Telkom's overpriced broadband Internet

Telkom's overpriced broadband Internet

As an Indonesian high school student, I feel
disappointed by the overpriced broadband Internet access that is
provided by the state-owned telecommunication company (Telkom).

When I was studying abroad in Malaysia recently, I was
impressed by the technological advancement and the commitment the
government had made to improve the nation's education efficiency
by providing affordable broadband for its citizens. By passing
such measures, students and other home users are capable of
accessing a variety of sources for research (e.g. online media,
online encyclopedia, etc) on the world wide web, which are
obviously beneficial for their acquisition of knowledge.

In stark contrast to Indonesia, broadband in Malaysia is much
better priced, faster and more reliable. When I first subscribed
to Streamyx (the Malaysian broadband service), they used to offer
a 384k unlimited access for RM 88 (about Rp 228,000) per month. A
year later, they lowered the price to RM66 (Rp 171,000), for
which I was thankful. Soon after, they upgraded the speed to 512k
but maintained the same price.

Based on this experience, I am deeply appalled by Telkom
Speedy where they offer a 384k "limited" broadband for Rp 450,000
(I have the medium package directly from Telkom), and of course
with an extra cost of Rp 1,200 per MB after exceeding the monthly
limit of a mere 1GB.

And on top of that, the speed is often sluggish during peak
hours, which is frustrating at best. Do you think the average
home user is able to afford such "luxury" prices? From my point
of view, broadband Internet access should be treated as a
necessary amenity, because, as we are living in the information
age, it has become a part of our daily lives. Information around
the globe is sent through the net everyday -- important current
events such as bird flu that has been raging in Indonesia, acts
of terrorism in England, etc.

And Internet service allows us to access that information for
our own understanding of the world. My question is: Does Telkom
realize that it has a slow, overpriced broadband package and that
there are loads of complaints lodged by many of its subscribers?
After visiting many Indonesian forums, such as Kafegaul.com and
doing research through Google. I have never found a single
positive comment about Telkom's broadband.

And what's the company's motto -- "Committed 2 U". I wonder if
they can address these complaints seriously?

HAZIM SUHADI
Jakarta