Telecom Expands Fast Internet In Christchurch

Telecom is expanding the reach of its JetStream service in Christchurch by around 50 per cent as the demand for fast Internet rises.

JetStream is a broadband connection to the Internet that enables customers to download web pages over their phone line at least 50 times faster than a traditional dial-up modem.

Jetstream is available to customers within approximately three kilometres of an exchange fitted with the ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) technology which drives the service.

By the end of this year, Telecom will have added ADSL technology to exchanges in Hillmorton, Linwood, St Albans and Islington, making JetStream available to a potential total of nearly 126,000 customers in the city.

The expansion will take fast Internet further out to the city’s suburbs, as well as to more industrial estates and businesses outside the CBD.

At present JetStream is available to a potential 85,500 customers at exchanges in Beckenham, Memorial Ave, Riccarton, Christchurch Central and Papanui.

“The difference between JetStream and an ordinary Internet connection is that it’s much faster, so it opens up the video and audio potential of the web. It’s always on so you don’t have to dial up, and it will allow you to use your phone at the same time,” says Telecom’s Southern Partnering Manager Paul Deavoll.

“People love the speed of JetStream because they can download multimedia data at up to 7 megabits a second and we guarantee a minimum of 2.5 megabits, which is still 50 times faster than a standard dial-up modem,” Mr Deavoll says.

“For Christchurch businesses we’re now also using ADSL to create virtual private networks or VPNs that allows customers to connect their branches at high speed cost-effectively. They can also connect at high speed with key staff working from home,” Mr Deavoll says.

“Across the country our customer base is growing by 80 to 100 a day, with around a third of our new connections now coming from residential customers, mainly home businesses,” says Mr Deavoll.

Customers can choose from a JetStream 600 service allowing them to download up to 600 megabytes of data per month without additional charge or a new JetStream 400 option designed for residential customers who tend to download less data. There are also tailored packages of up to 10 gigabytes.

As an introductory special, customers who sign up for the JetStream 400 service before the end of December will have their broadband service installed free, instead of paying the standard $300 installation cost.

A special JetStream 400 package is now available priced at $99 per month, including modem and Xtra ISP charges.

This price includes $49 for downloading up to 400 megabytes of data, after which the charge is 20 cents per megabyte. The JetStream 600 package is $119.

Rental of a JetStream modem is $30 per month, but these are expected to be on sale in New Zealand over the next few months.

Telecom’s JetStream customers can choose from a number of ISPs (Internet Service Providers) that support the JetStream service. Those choosing Xtra’s service will pay $20 per month as part of the $99 package.

Customers can check whether they are in a JetStream area by going to the Telecom website at www.telecom.co.nz, clicking on “JetStream” and entering their telephone number.

* All prices include GST.

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