BT IPstream symmetric

BT IPstream Symmetric products are suitable for Service Providers addressing the SME, SoHo, remote office and teleworking markets. They are similar to BT IPstream Office products, but offer the same transmission rate upstream as downstream.

The service is designed for End Users who require business class connectivity to their Service Provider for applications such as fast file transfer and web hosting, but is not suitable for End Users who require sustained continuous bit-rate connectivity. The End User is restricted to a single Service Provider, who can, however, choose to allow the users to connect to more than one domain..

The BT IPstream Symmetric is a wires-only service and Service Providers are therefore responsible for providing, installing and maintaining any associated CPE for their End Users. Service providers are also responsible for the sales, marketing and recruitment of End Users and for the contractual/service relationship. BT supplies the delivery transport and basic service.

BT IPstream Symmetric End User Access

This provides session controlled SHDSL based IP connectivity between an End User and a Broadband Access Server (BAS) in BT’s high speed data network.

BT Central (Customer Access)

The BT Central product provides a connection from the BT broadband network to the Service Provider (Customer Premises) over BT"s IP Network, and is a necessary component for the end to end connection of the BT IPstream Symmetric product to the Service Provider.

BT IPstream Symmetric End User Service

The BT IPstream Symmetric service is delivered over a dedicated Metallic Path Facility (MPF) which forms the End User Access (EUA) and which we provide as part of the service.

Depending on reach, the EUA can support the rates shown below. Unlike the ADSL variant, BT IPstream Symmetric does not support a PSTN service.

* The IP data rate is defined as the rate available for the transport of IP packets in the payload of ATM cells. The actual data payload will be less then this as the effects of TCP/IP and PPP headers have to be taken into account, but no allowance is required for the overhead introduced by the ATM layer, as this has already been taken into account in the above figures.

The EUA terminates on dedicated Network Termination Equipment (NTE) which includes a Service Specific Front Plate (SSFP), installed as part of the service.

BT Central

The Service Provider connects to the BT broadband network through a single or multiple BT Central, at least one of which must have the appropriate bandwidth capability to support forecast BT IPstream Symmetric services.

More information is in SIN329.

There is a choice of BT Central products, differing in interface type, bandwidth and resilience. Please note that BT IPstream Symmetric products cannot be used in conjunction with BT Central Plus.

More information is in SIN329 and SIN374.

When adding SHDSL End Users to existing ADSL BT Centrals, Service Providers must take account of the impact of mixing symmetric and asymmetric traffic on the same BT Central.

More information on the bandwidth capabilities of the BT Central are in SIN 329.

Interfaces

Detailed information about the service, including product parameters and interface information is in SIN405.

The service will be presented at the End User’s premises as wires-only SHDSL. Service Providers are responsible for the purchase, provision, installation, configuration and maintenance of their End Users" CPE.

More information is in SIN376.

More information on BT Central features and interface descriptions are in:

SIN329 for broadband IP products

SIN374 for BT IPStream L2TP passthrough

Service Features

Service Providers own the contractual relationship with their End Users and are responsible for all aspects of the application service including marketing, contracts and billing, as well as managing provision of service orders and faults on behalf of their users. End user orders and Service Provider service issues will be managed through the Service Provider’s Service Management Centre.

Where a fault within a BT network delivery element is identified, it will be passed on to BT. BT reserves the right to charge the Service Provider where faults are subsequently found to be caused by the Service Provider’s network or the End User's CPE.

End User Accesses are provided with Broadband Standard Care tariff and the option of Broadband Symmetric Enhanced Care is available at additional cost.

For more information please see the Service Provider Price List.

Service Level Agreements on provisioning and repair are also available. We don’t offer Service Level guarantees.

Availability

BT IPstream Symmetric is only available over a dedicated BT Metallic Path Facility (MPF) with dedicated BT Network Termination Equipment at the End User’s premises. Both pieces of equipment are supplied with the product. The product cannot co-exist with other BT services on the same MPF; for example, PSTN service is not available with this set-up.

Service is only available from enabled exchanges where SHDSL capacity is available. There are technical and reach limitations that may prevent some End Users from receiving SHDSL services, depending on the length and characteristics of the MFP.

Further sources of information are available in the following documents:

Pricing for the BT IPstream Symmetric End User service and BT Centrals is in Service Provider Price List

BT IPstream Symmetric service description and interface specification is in SIN 405.

BT Wholesale Broadband SHDSL interface description is in SIN 376

also see BT IPstream Terms & Conditions

Supplier Information Notes (SINs) referred to in this document are available from: http://www.sinet.bt.com, or just click on the SIN reference.