ADSL MAX is an extension of standard ADSL services that offers a faster download and upload speeds. ADSL MAX is able to provide speeds of up to 8Mbps (download) and 832Kbps (upload).
The majority of UK telephone exchanges are enabled for ADSL MAX and the service is offered as either standard or premium. The difference between the two services are that ADSL MAX standard delivers a maximum upload speed of 448Kbps and ADSL MAX premium traffic has priority over ADSL MAX standard.
ADSL MAX is deployed over both IPStream and Datastream. Like DSL technology ADSL MAX performance is dependent on factors such as contention and distance. However, unlike standard ADSL, ADSL MAX is rate adaptive which ensures that you receive the best possible speed (taking into consideration factors such as distance from the exchange and quality of copper).
As ADSL MAX works by using rate adaptive technology, for the first 10 days the network synchronises between the ADSL router and the DSLAM at the local exchange. Technology known as DLM (Dynamic Line Management) is constantly assessing the characteristics of the line. During this period the DLM is able to make adjustments in order to provide the maximum achievable speed for the line consistently. This is known as the Maximum Stable Rate (MSR). A Fault Threshold Rate (FTR) is also determined which is a figure that is set at 30% of the MSR less 0.5Mbs. If the ADSL MAX connection falls to the FTR for a long period this may indicate a fault with the line.
