Broadband, solution for faster and cheaper downloads

Broadband, solution for faster and cheaper downloads

By Vishnu K. Mahmud

JAKARTA (JP): First it was the Internet, then cable modems,
and now, the latest of high-tech Internet access, broadband, has
arrived for the average consumer. Well, sort of.

What is broadband? Basically, broadband is a link that can
deliver voice, data and multimedia at extremely high speeds.
With a broadband link, you no longer need to wait two minutes to
load a home page, 20 minutes for that RealAudio video file or
three days to download the latest game demonstration. OK, maybe
you need only two days. With broadband, you can do the same
things at a fraction of the time. You also get faster downloads
at a fraction of the current costs.

Usually, people access the net via standard telephone lines
using modems. Now, there are other options to consider, such as
using cable modems, leased lines, packet radio and even satellite
technology. Each have their strengths and weaknesses to consider
but they all offer one thing in common: fast downloads when
accessing the net.

Cable modems are perhaps the easiest to install for the
average consumer. Indonesia's cable TV provider, KabelVision,
(www.kabelvision.com), in conjunction with Indosat and LinkNet,
(www.link.net.id), now provides Internet access via their cable
infrastructure. In areas where KabelVision is in service, the
subscriber only needs a cable modem to connect to the Internet.
The cable modem retails in the US$350 price range but can also be
leased.

KabelVision has wired many parts of Jakarta as well as
Surabaya and Bali. For the moment though, the Internet service is
available only in Jakarta but will expand to other cities by
early 2001.

Integrated Service Digital Network (ISDN) and Digital
Subscriber Lines (DSL) are basically leased digital communication
lines to your Internet provider through a third party. With ISDN
or DSL, you can connect to the net at high speeds without tying
up your telephone lines. The installation cost for digital lines
varies but there is a rate charged per minute for whenever the
link is in progress in addition to all the hardware requirements.
Usually ideal for businesses and offices, you can find more
information on the Telkom (www.telkom.co.id) or Lintas Arta
(www.lintasarta.co.id) websites.

The cellular network may be another option although it may not
have the speed of a cable connection. Dataplus,
(www.dataplus.net.id), a division of the Ratelindo telephone
company, provides wireless Internet service in the Jakarta,
Bekasi and Tangerang areas. Using a special modem, users can
access the net within the Ratelindo network, allowing complete
independence and portability.

Unfortunately at the moment, this option may be on the
expensive side since the modem is about $500. Also, the
connection speed is about 19.2 kbps, a far cry from the standard
56 Kbps modems using standard telephone lines. However, judging
by the progress of technology, cellular networks may be an
inexpensive and fast solution in the near future.

Finally, the Internet via satellite is available in Indonesia.
Melesat, (www.melesat.net), offers a "direct PC" type of service
where you can download all your files using high-speed satellite
access but upload using a regular modem. Such concepts may be
annoying for heavy users of the Internet, such as Web Programmers
or gamers, but are satisfactory for the average user. When a user
goes to a web page, his computer will upload a small file or make
a request to the server and receive in return a massive download
that can include text, graphics, audio and video. High upstream
is only required for sharing data or uploading a massive file to
a faraway server.

Webs88, (www.webs88.com), will also be offering a similar
service. In partnership with Indovision, (www.indovision.tv),
subscribers to the satellite TV company can obtain high speed
Internet downloads as well as watch the X-Files or Friends on
television. Upstream again will be by telephone lines using
webs88's connection. This fully national service is expected to
be launched in the first quarter of 2001 if not sooner.

Rainbow2U (www.rainbow2u.com) goes one step further. In
conjunction with Pan Asia Sat Media, the company offers both an
uplink and downlink using fast satellite technology. With a very
small aperture terminal (VSAT) dish, users can completely bypass
telephone lines when accessing the Internet. These fast
connection speeds, however, are not without a price. At the
moment, VSAT is ideal for office or apartment buildings with a
minimum of 20 users. Single or personal users are out of luck at
the moment.

Apartment dwellers can perhaps petition their building
administrators to get fast net access sooner. Many companies are
willing to install Internet infrastructure in buildings with a
high occupancy. HomeNetPlus (www.homenetplus.net) for example has
wired Taman Rasuna Apartments in South Jakarta with high-speed
microwave access to a nearby Internet service provider. Other
buildings would have an easier time in getting the broadband
companies to come to them.

What about the single user who lives far from the center of
town? You can always get the satellite/telephone solution or
plead with KabelVision. When using the satellite option, however,
be aware of any additional costs per download that may be charged
if you go over a certain megabyte limit. When pleading with
KabelVision, make sure you have more then one household in your
area to petition the company. It may not work but it never hurts
to try.

Small and medium enterprises (SME) and Internet cafes, known
locally as warnets, can also benefit from the use of broadband.
Of course, the costs will be different compared to the single
user but the usage of bandwidth for businesses tends to be much
more higher compared to individual use. Most broadband companies
have special packages for SMEs or warnets and it is up to each
owner to choose which infrastructure is ideal for them.

Depending on usage, getting broadband may be an ideal solution
for the current "double charging" system where the user pays for
Internet access in addition to telephone charges. If you seldom
go online and use your e-mail sparingly, a modem and dial up is
sufficient. If you are an Internet, games and information junkie,
broadband is the way to go. (vmahmud@yahoo.com)