 24GHz This Brownfield
29bitcomau
JARGON BUSTER
can mean faster speeds but the tablet phone or laptop you are using needs to work on 5GHz or you wonrsquot see any difference
Ethernetrsaquorsaquo A network protocol often used for networks inside your building but can also be used for data services delivered over copper telephone lines or optical fibre cable Ethernet broadband services generally have same uploaddownload as opposed to ADSL
Exchangersaquorsaquo Can refer to Microsoft Exchange software which runs on a companyrsquos server and operates their company email or a telephone exchange
FSAMrsaquorsaquo A group of up to 3000 buildings connected to the NBN
GigabitEthernetrsaquorsaquo If you are using Ethernet cable to network your office Gigabit Ethernet will provide faster speeds (1Gbps) than Fast Ethernet (100Mbps)
Greenfieldrsaquorsaquo New housing developments Many of these streets will receive the NBN before Brownfield locations as they will be connected on a demand-driven basis Developers apply to have the NBN connected in their development
HostedITrsaquorsaquo Instead of buying and installing IT equipment yourself you can use another companyrsquos servers This can
include servers to run your email and website as well as hosted applications that users access over the network You can also hire a ldquomanaged service providerrdquo to setup and run your own IT
Latencyrsaquorsaquo Sometimes refers to the delay between sending data and receiving a response Higher latency is a disadvantage when using certain applications like videoconferencing Latency is generally higher on satellite and wireless networks such as 3G although 4G has a theoretical lower latency than 3G
LTErsaquorsaquo Higher speed wireless broadband used in the latest generation of smartphones and if you are getting the NBN via fixed wireless Much faster speeds than ADSL are possible but latency is much higher than optical fibre cable meaning itrsquos not suitable for videoconferencing Sometimes referred to as ldquo4Grdquo
Continued over page
Greenfield
LTE
WirelessRouter
30 bitcomau
MidbandEthernetrsaquorsaquo Provides up to 40Mbps over multiple copper lines Unlike ADSL you get the same upload and download speed but cost is usually several hundred dollars a month
NTDrsaquorsaquo Network Termination Device This is supplied free and is attached to a wall inside your building It takes the place of a modem when you get the NBN This is the box your router and phones will plug in to
Paymentgatewayrsaquorsaquo Used if you want to let customers buy products from your website When a customer buys a product on your website the transaction is sent to a third party the payment gateway which authorises the payment with the bank
PCDrsaquorsaquo Premises Connection Device This is a small box that is attached to an outside wall of your building when you are connected to the NBN via fibre cable The NBN fibre cable runs through this box to the inside of your building where it connects to the NTD
Powerlinenetworkrsaquorsaquo If a wireless router isnrsquot enough to spread your Internet connection
around your business (due to brick walls or multiple stories) and having Ethernet cables installed is too difficult another option is a powerline network An adaptor is plugged into each power point and data can be sent through the buildingrsquos internal wiring
PSTNrsaquorsaquo The public switched telephone network The copper network your analogue telephone connects to
RSPrsaquorsaquo Retail Service Provider Another name for an Internet provider such as Telstra Optus iiNet or Internode Once your building is connected you can contact an RSP to pay for an Internet plan and start using the NBN
Serverrsaquorsaquo A central computer that other computers on a network connect to A server might be in your own building providing a central location so all your staff can access the same files from their computers or an Internet server to which you connect to to access web sites or other services
SHDSLrsaquorsaquo Unlike ADSL SHDSL provides the same upload and download speeds Speeds up to 40Mbps are available by combining several phone lines in the form of Extreme SHDSL
SIPrsaquorsaquo A protocol used in devices for delivering multiple VOIP telephone calls at once
PCD
NTD
PCD
31bitcomau
JARGON BUSTER
SLArsaquorsaquo business-grade broadband contracts can include a Service Level Agreement ndash the provider commits to providing a certain level of service (995 Internet uptime for example)
Synchronousrsaquorsaquo The same upload and download speeds Midband Ethernet and SHDSL are synchronous but ADSL services are not meaning upload speeds are much slower than download speeds
UNI-Vportrsaquorsaquo A port on the NBN network termination device (NTD) where you plug in a telephone Alternatively if you use a VOIP telephone service your telephone can be plugged into a wireless router with a VOIP feature which then plugs into the data port on the NTD
Batterybackupunitrsaquorsaquo A separate box supplied free with your NBN connection that is installed alongside the NTD on a wall inside your building This unit lets you continue to make telephone calls during a blackout if you are using an analogue phone running through the UNI-V port
Uploadspeedrsaquorsaquo If you use applications that send data such as videoconferencing and sending large email attachments as opposed to downloading large files and watching videos then look for an Internet service with higher upload speeds
UPSrsaquorsaquo Uninterruptible Power Supply A device that plugs into your server or computer so that it can continue to run if the main power supply stops
VOIPrsaquorsaquo Voice over IP Unlike regular telephone services VOIP telephone calls are converted to data and travel over data networks Call rates can be much cheaper though call quality can suffer if your VOIP service and your broadband connection arenrsquot suitable
VPNrsaquorsaquo A secure way to upload and download files to and from your officersquos internal network drives and servers when you are not in the office (eg at a hotel or from another office)
WANrsaquorsaquo Wide Area Network Offices in different towns or cities can be connected via the same WAN
Wirelessextenderrsaquorsaquo If you already have a wireless router this is a separate device which plugs into a power point and extends the range of the signal
WirelessNrsaquorsaquo Compatible routers are recommended for spreading your Internet connection around your office wirelessly Will be superseded by the faster 80211ac standard but there are not currently many compatible laptops and devices that will connect at 80211ac speeds
Batterybackupunit
UNI-Vport
WirelessRouter
28bitcomau
Their small businesses have the technology edgeDoes yoursSometimes you can be so busy that keeping up with technology seems too much What you really want to know is what it can do for your business BIT will keep you up to date with the technology that can help you do your job and grow your business ndash whether you are a florist a plumber an accountant or any type of Australian small business
B U S I N E S S I T
Make technology work for your business
Click to return to
Bit
- 001
- 002-003
- 004-009
- 010-011
- 012-017
- 018-019
- 020-025
- 026-027
- 028-031
- 032
-
24 bitcomau
Might include priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratioCons Speed depends on distance from telephone exchange Upload speed much slower than downloads Two telephone lines neededRecommended Homesmall office that needs faster speeds than ADSL2+ or canrsquot get fast enough ADSL2+ speeds because of distance from telephone exchange Where having the same uploaddownload speed isnrsquot necessary
SHDSLSpeed Up to 46Mbps download up to 46Mbps uploadPros Same upload and download speeds Speeds are guaranteed Usually includes priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratioCons More expensive than ADSL2+ Download speeds offered often slower than theoretical ADSL2+ peak speedsRecommende Office that needs faster speeds than ADSL2+ especially where upload speed is crucial for videoconferencing regularly sending large files multiple Voice over IP telephone lines or connecting several offices Where fibre isnrsquot available Where consistent speed is critical
ETHERNET OVER COPPER(MIDBAND ETHERNET)Speed Up to 40Mbps download up to 40Mbps upload (by combining copper lines)Pros Same upload and download speeds Much faster upload speeds than ADSL2+ available Usually includes priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratio Cheaper overall than fibreCons More expensive than ADSL2+Recommended Office with many people at the same time regularly sending large files videoconferencing backup hosted applications VPN using VOIP or connecting to servers in other offices Where fibre isnrsquot available or is too expensive
ETHERNET OVER FIBRESpeed Up to 1000Mbps download up to 1000 Mbps uploadPros Same upload and download speeds Much faster speeds available than other services Usually includes priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) better contention ratioCons Generally the most expensive option ndash can cost several thousand dollars a month Limited availabilityRecommended Large offices with many people at the same time regularly sending large
Latency Sometimes
refers to the delay between sending data and receiving a response Higher latency is a disadvantage when using certain applications like video-conferencing Latency is generally higher on satellite and wireless networks such as 3G although 4G has a theoretical lower latency than 3G
25bitcomau
OPTIONS
files videoconferencing backup hosted applications VPN using VOIP or connecting to servers in other offices Where a reliable connection and consistent very high speed is critical for day to day operations
NBN (FIBRE)Speed Up to 100MBps download up to 40Mbps upload (fastest plans available at time of writing Faster speeds theoretically possible in future)Pros Much faster speeds available than ADSL2+ including much faster upload speeds Provides minimum peak speeds unlike ADSL2+ More reliable than ADSL Business plans can include priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) (though residential NBN plans might not include this) Generally much cheaper than other business services with comparable speedsCons Very limited availability at time of writingRecommended Where several users need to senddownload large files videoconference backup use hosted applications VPN use VOIP or connect to servers in other offices at the same time Where a reliable connection and consistent speeds are critical Where much faster downloadupload speeds than ADSL2+ are important
NBN (FIXED WIRELESS)Speed Minimum 12Mbps download up to 1Mbps upload (Faster speeds planned)Pros Unlike mobile 4G and 3G networks ldquorelatively steadyrdquo speeds are promisedCons Very limited availability at time of writing Upload speeds much slower than download Top download speed currently much slower than NBN fibre and some other business servicesRecommended Where ADSL2+ isnrsquot available or is unreliable or slow For home office or small office where very high downloadupload speeds arenrsquot critical
NBN (SATELLITE)Speed Up to 6Mbps download up to 1Mbps upload (12Mbps download speeds planned for 2015)Pros Better speeds than some locations could otherwise getCons Top download speed relatively slow compared to NBN fibre and theoretical peak ADSL2+ download speed Upload speed much slower than download speed Higher latency than fixed line services Generally smaller download limits than ADSL2+ and fibreRecommended Locations that donrsquot have access to other broadband Where fast upload speeds arenrsquot needed Where latency-sensitive applications like VPNs arenrsquot required
26 bitcomau
My BookmarksFor more information on the best NBN plans and more click these links
Show me when I am getting connected
General NBN info
Show me all the NBN providers
Tell me if I can get NBN satellite
Give me more info on fibre NBN
I want more info on wireless NBN
I want more info about
the NBN fibre termination unit
Show me all the towns on
the current NBN rollout plan
Show me the NBN FAQ
27bitcomau
MORE INFO
Show me the best plans
Tell me about finding
a registered cabler
I want to try videoconferencing
Show me a list of cablers
I want Microsoft to host my servers
for me
Show me more about
getting connected
I want to read what users are
saying about Internet
providers
I want a web site
Help me make better
use of the NBN for
my business
Teach me about
online marketing
I want Google to
host my servers for me
28 bitcomau
The tech-talk in plain English
AnnexMrsaquorsaquo An add-on feature that some ADSL Internet providers offer to increase the speed of uploads iiNet for example says that customers will get a theoretical maximum upload speed of 275Mbps
ATArsaquorsaquo If you want to use a VOIP telephone service and donrsquot have a suitable VOIP router your VOIP provider can provide this adapter which you plug your telephone into
BondedDSLrsaquorsaquo By combining several phone lines higher broadband speeds are possible Unlike SHDSL upload speeds are still a lot slower than download speeds
Brownfieldrsaquorsaquo Premises that have already been built The focus is on connecting brownfields in regional areas to the NBN first so people currently with the worst broadband get it first
Businessgradebroadbandrsaquorsaquo Can cost more than home broadband but can include guaranteed uptime service agreements and sometimes your
data will travel over a separate network meaning less traffic congestion
Cat6rsaquorsaquo Category 6 cables are recommended for Gigabit Ethernet speeds in an office network
Cloudrsaquorsaquo Instead of buying and installing software on your own businessrsquos server a cloud company owns and runs the server hardware and software ndash you pay to access it over the Internet Examples include Microsoft Office 365 Salesforce Gmail and Dropbox
Contentionratiorsaquorsaquo A term used to indicate how many users have to share the same bandwidth Generally the lower the contention ratio the better Business grade broadband can sometimes have better contention ratios than home broadband
Copperrsaquorsaquo The public telephone lines also used for broadband services like ADSL SHDSL and Midband Ethernet Data services over copper reduce in speed the further your building is from your local telephone exchange
Dualbandwirelessrsaquorsaquo Dual band wireless routers can use two frequency bands (24GHz and 5GHz) to send and receive data unlike some wireless routers which can only use 24GHz This Brownfield
29bitcomau
JARGON BUSTER
can mean faster speeds but the tablet phone or laptop you are using needs to work on 5GHz or you wonrsquot see any difference
Ethernetrsaquorsaquo A network protocol often used for networks inside your building but can also be used for data services delivered over copper telephone lines or optical fibre cable Ethernet broadband services generally have same uploaddownload as opposed to ADSL
Exchangersaquorsaquo Can refer to Microsoft Exchange software which runs on a companyrsquos server and operates their company email or a telephone exchange
FSAMrsaquorsaquo A group of up to 3000 buildings connected to the NBN
GigabitEthernetrsaquorsaquo If you are using Ethernet cable to network your office Gigabit Ethernet will provide faster speeds (1Gbps) than Fast Ethernet (100Mbps)
Greenfieldrsaquorsaquo New housing developments Many of these streets will receive the NBN before Brownfield locations as they will be connected on a demand-driven basis Developers apply to have the NBN connected in their development
HostedITrsaquorsaquo Instead of buying and installing IT equipment yourself you can use another companyrsquos servers This can
include servers to run your email and website as well as hosted applications that users access over the network You can also hire a ldquomanaged service providerrdquo to setup and run your own IT
Latencyrsaquorsaquo Sometimes refers to the delay between sending data and receiving a response Higher latency is a disadvantage when using certain applications like videoconferencing Latency is generally higher on satellite and wireless networks such as 3G although 4G has a theoretical lower latency than 3G
LTErsaquorsaquo Higher speed wireless broadband used in the latest generation of smartphones and if you are getting the NBN via fixed wireless Much faster speeds than ADSL are possible but latency is much higher than optical fibre cable meaning itrsquos not suitable for videoconferencing Sometimes referred to as ldquo4Grdquo
Continued over page
Greenfield
LTE
WirelessRouter
30 bitcomau
MidbandEthernetrsaquorsaquo Provides up to 40Mbps over multiple copper lines Unlike ADSL you get the same upload and download speed but cost is usually several hundred dollars a month
NTDrsaquorsaquo Network Termination Device This is supplied free and is attached to a wall inside your building It takes the place of a modem when you get the NBN This is the box your router and phones will plug in to
Paymentgatewayrsaquorsaquo Used if you want to let customers buy products from your website When a customer buys a product on your website the transaction is sent to a third party the payment gateway which authorises the payment with the bank
PCDrsaquorsaquo Premises Connection Device This is a small box that is attached to an outside wall of your building when you are connected to the NBN via fibre cable The NBN fibre cable runs through this box to the inside of your building where it connects to the NTD
Powerlinenetworkrsaquorsaquo If a wireless router isnrsquot enough to spread your Internet connection
around your business (due to brick walls or multiple stories) and having Ethernet cables installed is too difficult another option is a powerline network An adaptor is plugged into each power point and data can be sent through the buildingrsquos internal wiring
PSTNrsaquorsaquo The public switched telephone network The copper network your analogue telephone connects to
RSPrsaquorsaquo Retail Service Provider Another name for an Internet provider such as Telstra Optus iiNet or Internode Once your building is connected you can contact an RSP to pay for an Internet plan and start using the NBN
Serverrsaquorsaquo A central computer that other computers on a network connect to A server might be in your own building providing a central location so all your staff can access the same files from their computers or an Internet server to which you connect to to access web sites or other services
SHDSLrsaquorsaquo Unlike ADSL SHDSL provides the same upload and download speeds Speeds up to 40Mbps are available by combining several phone lines in the form of Extreme SHDSL
SIPrsaquorsaquo A protocol used in devices for delivering multiple VOIP telephone calls at once
PCD
NTD
PCD
31bitcomau
JARGON BUSTER
SLArsaquorsaquo business-grade broadband contracts can include a Service Level Agreement ndash the provider commits to providing a certain level of service (995 Internet uptime for example)
Synchronousrsaquorsaquo The same upload and download speeds Midband Ethernet and SHDSL are synchronous but ADSL services are not meaning upload speeds are much slower than download speeds
UNI-Vportrsaquorsaquo A port on the NBN network termination device (NTD) where you plug in a telephone Alternatively if you use a VOIP telephone service your telephone can be plugged into a wireless router with a VOIP feature which then plugs into the data port on the NTD
Batterybackupunitrsaquorsaquo A separate box supplied free with your NBN connection that is installed alongside the NTD on a wall inside your building This unit lets you continue to make telephone calls during a blackout if you are using an analogue phone running through the UNI-V port
Uploadspeedrsaquorsaquo If you use applications that send data such as videoconferencing and sending large email attachments as opposed to downloading large files and watching videos then look for an Internet service with higher upload speeds
UPSrsaquorsaquo Uninterruptible Power Supply A device that plugs into your server or computer so that it can continue to run if the main power supply stops
VOIPrsaquorsaquo Voice over IP Unlike regular telephone services VOIP telephone calls are converted to data and travel over data networks Call rates can be much cheaper though call quality can suffer if your VOIP service and your broadband connection arenrsquot suitable
VPNrsaquorsaquo A secure way to upload and download files to and from your officersquos internal network drives and servers when you are not in the office (eg at a hotel or from another office)
WANrsaquorsaquo Wide Area Network Offices in different towns or cities can be connected via the same WAN
Wirelessextenderrsaquorsaquo If you already have a wireless router this is a separate device which plugs into a power point and extends the range of the signal
WirelessNrsaquorsaquo Compatible routers are recommended for spreading your Internet connection around your office wirelessly Will be superseded by the faster 80211ac standard but there are not currently many compatible laptops and devices that will connect at 80211ac speeds
Batterybackupunit
UNI-Vport
WirelessRouter
28bitcomau
Their small businesses have the technology edgeDoes yoursSometimes you can be so busy that keeping up with technology seems too much What you really want to know is what it can do for your business BIT will keep you up to date with the technology that can help you do your job and grow your business ndash whether you are a florist a plumber an accountant or any type of Australian small business
B U S I N E S S I T
Make technology work for your business
Click to return to
Bit
- 001
- 002-003
- 004-009
- 010-011
- 012-017
- 018-019
- 020-025
- 026-027
- 028-031
- 032
-
25bitcomau
OPTIONS
files videoconferencing backup hosted applications VPN using VOIP or connecting to servers in other offices Where a reliable connection and consistent very high speed is critical for day to day operations
NBN (FIBRE)Speed Up to 100MBps download up to 40Mbps upload (fastest plans available at time of writing Faster speeds theoretically possible in future)Pros Much faster speeds available than ADSL2+ including much faster upload speeds Provides minimum peak speeds unlike ADSL2+ More reliable than ADSL Business plans can include priority support Service Level Agreement (SLA) (though residential NBN plans might not include this) Generally much cheaper than other business services with comparable speedsCons Very limited availability at time of writingRecommended Where several users need to senddownload large files videoconference backup use hosted applications VPN use VOIP or connect to servers in other offices at the same time Where a reliable connection and consistent speeds are critical Where much faster downloadupload speeds than ADSL2+ are important
NBN (FIXED WIRELESS)Speed Minimum 12Mbps download up to 1Mbps upload (Faster speeds planned)Pros Unlike mobile 4G and 3G networks ldquorelatively steadyrdquo speeds are promisedCons Very limited availability at time of writing Upload speeds much slower than download Top download speed currently much slower than NBN fibre and some other business servicesRecommended Where ADSL2+ isnrsquot available or is unreliable or slow For home office or small office where very high downloadupload speeds arenrsquot critical
NBN (SATELLITE)Speed Up to 6Mbps download up to 1Mbps upload (12Mbps download speeds planned for 2015)Pros Better speeds than some locations could otherwise getCons Top download speed relatively slow compared to NBN fibre and theoretical peak ADSL2+ download speed Upload speed much slower than download speed Higher latency than fixed line services Generally smaller download limits than ADSL2+ and fibreRecommended Locations that donrsquot have access to other broadband Where fast upload speeds arenrsquot needed Where latency-sensitive applications like VPNs arenrsquot required
26 bitcomau
My BookmarksFor more information on the best NBN plans and more click these links
Show me when I am getting connected
General NBN info
Show me all the NBN providers
Tell me if I can get NBN satellite
Give me more info on fibre NBN
I want more info on wireless NBN
I want more info about
the NBN fibre termination unit
Show me all the towns on
the current NBN rollout plan
Show me the NBN FAQ
27bitcomau
MORE INFO
Show me the best plans
Tell me about finding
a registered cabler
I want to try videoconferencing
Show me a list of cablers
I want Microsoft to host my servers
for me
Show me more about
getting connected
I want to read what users are
saying about Internet
providers
I want a web site
Help me make better
use of the NBN for
my business
Teach me about
online marketing
I want Google to
host my servers for me
28 bitcomau
The tech-talk in plain English
AnnexMrsaquorsaquo An add-on feature that some ADSL Internet providers offer to increase the speed of uploads iiNet for example says that customers will get a theoretical maximum upload speed of 275Mbps
ATArsaquorsaquo If you want to use a VOIP telephone service and donrsquot have a suitable VOIP router your VOIP provider can provide this adapter which you plug your telephone into
BondedDSLrsaquorsaquo By combining several phone lines higher broadband speeds are possible Unlike SHDSL upload speeds are still a lot slower than download speeds
Brownfieldrsaquorsaquo Premises that have already been built The focus is on connecting brownfields in regional areas to the NBN first so people currently with the worst broadband get it first
Businessgradebroadbandrsaquorsaquo Can cost more than home broadband but can include guaranteed uptime service agreements and sometimes your
data will travel over a separate network meaning less traffic congestion
Cat6rsaquorsaquo Category 6 cables are recommended for Gigabit Ethernet speeds in an office network
Cloudrsaquorsaquo Instead of buying and installing software on your own businessrsquos server a cloud company owns and runs the server hardware and software ndash you pay to access it over the Internet Examples include Microsoft Office 365 Salesforce Gmail and Dropbox
Contentionratiorsaquorsaquo A term used to indicate how many users have to share the same bandwidth Generally the lower the contention ratio the better Business grade broadband can sometimes have better contention ratios than home broadband
Copperrsaquorsaquo The public telephone lines also used for broadband services like ADSL SHDSL and Midband Ethernet Data services over copper reduce in speed the further your building is from your local telephone exchange
Dualbandwirelessrsaquorsaquo Dual band wireless routers can use two frequency bands (24GHz and 5GHz) to send and receive data unlike some wireless routers which can only use 24GHz This Brownfield
29bitcomau
JARGON BUSTER
can mean faster speeds but the tablet phone or laptop you are using needs to work on 5GHz or you wonrsquot see any difference
Ethernetrsaquorsaquo A network protocol often used for networks inside your building but can also be used for data services delivered over copper telephone lines or optical fibre cable Ethernet broadband services generally have same uploaddownload as opposed to ADSL
Exchangersaquorsaquo Can refer to Microsoft Exchange software which runs on a companyrsquos server and operates their company email or a telephone exchange
FSAMrsaquorsaquo A group of up to 3000 buildings connected to the NBN
GigabitEthernetrsaquorsaquo If you are using Ethernet cable to network your office Gigabit Ethernet will provide faster speeds (1Gbps) than Fast Ethernet (100Mbps)
Greenfieldrsaquorsaquo New housing developments Many of these streets will receive the NBN before Brownfield locations as they will be connected on a demand-driven basis Developers apply to have the NBN connected in their development
HostedITrsaquorsaquo Instead of buying and installing IT equipment yourself you can use another companyrsquos servers This can
include servers to run your email and website as well as hosted applications that users access over the network You can also hire a ldquomanaged service providerrdquo to setup and run your own IT
Latencyrsaquorsaquo Sometimes refers to the delay between sending data and receiving a response Higher latency is a disadvantage when using certain applications like videoconferencing Latency is generally higher on satellite and wireless networks such as 3G although 4G has a theoretical lower latency than 3G
LTErsaquorsaquo Higher speed wireless broadband used in the latest generation of smartphones and if you are getting the NBN via fixed wireless Much faster speeds than ADSL are possible but latency is much higher than optical fibre cable meaning itrsquos not suitable for videoconferencing Sometimes referred to as ldquo4Grdquo
Continued over page
Greenfield
LTE
WirelessRouter
30 bitcomau
MidbandEthernetrsaquorsaquo Provides up to 40Mbps over multiple copper lines Unlike ADSL you get the same upload and download speed but cost is usually several hundred dollars a month
NTDrsaquorsaquo Network Termination Device This is supplied free and is attached to a wall inside your building It takes the place of a modem when you get the NBN This is the box your router and phones will plug in to
Paymentgatewayrsaquorsaquo Used if you want to let customers buy products from your website When a customer buys a product on your website the transaction is sent to a third party the payment gateway which authorises the payment with the bank
PCDrsaquorsaquo Premises Connection Device This is a small box that is attached to an outside wall of your building when you are connected to the NBN via fibre cable The NBN fibre cable runs through this box to the inside of your building where it connects to the NTD
Powerlinenetworkrsaquorsaquo If a wireless router isnrsquot enough to spread your Internet connection
around your business (due to brick walls or multiple stories) and having Ethernet cables installed is too difficult another option is a powerline network An adaptor is plugged into each power point and data can be sent through the buildingrsquos internal wiring
PSTNrsaquorsaquo The public switched telephone network The copper network your analogue telephone connects to
RSPrsaquorsaquo Retail Service Provider Another name for an Internet provider such as Telstra Optus iiNet or Internode Once your building is connected you can contact an RSP to pay for an Internet plan and start using the NBN
Serverrsaquorsaquo A central computer that other computers on a network connect to A server might be in your own building providing a central location so all your staff can access the same files from their computers or an Internet server to which you connect to to access web sites or other services
SHDSLrsaquorsaquo Unlike ADSL SHDSL provides the same upload and download speeds Speeds up to 40Mbps are available by combining several phone lines in the form of Extreme SHDSL
SIPrsaquorsaquo A protocol used in devices for delivering multiple VOIP telephone calls at once
PCD
NTD
PCD
31bitcomau
JARGON BUSTER
SLArsaquorsaquo business-grade broadband contracts can include a Service Level Agreement ndash the provider commits to providing a certain level of service (995 Internet uptime for example)
Synchronousrsaquorsaquo The same upload and download speeds Midband Ethernet and SHDSL are synchronous but ADSL services are not meaning upload speeds are much slower than download speeds
UNI-Vportrsaquorsaquo A port on the NBN network termination device (NTD) where you plug in a telephone Alternatively if you use a VOIP telephone service your telephone can be plugged into a wireless router with a VOIP feature which then plugs into the data port on the NTD
Batterybackupunitrsaquorsaquo A separate box supplied free with your NBN connection that is installed alongside the NTD on a wall inside your building This unit lets you continue to make telephone calls during a blackout if you are using an analogue phone running through the UNI-V port
Uploadspeedrsaquorsaquo If you use applications that send data such as videoconferencing and sending large email attachments as opposed to downloading large files and watching videos then look for an Internet service with higher upload speeds
UPSrsaquorsaquo Uninterruptible Power Supply A device that plugs into your server or computer so that it can continue to run if the main power supply stops
VOIPrsaquorsaquo Voice over IP Unlike regular telephone services VOIP telephone calls are converted to data and travel over data networks Call rates can be much cheaper though call quality can suffer if your VOIP service and your broadband connection arenrsquot suitable
VPNrsaquorsaquo A secure way to upload and download files to and from your officersquos internal network drives and servers when you are not in the office (eg at a hotel or from another office)
WANrsaquorsaquo Wide Area Network Offices in different towns or cities can be connected via the same WAN
Wirelessextenderrsaquorsaquo If you already have a wireless router this is a separate device which plugs into a power point and extends the range of the signal
WirelessNrsaquorsaquo Compatible routers are recommended for spreading your Internet connection around your office wirelessly Will be superseded by the faster 80211ac standard but there are not currently many compatible laptops and devices that will connect at 80211ac speeds
Batterybackupunit
UNI-Vport
WirelessRouter
28bitcomau
Their small businesses have the technology edgeDoes yoursSometimes you can be so busy that keeping up with technology seems too much What you really want to know is what it can do for your business BIT will keep you up to date with the technology that can help you do your job and grow your business ndash whether you are a florist a plumber an accountant or any type of Australian small business
B U S I N E S S I T
Make technology work for your business
Click to return to
Bit
- 001
- 002-003
- 004-009
- 010-011
- 012-017
- 018-019
- 020-025
- 026-027
- 028-031
- 032
-
26 bitcomau
My BookmarksFor more information on the best NBN plans and more click these links
Show me when I am getting connected
General NBN info
Show me all the NBN providers
Tell me if I can get NBN satellite
Give me more info on fibre NBN
I want more info on wireless NBN
I want more info about
the NBN fibre termination unit
Show me all the towns on
the current NBN rollout plan
Show me the NBN FAQ
27bitcomau
MORE INFO
Show me the best plans
Tell me about finding
a registered cabler
I want to try videoconferencing
Show me a list of cablers
I want Microsoft to host my servers
for me
Show me more about
getting connected
I want to read what users are
saying about Internet
providers
I want a web site
Help me make better
use of the NBN for
my business
Teach me about
online marketing
I want Google to
host my servers for me
28 bitcomau
The tech-talk in plain English
AnnexMrsaquorsaquo An add-on feature that some ADSL Internet providers offer to increase the speed of uploads iiNet for example says that customers will get a theoretical maximum upload speed of 275Mbps
ATArsaquorsaquo If you want to use a VOIP telephone service and donrsquot have a suitable VOIP router your VOIP provider can provide this adapter which you plug your telephone into
BondedDSLrsaquorsaquo By combining several phone lines higher broadband speeds are possible Unlike SHDSL upload speeds are still a lot slower than download speeds
Brownfieldrsaquorsaquo Premises that have already been built The focus is on connecting brownfields in regional areas to the NBN first so people currently with the worst broadband get it first
Businessgradebroadbandrsaquorsaquo Can cost more than home broadband but can include guaranteed uptime service agreements and sometimes your
data will travel over a separate network meaning less traffic congestion
Cat6rsaquorsaquo Category 6 cables are recommended for Gigabit Ethernet speeds in an office network
Cloudrsaquorsaquo Instead of buying and installing software on your own businessrsquos server a cloud company owns and runs the server hardware and software ndash you pay to access it over the Internet Examples include Microsoft Office 365 Salesforce Gmail and Dropbox
Contentionratiorsaquorsaquo A term used to indicate how many users have to share the same bandwidth Generally the lower the contention ratio the better Business grade broadband can sometimes have better contention ratios than home broadband
Copperrsaquorsaquo The public telephone lines also used for broadband services like ADSL SHDSL and Midband Ethernet Data services over copper reduce in speed the further your building is from your local telephone exchange
Dualbandwirelessrsaquorsaquo Dual band wireless routers can use two frequency bands (24GHz and 5GHz) to send and receive data unlike some wireless routers which can only use 24GHz This Brownfield
29bitcomau
JARGON BUSTER
can mean faster speeds but the tablet phone or laptop you are using needs to work on 5GHz or you wonrsquot see any difference
Ethernetrsaquorsaquo A network protocol often used for networks inside your building but can also be used for data services delivered over copper telephone lines or optical fibre cable Ethernet broadband services generally have same uploaddownload as opposed to ADSL
Exchangersaquorsaquo Can refer to Microsoft Exchange software which runs on a companyrsquos server and operates their company email or a telephone exchange
FSAMrsaquorsaquo A group of up to 3000 buildings connected to the NBN
GigabitEthernetrsaquorsaquo If you are using Ethernet cable to network your office Gigabit Ethernet will provide faster speeds (1Gbps) than Fast Ethernet (100Mbps)
Greenfieldrsaquorsaquo New housing developments Many of these streets will receive the NBN before Brownfield locations as they will be connected on a demand-driven basis Developers apply to have the NBN connected in their development
HostedITrsaquorsaquo Instead of buying and installing IT equipment yourself you can use another companyrsquos servers This can
include servers to run your email and website as well as hosted applications that users access over the network You can also hire a ldquomanaged service providerrdquo to setup and run your own IT
Latencyrsaquorsaquo Sometimes refers to the delay between sending data and receiving a response Higher latency is a disadvantage when using certain applications like videoconferencing Latency is generally higher on satellite and wireless networks such as 3G although 4G has a theoretical lower latency than 3G
LTErsaquorsaquo Higher speed wireless broadband used in the latest generation of smartphones and if you are getting the NBN via fixed wireless Much faster speeds than ADSL are possible but latency is much higher than optical fibre cable meaning itrsquos not suitable for videoconferencing Sometimes referred to as ldquo4Grdquo
Continued over page
Greenfield
LTE
WirelessRouter
30 bitcomau
MidbandEthernetrsaquorsaquo Provides up to 40Mbps over multiple copper lines Unlike ADSL you get the same upload and download speed but cost is usually several hundred dollars a month
NTDrsaquorsaquo Network Termination Device This is supplied free and is attached to a wall inside your building It takes the place of a modem when you get the NBN This is the box your router and phones will plug in to
Paymentgatewayrsaquorsaquo Used if you want to let customers buy products from your website When a customer buys a product on your website the transaction is sent to a third party the payment gateway which authorises the payment with the bank
PCDrsaquorsaquo Premises Connection Device This is a small box that is attached to an outside wall of your building when you are connected to the NBN via fibre cable The NBN fibre cable runs through this box to the inside of your building where it connects to the NTD
Powerlinenetworkrsaquorsaquo If a wireless router isnrsquot enough to spread your Internet connection
around your business (due to brick walls or multiple stories) and having Ethernet cables installed is too difficult another option is a powerline network An adaptor is plugged into each power point and data can be sent through the buildingrsquos internal wiring
PSTNrsaquorsaquo The public switched telephone network The copper network your analogue telephone connects to
RSPrsaquorsaquo Retail Service Provider Another name for an Internet provider such as Telstra Optus iiNet or Internode Once your building is connected you can contact an RSP to pay for an Internet plan and start using the NBN
Serverrsaquorsaquo A central computer that other computers on a network connect to A server might be in your own building providing a central location so all your staff can access the same files from their computers or an Internet server to which you connect to to access web sites or other services
SHDSLrsaquorsaquo Unlike ADSL SHDSL provides the same upload and download speeds Speeds up to 40Mbps are available by combining several phone lines in the form of Extreme SHDSL
SIPrsaquorsaquo A protocol used in devices for delivering multiple VOIP telephone calls at once
PCD
NTD
PCD
31bitcomau
JARGON BUSTER
SLArsaquorsaquo business-grade broadband contracts can include a Service Level Agreement ndash the provider commits to providing a certain level of service (995 Internet uptime for example)
Synchronousrsaquorsaquo The same upload and download speeds Midband Ethernet and SHDSL are synchronous but ADSL services are not meaning upload speeds are much slower than download speeds
UNI-Vportrsaquorsaquo A port on the NBN network termination device (NTD) where you plug in a telephone Alternatively if you use a VOIP telephone service your telephone can be plugged into a wireless router with a VOIP feature which then plugs into the data port on the NTD
Batterybackupunitrsaquorsaquo A separate box supplied free with your NBN connection that is installed alongside the NTD on a wall inside your building This unit lets you continue to make telephone calls during a blackout if you are using an analogue phone running through the UNI-V port
Uploadspeedrsaquorsaquo If you use applications that send data such as videoconferencing and sending large email attachments as opposed to downloading large files and watching videos then look for an Internet service with higher upload speeds
UPSrsaquorsaquo Uninterruptible Power Supply A device that plugs into your server or computer so that it can continue to run if the main power supply stops
VOIPrsaquorsaquo Voice over IP Unlike regular telephone services VOIP telephone calls are converted to data and travel over data networks Call rates can be much cheaper though call quality can suffer if your VOIP service and your broadband connection arenrsquot suitable
VPNrsaquorsaquo A secure way to upload and download files to and from your officersquos internal network drives and servers when you are not in the office (eg at a hotel or from another office)
WANrsaquorsaquo Wide Area Network Offices in different towns or cities can be connected via the same WAN
Wirelessextenderrsaquorsaquo If you already have a wireless router this is a separate device which plugs into a power point and extends the range of the signal
WirelessNrsaquorsaquo Compatible routers are recommended for spreading your Internet connection around your office wirelessly Will be superseded by the faster 80211ac standard but there are not currently many compatible laptops and devices that will connect at 80211ac speeds
Batterybackupunit
UNI-Vport
WirelessRouter
28bitcomau
Their small businesses have the technology edgeDoes yoursSometimes you can be so busy that keeping up with technology seems too much What you really want to know is what it can do for your business BIT will keep you up to date with the technology that can help you do your job and grow your business ndash whether you are a florist a plumber an accountant or any type of Australian small business
B U S I N E S S I T
Make technology work for your business
Click to return to
Bit
- 001
- 002-003
- 004-009
- 010-011
- 012-017
- 018-019
- 020-025
- 026-027
- 028-031
- 032
-
27bitcomau
MORE INFO
Show me the best plans
Tell me about finding
a registered cabler
I want to try videoconferencing
Show me a list of cablers
I want Microsoft to host my servers
for me
Show me more about
getting connected
I want to read what users are
saying about Internet
providers
I want a web site
Help me make better
use of the NBN for
my business
Teach me about
online marketing
I want Google to
host my servers for me
28 bitcomau
The tech-talk in plain English
AnnexMrsaquorsaquo An add-on feature that some ADSL Internet providers offer to increase the speed of uploads iiNet for example says that customers will get a theoretical maximum upload speed of 275Mbps
ATArsaquorsaquo If you want to use a VOIP telephone service and donrsquot have a suitable VOIP router your VOIP provider can provide this adapter which you plug your telephone into
BondedDSLrsaquorsaquo By combining several phone lines higher broadband speeds are possible Unlike SHDSL upload speeds are still a lot slower than download speeds
Brownfieldrsaquorsaquo Premises that have already been built The focus is on connecting brownfields in regional areas to the NBN first so people currently with the worst broadband get it first
Businessgradebroadbandrsaquorsaquo Can cost more than home broadband but can include guaranteed uptime service agreements and sometimes your
data will travel over a separate network meaning less traffic congestion
Cat6rsaquorsaquo Category 6 cables are recommended for Gigabit Ethernet speeds in an office network
Cloudrsaquorsaquo Instead of buying and installing software on your own businessrsquos server a cloud company owns and runs the server hardware and software ndash you pay to access it over the Internet Examples include Microsoft Office 365 Salesforce Gmail and Dropbox
Contentionratiorsaquorsaquo A term used to indicate how many users have to share the same bandwidth Generally the lower the contention ratio the better Business grade broadband can sometimes have better contention ratios than home broadband
Copperrsaquorsaquo The public telephone lines also used for broadband services like ADSL SHDSL and Midband Ethernet Data services over copper reduce in speed the further your building is from your local telephone exchange
Dualbandwirelessrsaquorsaquo Dual band wireless routers can use two frequency bands (24GHz and 5GHz) to send and receive data unlike some wireless routers which can only use 24GHz This Brownfield
29bitcomau
JARGON BUSTER
can mean faster speeds but the tablet phone or laptop you are using needs to work on 5GHz or you wonrsquot see any difference
Ethernetrsaquorsaquo A network protocol often used for networks inside your building but can also be used for data services delivered over copper telephone lines or optical fibre cable Ethernet broadband services generally have same uploaddownload as opposed to ADSL
Exchangersaquorsaquo Can refer to Microsoft Exchange software which runs on a companyrsquos server and operates their company email or a telephone exchange
FSAMrsaquorsaquo A group of up to 3000 buildings connected to the NBN
GigabitEthernetrsaquorsaquo If you are using Ethernet cable to network your office Gigabit Ethernet will provide faster speeds (1Gbps) than Fast Ethernet (100Mbps)
Greenfieldrsaquorsaquo New housing developments Many of these streets will receive the NBN before Brownfield locations as they will be connected on a demand-driven basis Developers apply to have the NBN connected in their development
HostedITrsaquorsaquo Instead of buying and installing IT equipment yourself you can use another companyrsquos servers This can
include servers to run your email and website as well as hosted applications that users access over the network You can also hire a ldquomanaged service providerrdquo to setup and run your own IT
Latencyrsaquorsaquo Sometimes refers to the delay between sending data and receiving a response Higher latency is a disadvantage when using certain applications like videoconferencing Latency is generally higher on satellite and wireless networks such as 3G although 4G has a theoretical lower latency than 3G
LTErsaquorsaquo Higher speed wireless broadband used in the latest generation of smartphones and if you are getting the NBN via fixed wireless Much faster speeds than ADSL are possible but latency is much higher than optical fibre cable meaning itrsquos not suitable for videoconferencing Sometimes referred to as ldquo4Grdquo
Continued over page
Greenfield
LTE
WirelessRouter
30 bitcomau
MidbandEthernetrsaquorsaquo Provides up to 40Mbps over multiple copper lines Unlike ADSL you get the same upload and download speed but cost is usually several hundred dollars a month
NTDrsaquorsaquo Network Termination Device This is supplied free and is attached to a wall inside your building It takes the place of a modem when you get the NBN This is the box your router and phones will plug in to
Paymentgatewayrsaquorsaquo Used if you want to let customers buy products from your website When a customer buys a product on your website the transaction is sent to a third party the payment gateway which authorises the payment with the bank
PCDrsaquorsaquo Premises Connection Device This is a small box that is attached to an outside wall of your building when you are connected to the NBN via fibre cable The NBN fibre cable runs through this box to the inside of your building where it connects to the NTD
Powerlinenetworkrsaquorsaquo If a wireless router isnrsquot enough to spread your Internet connection
around your business (due to brick walls or multiple stories) and having Ethernet cables installed is too difficult another option is a powerline network An adaptor is plugged into each power point and data can be sent through the buildingrsquos internal wiring
PSTNrsaquorsaquo The public switched telephone network The copper network your analogue telephone connects to
RSPrsaquorsaquo Retail Service Provider Another name for an Internet provider such as Telstra Optus iiNet or Internode Once your building is connected you can contact an RSP to pay for an Internet plan and start using the NBN
Serverrsaquorsaquo A central computer that other computers on a network connect to A server might be in your own building providing a central location so all your staff can access the same files from their computers or an Internet server to which you connect to to access web sites or other services
SHDSLrsaquorsaquo Unlike ADSL SHDSL provides the same upload and download speeds Speeds up to 40Mbps are available by combining several phone lines in the form of Extreme SHDSL
SIPrsaquorsaquo A protocol used in devices for delivering multiple VOIP telephone calls at once
PCD
NTD
PCD
31bitcomau
JARGON BUSTER
SLArsaquorsaquo business-grade broadband contracts can include a Service Level Agreement ndash the provider commits to providing a certain level of service (995 Internet uptime for example)
Synchronousrsaquorsaquo The same upload and download speeds Midband Ethernet and SHDSL are synchronous but ADSL services are not meaning upload speeds are much slower than download speeds
UNI-Vportrsaquorsaquo A port on the NBN network termination device (NTD) where you plug in a telephone Alternatively if you use a VOIP telephone service your telephone can be plugged into a wireless router with a VOIP feature which then plugs into the data port on the NTD
Batterybackupunitrsaquorsaquo A separate box supplied free with your NBN connection that is installed alongside the NTD on a wall inside your building This unit lets you continue to make telephone calls during a blackout if you are using an analogue phone running through the UNI-V port
Uploadspeedrsaquorsaquo If you use applications that send data such as videoconferencing and sending large email attachments as opposed to downloading large files and watching videos then look for an Internet service with higher upload speeds
UPSrsaquorsaquo Uninterruptible Power Supply A device that plugs into your server or computer so that it can continue to run if the main power supply stops
VOIPrsaquorsaquo Voice over IP Unlike regular telephone services VOIP telephone calls are converted to data and travel over data networks Call rates can be much cheaper though call quality can suffer if your VOIP service and your broadband connection arenrsquot suitable
VPNrsaquorsaquo A secure way to upload and download files to and from your officersquos internal network drives and servers when you are not in the office (eg at a hotel or from another office)
WANrsaquorsaquo Wide Area Network Offices in different towns or cities can be connected via the same WAN
Wirelessextenderrsaquorsaquo If you already have a wireless router this is a separate device which plugs into a power point and extends the range of the signal
WirelessNrsaquorsaquo Compatible routers are recommended for spreading your Internet connection around your office wirelessly Will be superseded by the faster 80211ac standard but there are not currently many compatible laptops and devices that will connect at 80211ac speeds
Batterybackupunit
UNI-Vport
WirelessRouter
28bitcomau
Their small businesses have the technology edgeDoes yoursSometimes you can be so busy that keeping up with technology seems too much What you really want to know is what it can do for your business BIT will keep you up to date with the technology that can help you do your job and grow your business ndash whether you are a florist a plumber an accountant or any type of Australian small business
B U S I N E S S I T
Make technology work for your business
Click to return to
Bit
- 001
- 002-003
- 004-009
- 010-011
- 012-017
- 018-019
- 020-025
- 026-027
- 028-031
- 032
-
28 bitcomau
The tech-talk in plain English
AnnexMrsaquorsaquo An add-on feature that some ADSL Internet providers offer to increase the speed of uploads iiNet for example says that customers will get a theoretical maximum upload speed of 275Mbps
ATArsaquorsaquo If you want to use a VOIP telephone service and donrsquot have a suitable VOIP router your VOIP provider can provide this adapter which you plug your telephone into
BondedDSLrsaquorsaquo By combining several phone lines higher broadband speeds are possible Unlike SHDSL upload speeds are still a lot slower than download speeds
Brownfieldrsaquorsaquo Premises that have already been built The focus is on connecting brownfields in regional areas to the NBN first so people currently with the worst broadband get it first
Businessgradebroadbandrsaquorsaquo Can cost more than home broadband but can include guaranteed uptime service agreements and sometimes your
data will travel over a separate network meaning less traffic congestion
Cat6rsaquorsaquo Category 6 cables are recommended for Gigabit Ethernet speeds in an office network
Cloudrsaquorsaquo Instead of buying and installing software on your own businessrsquos server a cloud company owns and runs the server hardware and software ndash you pay to access it over the Internet Examples include Microsoft Office 365 Salesforce Gmail and Dropbox
Contentionratiorsaquorsaquo A term used to indicate how many users have to share the same bandwidth Generally the lower the contention ratio the better Business grade broadband can sometimes have better contention ratios than home broadband
Copperrsaquorsaquo The public telephone lines also used for broadband services like ADSL SHDSL and Midband Ethernet Data services over copper reduce in speed the further your building is from your local telephone exchange
Dualbandwirelessrsaquorsaquo Dual band wireless routers can use two frequency bands (24GHz and 5GHz) to send and receive data unlike some wireless routers which can only use 24GHz This Brownfield
29bitcomau
JARGON BUSTER
can mean faster speeds but the tablet phone or laptop you are using needs to work on 5GHz or you wonrsquot see any difference
Ethernetrsaquorsaquo A network protocol often used for networks inside your building but can also be used for data services delivered over copper telephone lines or optical fibre cable Ethernet broadband services generally have same uploaddownload as opposed to ADSL
Exchangersaquorsaquo Can refer to Microsoft Exchange software which runs on a companyrsquos server and operates their company email or a telephone exchange
FSAMrsaquorsaquo A group of up to 3000 buildings connected to the NBN
GigabitEthernetrsaquorsaquo If you are using Ethernet cable to network your office Gigabit Ethernet will provide faster speeds (1Gbps) than Fast Ethernet (100Mbps)
Greenfieldrsaquorsaquo New housing developments Many of these streets will receive the NBN before Brownfield locations as they will be connected on a demand-driven basis Developers apply to have the NBN connected in their development
HostedITrsaquorsaquo Instead of buying and installing IT equipment yourself you can use another companyrsquos servers This can
include servers to run your email and website as well as hosted applications that users access over the network You can also hire a ldquomanaged service providerrdquo to setup and run your own IT
Latencyrsaquorsaquo Sometimes refers to the delay between sending data and receiving a response Higher latency is a disadvantage when using certain applications like videoconferencing Latency is generally higher on satellite and wireless networks such as 3G although 4G has a theoretical lower latency than 3G
LTErsaquorsaquo Higher speed wireless broadband used in the latest generation of smartphones and if you are getting the NBN via fixed wireless Much faster speeds than ADSL are possible but latency is much higher than optical fibre cable meaning itrsquos not suitable for videoconferencing Sometimes referred to as ldquo4Grdquo
Continued over page
Greenfield
LTE
WirelessRouter
30 bitcomau
MidbandEthernetrsaquorsaquo Provides up to 40Mbps over multiple copper lines Unlike ADSL you get the same upload and download speed but cost is usually several hundred dollars a month
NTDrsaquorsaquo Network Termination Device This is supplied free and is attached to a wall inside your building It takes the place of a modem when you get the NBN This is the box your router and phones will plug in to
Paymentgatewayrsaquorsaquo Used if you want to let customers buy products from your website When a customer buys a product on your website the transaction is sent to a third party the payment gateway which authorises the payment with the bank
PCDrsaquorsaquo Premises Connection Device This is a small box that is attached to an outside wall of your building when you are connected to the NBN via fibre cable The NBN fibre cable runs through this box to the inside of your building where it connects to the NTD
Powerlinenetworkrsaquorsaquo If a wireless router isnrsquot enough to spread your Internet connection
around your business (due to brick walls or multiple stories) and having Ethernet cables installed is too difficult another option is a powerline network An adaptor is plugged into each power point and data can be sent through the buildingrsquos internal wiring
PSTNrsaquorsaquo The public switched telephone network The copper network your analogue telephone connects to
RSPrsaquorsaquo Retail Service Provider Another name for an Internet provider such as Telstra Optus iiNet or Internode Once your building is connected you can contact an RSP to pay for an Internet plan and start using the NBN
Serverrsaquorsaquo A central computer that other computers on a network connect to A server might be in your own building providing a central location so all your staff can access the same files from their computers or an Internet server to which you connect to to access web sites or other services
SHDSLrsaquorsaquo Unlike ADSL SHDSL provides the same upload and download speeds Speeds up to 40Mbps are available by combining several phone lines in the form of Extreme SHDSL
SIPrsaquorsaquo A protocol used in devices for delivering multiple VOIP telephone calls at once
PCD
NTD
PCD
31bitcomau
JARGON BUSTER
SLArsaquorsaquo business-grade broadband contracts can include a Service Level Agreement ndash the provider commits to providing a certain level of service (995 Internet uptime for example)
Synchronousrsaquorsaquo The same upload and download speeds Midband Ethernet and SHDSL are synchronous but ADSL services are not meaning upload speeds are much slower than download speeds
UNI-Vportrsaquorsaquo A port on the NBN network termination device (NTD) where you plug in a telephone Alternatively if you use a VOIP telephone service your telephone can be plugged into a wireless router with a VOIP feature which then plugs into the data port on the NTD
Batterybackupunitrsaquorsaquo A separate box supplied free with your NBN connection that is installed alongside the NTD on a wall inside your building This unit lets you continue to make telephone calls during a blackout if you are using an analogue phone running through the UNI-V port
Uploadspeedrsaquorsaquo If you use applications that send data such as videoconferencing and sending large email attachments as opposed to downloading large files and watching videos then look for an Internet service with higher upload speeds
UPSrsaquorsaquo Uninterruptible Power Supply A device that plugs into your server or computer so that it can continue to run if the main power supply stops
VOIPrsaquorsaquo Voice over IP Unlike regular telephone services VOIP telephone calls are converted to data and travel over data networks Call rates can be much cheaper though call quality can suffer if your VOIP service and your broadband connection arenrsquot suitable
VPNrsaquorsaquo A secure way to upload and download files to and from your officersquos internal network drives and servers when you are not in the office (eg at a hotel or from another office)
WANrsaquorsaquo Wide Area Network Offices in different towns or cities can be connected via the same WAN
Wirelessextenderrsaquorsaquo If you already have a wireless router this is a separate device which plugs into a power point and extends the range of the signal
WirelessNrsaquorsaquo Compatible routers are recommended for spreading your Internet connection around your office wirelessly Will be superseded by the faster 80211ac standard but there are not currently many compatible laptops and devices that will connect at 80211ac speeds
Batterybackupunit
UNI-Vport
WirelessRouter
28bitcomau
Their small businesses have the technology edgeDoes yoursSometimes you can be so busy that keeping up with technology seems too much What you really want to know is what it can do for your business BIT will keep you up to date with the technology that can help you do your job and grow your business ndash whether you are a florist a plumber an accountant or any type of Australian small business
B U S I N E S S I T
Make technology work for your business
Click to return to
Bit
- 001
- 002-003
- 004-009
- 010-011
- 012-017
- 018-019
- 020-025
- 026-027
- 028-031
- 032
-
29bitcomau
JARGON BUSTER
can mean faster speeds but the tablet phone or laptop you are using needs to work on 5GHz or you wonrsquot see any difference
Ethernetrsaquorsaquo A network protocol often used for networks inside your building but can also be used for data services delivered over copper telephone lines or optical fibre cable Ethernet broadband services generally have same uploaddownload as opposed to ADSL
Exchangersaquorsaquo Can refer to Microsoft Exchange software which runs on a companyrsquos server and operates their company email or a telephone exchange
FSAMrsaquorsaquo A group of up to 3000 buildings connected to the NBN
GigabitEthernetrsaquorsaquo If you are using Ethernet cable to network your office Gigabit Ethernet will provide faster speeds (1Gbps) than Fast Ethernet (100Mbps)
Greenfieldrsaquorsaquo New housing developments Many of these streets will receive the NBN before Brownfield locations as they will be connected on a demand-driven basis Developers apply to have the NBN connected in their development
HostedITrsaquorsaquo Instead of buying and installing IT equipment yourself you can use another companyrsquos servers This can
include servers to run your email and website as well as hosted applications that users access over the network You can also hire a ldquomanaged service providerrdquo to setup and run your own IT
Latencyrsaquorsaquo Sometimes refers to the delay between sending data and receiving a response Higher latency is a disadvantage when using certain applications like videoconferencing Latency is generally higher on satellite and wireless networks such as 3G although 4G has a theoretical lower latency than 3G
LTErsaquorsaquo Higher speed wireless broadband used in the latest generation of smartphones and if you are getting the NBN via fixed wireless Much faster speeds than ADSL are possible but latency is much higher than optical fibre cable meaning itrsquos not suitable for videoconferencing Sometimes referred to as ldquo4Grdquo
Continued over page
Greenfield
LTE
WirelessRouter
30 bitcomau
MidbandEthernetrsaquorsaquo Provides up to 40Mbps over multiple copper lines Unlike ADSL you get the same upload and download speed but cost is usually several hundred dollars a month
NTDrsaquorsaquo Network Termination Device This is supplied free and is attached to a wall inside your building It takes the place of a modem when you get the NBN This is the box your router and phones will plug in to
Paymentgatewayrsaquorsaquo Used if you want to let customers buy products from your website When a customer buys a product on your website the transaction is sent to a third party the payment gateway which authorises the payment with the bank
PCDrsaquorsaquo Premises Connection Device This is a small box that is attached to an outside wall of your building when you are connected to the NBN via fibre cable The NBN fibre cable runs through this box to the inside of your building where it connects to the NTD
Powerlinenetworkrsaquorsaquo If a wireless router isnrsquot enough to spread your Internet connection
around your business (due to brick walls or multiple stories) and having Ethernet cables installed is too difficult another option is a powerline network An adaptor is plugged into each power point and data can be sent through the buildingrsquos internal wiring
PSTNrsaquorsaquo The public switched telephone network The copper network your analogue telephone connects to
RSPrsaquorsaquo Retail Service Provider Another name for an Internet provider such as Telstra Optus iiNet or Internode Once your building is connected you can contact an RSP to pay for an Internet plan and start using the NBN
Serverrsaquorsaquo A central computer that other computers on a network connect to A server might be in your own building providing a central location so all your staff can access the same files from their computers or an Internet server to which you connect to to access web sites or other services
SHDSLrsaquorsaquo Unlike ADSL SHDSL provides the same upload and download speeds Speeds up to 40Mbps are available by combining several phone lines in the form of Extreme SHDSL
SIPrsaquorsaquo A protocol used in devices for delivering multiple VOIP telephone calls at once
PCD
NTD
PCD
31bitcomau
JARGON BUSTER
SLArsaquorsaquo business-grade broadband contracts can include a Service Level Agreement ndash the provider commits to providing a certain level of service (995 Internet uptime for example)
Synchronousrsaquorsaquo The same upload and download speeds Midband Ethernet and SHDSL are synchronous but ADSL services are not meaning upload speeds are much slower than download speeds
UNI-Vportrsaquorsaquo A port on the NBN network termination device (NTD) where you plug in a telephone Alternatively if you use a VOIP telephone service your telephone can be plugged into a wireless router with a VOIP feature which then plugs into the data port on the NTD
Batterybackupunitrsaquorsaquo A separate box supplied free with your NBN connection that is installed alongside the NTD on a wall inside your building This unit lets you continue to make telephone calls during a blackout if you are using an analogue phone running through the UNI-V port
Uploadspeedrsaquorsaquo If you use applications that send data such as videoconferencing and sending large email attachments as opposed to downloading large files and watching videos then look for an Internet service with higher upload speeds
UPSrsaquorsaquo Uninterruptible Power Supply A device that plugs into your server or computer so that it can continue to run if the main power supply stops
VOIPrsaquorsaquo Voice over IP Unlike regular telephone services VOIP telephone calls are converted to data and travel over data networks Call rates can be much cheaper though call quality can suffer if your VOIP service and your broadband connection arenrsquot suitable
VPNrsaquorsaquo A secure way to upload and download files to and from your officersquos internal network drives and servers when you are not in the office (eg at a hotel or from another office)
WANrsaquorsaquo Wide Area Network Offices in different towns or cities can be connected via the same WAN
Wirelessextenderrsaquorsaquo If you already have a wireless router this is a separate device which plugs into a power point and extends the range of the signal
WirelessNrsaquorsaquo Compatible routers are recommended for spreading your Internet connection around your office wirelessly Will be superseded by the faster 80211ac standard but there are not currently many compatible laptops and devices that will connect at 80211ac speeds
Batterybackupunit
UNI-Vport
WirelessRouter
28bitcomau
Their small businesses have the technology edgeDoes yoursSometimes you can be so busy that keeping up with technology seems too much What you really want to know is what it can do for your business BIT will keep you up to date with the technology that can help you do your job and grow your business ndash whether you are a florist a plumber an accountant or any type of Australian small business
B U S I N E S S I T
Make technology work for your business
Click to return to
Bit
- 001
- 002-003
- 004-009
- 010-011
- 012-017
- 018-019
- 020-025
- 026-027
- 028-031
- 032
-
30 bitcomau
MidbandEthernetrsaquorsaquo Provides up to 40Mbps over multiple copper lines Unlike ADSL you get the same upload and download speed but cost is usually several hundred dollars a month
NTDrsaquorsaquo Network Termination Device This is supplied free and is attached to a wall inside your building It takes the place of a modem when you get the NBN This is the box your router and phones will plug in to
Paymentgatewayrsaquorsaquo Used if you want to let customers buy products from your website When a customer buys a product on your website the transaction is sent to a third party the payment gateway which authorises the payment with the bank
PCDrsaquorsaquo Premises Connection Device This is a small box that is attached to an outside wall of your building when you are connected to the NBN via fibre cable The NBN fibre cable runs through this box to the inside of your building where it connects to the NTD
Powerlinenetworkrsaquorsaquo If a wireless router isnrsquot enough to spread your Internet connection
around your business (due to brick walls or multiple stories) and having Ethernet cables installed is too difficult another option is a powerline network An adaptor is plugged into each power point and data can be sent through the buildingrsquos internal wiring
PSTNrsaquorsaquo The public switched telephone network The copper network your analogue telephone connects to
RSPrsaquorsaquo Retail Service Provider Another name for an Internet provider such as Telstra Optus iiNet or Internode Once your building is connected you can contact an RSP to pay for an Internet plan and start using the NBN
Serverrsaquorsaquo A central computer that other computers on a network connect to A server might be in your own building providing a central location so all your staff can access the same files from their computers or an Internet server to which you connect to to access web sites or other services
SHDSLrsaquorsaquo Unlike ADSL SHDSL provides the same upload and download speeds Speeds up to 40Mbps are available by combining several phone lines in the form of Extreme SHDSL
SIPrsaquorsaquo A protocol used in devices for delivering multiple VOIP telephone calls at once
PCD
NTD
PCD
31bitcomau
JARGON BUSTER
SLArsaquorsaquo business-grade broadband contracts can include a Service Level Agreement ndash the provider commits to providing a certain level of service (995 Internet uptime for example)
Synchronousrsaquorsaquo The same upload and download speeds Midband Ethernet and SHDSL are synchronous but ADSL services are not meaning upload speeds are much slower than download speeds
UNI-Vportrsaquorsaquo A port on the NBN network termination device (NTD) where you plug in a telephone Alternatively if you use a VOIP telephone service your telephone can be plugged into a wireless router with a VOIP feature which then plugs into the data port on the NTD
Batterybackupunitrsaquorsaquo A separate box supplied free with your NBN connection that is installed alongside the NTD on a wall inside your building This unit lets you continue to make telephone calls during a blackout if you are using an analogue phone running through the UNI-V port
Uploadspeedrsaquorsaquo If you use applications that send data such as videoconferencing and sending large email attachments as opposed to downloading large files and watching videos then look for an Internet service with higher upload speeds
UPSrsaquorsaquo Uninterruptible Power Supply A device that plugs into your server or computer so that it can continue to run if the main power supply stops
VOIPrsaquorsaquo Voice over IP Unlike regular telephone services VOIP telephone calls are converted to data and travel over data networks Call rates can be much cheaper though call quality can suffer if your VOIP service and your broadband connection arenrsquot suitable
VPNrsaquorsaquo A secure way to upload and download files to and from your officersquos internal network drives and servers when you are not in the office (eg at a hotel or from another office)
WANrsaquorsaquo Wide Area Network Offices in different towns or cities can be connected via the same WAN
Wirelessextenderrsaquorsaquo If you already have a wireless router this is a separate device which plugs into a power point and extends the range of the signal
WirelessNrsaquorsaquo Compatible routers are recommended for spreading your Internet connection around your office wirelessly Will be superseded by the faster 80211ac standard but there are not currently many compatible laptops and devices that will connect at 80211ac speeds
Batterybackupunit
UNI-Vport
WirelessRouter
28bitcomau
Their small businesses have the technology edgeDoes yoursSometimes you can be so busy that keeping up with technology seems too much What you really want to know is what it can do for your business BIT will keep you up to date with the technology that can help you do your job and grow your business ndash whether you are a florist a plumber an accountant or any type of Australian small business
B U S I N E S S I T
Make technology work for your business
Click to return to
Bit
- 001
- 002-003
- 004-009
- 010-011
- 012-017
- 018-019
- 020-025
- 026-027
- 028-031
- 032
-
31bitcomau
JARGON BUSTER
SLArsaquorsaquo business-grade broadband contracts can include a Service Level Agreement ndash the provider commits to providing a certain level of service (995 Internet uptime for example)
Synchronousrsaquorsaquo The same upload and download speeds Midband Ethernet and SHDSL are synchronous but ADSL services are not meaning upload speeds are much slower than download speeds
UNI-Vportrsaquorsaquo A port on the NBN network termination device (NTD) where you plug in a telephone Alternatively if you use a VOIP telephone service your telephone can be plugged into a wireless router with a VOIP feature which then plugs into the data port on the NTD
Batterybackupunitrsaquorsaquo A separate box supplied free with your NBN connection that is installed alongside the NTD on a wall inside your building This unit lets you continue to make telephone calls during a blackout if you are using an analogue phone running through the UNI-V port
Uploadspeedrsaquorsaquo If you use applications that send data such as videoconferencing and sending large email attachments as opposed to downloading large files and watching videos then look for an Internet service with higher upload speeds
UPSrsaquorsaquo Uninterruptible Power Supply A device that plugs into your server or computer so that it can continue to run if the main power supply stops
VOIPrsaquorsaquo Voice over IP Unlike regular telephone services VOIP telephone calls are converted to data and travel over data networks Call rates can be much cheaper though call quality can suffer if your VOIP service and your broadband connection arenrsquot suitable
VPNrsaquorsaquo A secure way to upload and download files to and from your officersquos internal network drives and servers when you are not in the office (eg at a hotel or from another office)
WANrsaquorsaquo Wide Area Network Offices in different towns or cities can be connected via the same WAN
Wirelessextenderrsaquorsaquo If you already have a wireless router this is a separate device which plugs into a power point and extends the range of the signal
WirelessNrsaquorsaquo Compatible routers are recommended for spreading your Internet connection around your office wirelessly Will be superseded by the faster 80211ac standard but there are not currently many compatible laptops and devices that will connect at 80211ac speeds
Batterybackupunit
UNI-Vport
WirelessRouter
28bitcomau
Their small businesses have the technology edgeDoes yoursSometimes you can be so busy that keeping up with technology seems too much What you really want to know is what it can do for your business BIT will keep you up to date with the technology that can help you do your job and grow your business ndash whether you are a florist a plumber an accountant or any type of Australian small business
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28bitcomau
Their small businesses have the technology edgeDoes yoursSometimes you can be so busy that keeping up with technology seems too much What you really want to know is what it can do for your business BIT will keep you up to date with the technology that can help you do your job and grow your business ndash whether you are a florist a plumber an accountant or any type of Australian small business
B U S I N E S S I T
Make technology work for your business
Click to return to
Bit
- 001
- 002-003
- 004-009
- 010-011
- 012-017
- 018-019
- 020-025
- 026-027
- 028-031
- 032
-