Platform Networks 95th percentile bandwidth is provisioned with a burst speed that is twice that of the committed speed.
The 95th percentile is a mathematical calculation widely used to
determine billings for Internet connections that are provided as
"burstable" (variable rate) bandwidth.
Essentially, when you subscribe to a service that includes a network
bandwidth allowance you are permitted to consume as much bandwidth as
you wish up to a specified limit. As long as your monthly consumption
is at or below this allowance level there are no additional fees. If,
however, you exceed your allowance then you are invoiced for the
additional bandwidth you consume.
It is important when choosing a subscription for a bandwidth allowance
that you choose a bandwidth allowance suitable to your needs.
Metering Your Consumption
Bandwidth consumption is a calculated value. It works like this:
* Every 30 seconds we take readings off of the network switch that
services your account. These reading return the amount of network
traffic that has passed through the port that services your equipment,
returning the number of bytes of information that has entered and left
your service.
* These values are added together to provide five minute totals.
These totals are then translated into kilobits and divided by the
number of seconds that have passed in order to establish the total
amount of bandwidth that entered and left your service, expressed in
kilobits per second (Kbps). Bandwidth is calculated separately for both
inbound and outbound traffic and your bandwidth consumption is the sum
of these two values.
At the end of each month these readings are sorted and the top 5% of
these readings are removed. The next highest reading (called "the 95th
percentile") determines if any excessive use of network traffic has
occurred and determines the amount of excess service fees that would
apply.
What happens if you exceed your Allowance?
If you exceed your allowance you will be invoiced for the additional
bandwidth that your service consumed. These additional fees are
invoiced at a fixed rate, as defined by your signed Sales Agreement.
Can I increase my Bandwidth Allowance?
Yes. For information on increasing your Bandwidth Allowance please speak to your sales representative.
Is there a way for me to view how much traffic my service is using?
Yes, usage is viewable via The Platform, our account management portal.