PT Astra Graphia plans to launch Internet router

JAKARTA (JP): PT Astra Graphia, a subsidiary of PT Astra International Inc., will soon market an Internet router, making Internet access much cheaper.

Company operation manager, Mangara Pangaribuan said yesterday the company had become the sole distributor of the equipment in Indonesia.

The equipment, called Proxy Router, is produced by American firm Proteon Networks Pte. The product will be launched on June 26.

Proteon director of sales and marketing South East Asia, Peter Lim said with Proxy Router corporate consumers could save up to 90 percent of the cost for accessing the Internet in the conventional method.

Conventionally, corporate subscribers provide accounts, modems, and phone lines for each connected PC.

With the router, 10 computers could simultaneously access the Internet with one modem, one phone line, one Internet account and multiple mailboxes, said Lim.

"Thus, the company only had to pay for one account to the Internet service provider and one telephone charge," he said.

For example, a company with eight PCs connected to the Internet through a modem would pay Rp 29 million (about $12,000) yearly in subscription fees to the Internet service provider and phone charges, compared to Rp 3 million ($1,250) in total the company would pay if it used Proxy Router.

"Also, it is at least two times faster than a PC and modem using a dial-up line," said Lim.

Lim said one router was enough for a company with 40 computers which did not often access the Internet. But if Internet access was high, the company needed about three routers.

Lim said the equipment had sold more than 200 units at US$2,600 each in Singapore since its launching in February, while Astra targeted to sell 5,000 units in a year in Indonesia.

Analysts believe the use of routers will affect the revenues of Internet service providers.

However, an Astra Graphia staff member said, several local providers welcome the new gadget and even promise to offer it to their customers. (jsk)