Speakeasy Brings 10 Mbps Internet, Symmetrically

Best Buy's Speakeasy broadband division is offering quite a deal for businesses that need more than DSL can offer in most markets, the service-level commitment of a T-1 (1.5 Mbps up/down) line, and high symmetrical bandwidth: what they're calling Business Ethernet, with 10 Mbps upstream and downstream starting at $1,295 per month.

While that's no co-location speed--where 100 Mbps to 1 Gbps Internet backhaul is common--it's still plenty good enough for moderately busy Web sites, and for companies that need to push out as much data as they pull in, such as graphic design studios and video-editing shops.

Speakeasy is making use of some newer technology to push this kind of high speed symmetrical offering up to about 10,000 wire feet from central offices in the central core of 22 U.S. cities. Many businesses are frustrated with the asymmetricality offered by DSL providers, even non-incumbent ones, and by the cost of using fractional T-3 lines.

The T-3 technology, which can run as fast as about 45 Mbps, is designed for carrier-grade and enterprise purposes, and doesn't scale down well in cost for hardware and monthly rates. In some markets, some providers can charge close to Speakeasy's rates; in others, far higher.

A Speakeasy spokesperson said rates are the same in each market, with $1,295 carrying a 3-year commitment; 2 years is $1,495 per month, and 1 year $1,695 per month. All plans in all markets include the local loop (the wire to the central office), all bandwdith, and the hardware and installation.