Sonic.net

We got some nice coverage from Slate today, check it out here:

http://www.slate.com/blogs/future_tense ... e_u_s.html

Is this correct? "Sonic customers’ Internet traffic (at least, for people taking advantage of the VPN) is subject to Sonic’s data-retention policies, not AT&T’s"

I thought that the VPN was for if i was at Starbucks and wanted security. Do I also need to connect to the VPN when I'm at home to prevent AT&T seeing all my traffic?

This is only applicable for customers with the newly launched Fusion FTTN service, which uses the AT&T UVerse network. For those customers, VPN is necessary if they want a Sonic allocated IP and Internet transit instead of one directly from AT&T.

I will ask the author to clarify, it is a bit confusing.

Thanks for the clarification. As a Fusion customer, that's what I thought.

I read that article, and it's partly why I'm here looking at service. I currently have ATT DSL, and I'm not completely happy with reliability.

If Fusion service is just re-packaged U-Verse, then will I have the same reliability problems with Sonic?

This is very confusing stuff these days...

Sonic legacy DSL = Never dealt with this one but I guess this is re-branded AT&T DSL.

Sonic Fusion = Sonic rents bare copper pairs from AT&T but the wires plug into Sonic equipment at the CO. The POTS phone line and DSL line are fully on Sonic hardware.

Sonic FTTN = Rebranded AT&T uverse FTTN. AT&T made "uverse" confusing by applying the name to both older DSL and newer FTTN products. Sonic is offering the 18/2 & 45/6 FTTN products (depending on distance).

"X2" for Fusion is two wire pairs to double the speed. X2 for FTTN is that 45M service.

So, if you have AT&T DSL then you would either be moving over to Fusion or FTTN depending on availability and your individual distance from your CO (AT&T Central Office).

If you are not sure which service you have then just post your speed and modem model and we can most likely figure it out.

dherr covered this pretty well, but I'd written up the below for someone else, so I'll re-post it here as it may help.

Here are the services, listed here from oldest to newest, with the
technology and performance noted for clarity, and a description of the
privacy details for each.

#1: Sonic "Legacy" DSL (1.5Mbps-6Mbps ADSL1). AT&T DSLAMs are used,
and these provide aggregation using ATM layer-2 to Sonic IP equipment.
A Sonic IP is allocated, and all Internet transit is provided by Sonic.
AT&T's ability to view traffic is limited to ATM level cells, which seems
unlikely. Less than 10% of Sonic customers are served on this platform.

#2 Sonic Fusion (1.5Mbps-150Mbps VDSL2 or ADSL2+). This is our
standard "Fusion" service, where we colocate Sonic-owned equipment and
rent bare copper wires to provide data and POTS voice service. There
is no way for AT&T to access the data. We run all of the equipment, so
privacy can be assured. The vast majority of Sonic customers are
served using this product and network equipment today.

#3: Fusion FTTN (~12Mbps-50Mbps VDSL2). The potential privacy issue is
limited to this service. This product today serves about 5% of our
customer base, and it is delivered using resold access via AT&T's own
DSLAMs located in cabinets in neighborhoods, as well as AT&T layer-3
IP. These AT&T-owned DSLAMs and their IP network are used, and for
these customers, VPN is necessary to assure they are covered by our
privacy policies and practices rather than those of AT&T.

#4: Fusion Fiber (1000Mbps GPON Fiber). Our Gigabit fiber service is
entirely our outside plant (fiber optic cables), and our equipment,
end to end. And it's Gigabit. And it's $40. This is where we are
headed overall. Exciting stuff.

dherr / dane: thanks, that is helpful. It reads to me like the Fusion service uses Sonic's equipment (at least, at the CO), and therefore I have a chance at better service. I appreciate the privacy angle, too.

Thanks again, and hope SF's Mission District is close to being on your radar for fiber.