I was wondering this. How do ISPs control bandwidth? If I upgraded from 1.5 Mbps to 7 Mbps, would they put in a different cable or do something else?
Depends on what kind of access technology they're using. It's typically just a matter of provisioning on the local access equipment - that is, a profile on the head-end on a cable system, or the DSLAM on a DSL connection. If you're on a straight ethernet connection, it's most often a policy map on a layer 3 switch. Nothing big and fancy.
Last edited by mikkel (2008-06-24 22:53:28)
unless it's a T1 connection I don't think they upgrade the line. they probably just change a value on their end.
If you'll accept a metaphor, they don't have to order a new window to change how much air gets in. They just close (or open) it a bit.Reciprocity wrote:
unless it's a T1 connection I don't think they upgrade the line. they probably just change a value on their end.
When you upgrade speed they clean a little shit out of the intertubes