High Speed Internet - Where Is It Available And What’s
The Best?
Today I have a great web site to de-mystify that computer
jargon; information about Broadband or High speed internet
connections; and my next Question and Answer.
Here’s a great site for answering all your computer
related vocabulary questions. http://www.whatis.com.
Look up any computer related word or phrase. The definition
can be as simple or as complex as you want.
High speed internet - where is it available and what’s
the best?
(Much of the following was taken from: http://www.expat.or.id/info/internetaccess.html)
Remember that Broadband means a faster connection than your
phone line and standard modem can deliver. Perhaps 2-5
times faster!
The basic choices for us in Bali are:
1. Cable Connections.
If you have a cable TV connection now, you should call your
cable company and ask about Cable internet. (http://www.kabelvision.com/)
The monthly charge could be in the 250,000 rp to 350,000 rp
range. Since this is through your TV cable there is
no phone charges and the connection is ALWAYS on, which means
no dialing time, hang-ups, busy signals, etc. You must
purchase an expensive cable modem to connect your PC to the
co-axial cable system - cost around Rp 1,800,000 (Nov. 2001),
as well as a 10BaseT Network Interface Card (NIC) or USB-to-Ethernet
adapter, depending on the installation package.
So, if you or your neighbors have cable TV now, call the provider.
2. Satellite-based Internet
Access. Best for business customers due to its high cost,
broadband internet access via satellite is considered to be
one of the faster connections available. Costs vary
from US$1,000 to US$5,000 for handheld/portable transmitters
for the equipment. Contact your ISP to see if they offer
satellite access, or call PT Telkom, or Inmarsat for further
information.
3. ISDN. PT Telkom, offers Integrated
Services Digital Network (ISDN) lines which can be used for
high-speed voice, data and picture transmission and for internet
access. The lines offer transfer rates that are significantly
higher than conventional phone lines, however their availability
is limited and the fees are expensive. Again, best for
corporations and multiple-user facilities. Contact your
ISP or a PT Telkom service center to find out about an ISDN
line for your office or home.
4. Digital Subscriber Line Connection.
Known as DSL or ADSL, these lines are a part of Telkom’s
Multi-Media Access project which offers high-speed/always-on
Internet access in parts of the greater Jakarta area, Bogor
and Serang- Sorry not in Bali yet.
5. Wireless Connections.
Wireless services connect users to the Internet utilizing
wavelan, laser link and microwave. Microwave transmission
uses high-frequency radio waves that travel through the air.
Because they cannot bend with the curvature of the earth,
they can only be transmitted over short distances. Microwave
is ideal for data transmissions between buildings, and can
also be relayed through means of dishes or antennas.
Your ISP or computer service provider may be able to assist
you in looking at the various wireless options and help you
to source the necessary equipment. Unfortunately, the
microwave hardware is about US$3,500 to purchase.
Last Minute NEWS FLASH: Bali has a new broadband internet
access provider. It is called Blueline - www.blueline.net.id.
Blueline provides high speed access to businesses at rates
that are around 70% below Indosat, PasatNet and others.
A 128 kbps “always on” package will cost a business
RP 2.900.000 plus tax per month. There is a RP 2.500.000 set-up
charge. The service is available everywhere in Bali south
of Ubud. They are also starting residential services. A
64 kbps “always-on” package will cost RP 1.000.000
plus tax. The set-up charge is RP 3.000.000. The residential
services will be available in Seminyak and in a month also
in the southern part of Kuta. If you have a question
about availability, call: Gustave, 0361 414 002 and 0812 380
6293
Favorite LINK: http://www.apjii.or.id/ (click on the English
Version in the upper right hand part of screen) Indonesian
Internet Service Provider Association web site. For
the latest news affecting the internet in Indonesia.
Q: When I log onto the internet a little icon in the lower
part of the screen says 52.0 Kbps. What does that mean?
Komang in Ubud
A: Kbps – K=1,000; b=bits; ps=per second. So 52.0
Kbps means 52,000 bits per second. This translates to
about 6,500 characters per second (This article is about 4,000
characters and would thus take less than a second to download).
Have a question or problem? Write me at BaliPCAdvisor@GMail.com.
I’ll try and answer as soon as I can.
Bali PC Advisor “Archives” ONLINE: http://www.balitravel-insider.com/balipcadvisor/.
<note ALL lower case letters. You can search previous issues
for information.
NEXT time: A summary of our first 12 columns. One easy
to save article.
PakBruce, your Bali PC Advisor!
