Ethernet FAQs

Thanks to state-of-the-art technology, you are able to take advantage of Ethernet connectivity around the clock without any disruption to the quality of service.

Ethernet internet access uses a separate link to BT, a separate rack, and separate transit feeds and BGP announcements from standard broadband services.

As the service is unlimited, it’s perfect for providing back-haul to the internet to people in blocks of flats and on wireless access points. Note that if you do resell the service, you become a Communications Provider and will be subject to a host of rules and regulations.

The time taken to complete installation can differ, but BT works on a lead time of 33 working days, subject to survey. We will not charge you until the service is up and running.

The SLA from BT is based on five, seven or 24-hour fix time, and we pass on any compensation we get from BT relating directly to you. In addition, we pass on the full SLA payment we get from BT for any fault relating specifically to your line if you request within one month of the incident.

A bursting option is available. A 2Mbps-10Mbps burstable service is cheaper than a 10Mbps unlimited service, and could therefore be more suitable for internet access. Note that if using more than the guaranteed rate for a number of hours, the speed will drop but never below the guaranteed rate.

We handle several BGP configuration options and provide consultancy and equipment for BGP handling.

Ethernet services provide simple connectivity, but do not offer services such as email. These can be bought as separate services.

A firewall is always recommended for the security of your network. Though no firewall is included in the price, we can advise on adding one separately.

As the service comes on an Ethernet port, you will not need a modem router. You will need to supply power for the BT termination equipment and may require a managed switch or media converter.

There remain plenty of IPv4 addresses available, and we encourage and support IP version 6, providing native IPv6 connectivity with full 1500 byte MTU.

We’ll prioritise non-TCP traffic when guaranteeing your rate to try and ensure VoIP performance. If you use the burstable service, there is the possibility of packet dropping, so we recommend a non-burstable service for VoIP.

A burstable service enables you to use up to five times your guaranteed bandwidth by setting thresholds limiting the usage. This means that you could use the full rate for around about an hour with no slowing, then see speeds drop to the guaranteed rate later on. In practice, people who use normal office internet access won’t be affected by a slow down at all. The reasons we set limits is to protect against excess charges.

It’s very similar. We offer a dedicated link to the internet whereas a leased line is used when buying a 64Kbps or 2Mbps internet link from an ISP. For more details on the reliability of Ethernet services from Xinix, contact our team of friendly, knowledgeable advisors today. We’ll be happy to identify the perfect Ethernet solution for your business and answer any questions you may have.