If you're a DSL user in CenturyLink's (NYSE: CTL) North or Central Texas territory, you probably have been at the receiving end of a slow connection.
As reported on MSNBC.com, the culprit behind CenturyLink's slow speeds is that there are just too many users trying to access the service. In other words, CenturyLink like other telcos has oversubscribed its DSL systems. And while CenturyLink said it is going to fix the problem, users might see any relief for at least a few weeks.
Although CenturyLink provides DSL in 126 Texas-based cities, including the Metroplex, Central Texas and Southeast Texas areas, only customers in North and Central Texas are affected by the slow speeds.
With little other choices for Internet in Wise County Texas, CenturyLink user Kaleb Rutherford told NBCDFW.com that his DSL service slows down from 4:00 p.m. to midnight and weekends from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m.
"In Wise County, we have one primary Internet provider (CenturyLink) and they are the only ones who can provide service to the vast majority," Rutherford said.
What's probably the most frustrating about these slowdowns is that consumers like Rutherford are likely paying good money for a 10 Mbps connection, but are only getting 500 Kbps speeds when they log onto the Web.
However, according to user posts on Broadband DSL Reports, CenturyLink' slow connections aren't just a problem in Texas. CenturyLink DSL subscribers in both Missouri and Wisconsin are reporting similar service slowdowns.
Oversubscription, while a common phenomenon in the broadband industry to keep capital spending in check, has the unfortunate effect of slowing down Internet speeds for both consumers and business users.
For more:
- MSNBC.com has this article
- Broadband DSL Reports has this post
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