What is Contention, What Does it Mean?
When a user is connected to the Internet using ADSL broadband technology they are sharing the connection infrastructure with other users. The term contention is simply a ratio used to measure the extent of this sharing. The typical contention ratio for ADSL services is between 20:1 and 100:1. For example on a package with a contention of 50:1, up to 50 other Broadband users may share the equipment and bandwidth in the local telephone exchange. An analogy would be driving a car in peak (rush-hour) and off-peak traffic. During the rush hour you contend the road with everybody else and it may take you longer to get to your destination than during off-peak. This industry-wide method is used by all broadband providers.
The BigAir network operates with a maximum contention ratio of 5:1 which is very low by industry standards. The average contention ratio across the BigAir network in reality is an extremely low 2:1. Since we own and operate our own network, upgrading capacity on a sector to maintain a guaranteed contention ratio is relatively simple and this enables BigAir to guarantee its services levels.