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