Telecom subsidiary and the country's largest internet service provider Xtra was tight-lipped about its use of netDetail network traffic analysis software from local startup Esphion.

Despite its potential as a reference site for Esphion, an Xtra spokeswoman would only reiterate from the press statement that the software was used to "enhance its existing suite of network and financial modeling tools", adding that it has been in use for the past month.

According to Esphion's website netDetail provides intensive traffic analysis of IP networks and reporting for billing, network usage and design.

It can answer questions such as what groups of users are using bandwidth, and what for. This can improve bandwidth utilisation and capacity planning.

The Herald understands the software can also analyse internet protocol traffic right down to the individual user and could potentially be used to identify bandwidth hogs on Telecom's Jetstream service.

Esphion