Jetstream dries up for net users

By PETER GRIFFIN

Telecom says it is working overtime to fix niggling problems with its high-speed internet service - problems that frequently push thousands of users into the slow lane.

The telco's Jetstream service has been plagued with so-called micro-outages or sporadic drops in service that sometimes affect users running certain network configurations only, but which often leave thousands of users nationwide with intermittent access to the internet.

North Shore Jetstream users were yesterday complaining about a fourth day of patchy service.

The Takapuna-based publisher and editor of New Zealand Wine Grower, Terry Dunleavy, said the problem had made him revert to his Iprolink dial-up internet account for web access, but it was like going back to the Stone Age.

"What a time for it to go out. I'm currently working on the autumn issue," he said.

"Jetstream is a jump of light years in technology and convenience terms - then suddenly you're cut off from it."

Telecom spokeswoman Mary Parker said an upgrade to Telecom's network on Friday had triggered the problems, but the Jetstream service had "stabilised" by last night.

"It has meant an intermittent service for thousands of customers around New Zealand," Parker said.

"They're having difficulty getting connected and staying connected."

The problems were made worse because alarms were not being triggered when users were disconnected from the service.

Telecom was having to manually connect and disconnect Jetstream customers.

Parker admitted Jetstream had continuing problems.

"There have been issues with Jetstream and we have had lots of people working on it.

"There have been a lot of meetings about it, a lot of reviews."

But Telecom put some of the problems down to inappropriate use.

Users running servers for example were urged to upgrade to more suitable offerings.

"If you're using fast internet access for those types of things you should be using IP Networking or frame relay," she said.

Three years after Telecom began ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) trials, Parker said, there were now more than 30,000 Jetstream connections nationwide and exchanges were being readied to handle the service in Richmond, Stoke, Lynmore, Kerikeri, Paihia, Kaitaia, Cambridge, Te Awamutu, Matamata, Paeroa, Te Puke and Rangiora.