Roundup of ISP's Internet Service Providers in Bali

Sanurian

[b]RE: Roundup of ISP[/b] Hi [b]nomad4ever[/b] It's a sad fact that the quest for fast, reliable and affordable internet services in Bali, (for home users), will be an uphill battle for a long time to come. Indonesia still has a very piss-weak "pipeline" to the rest of the world. The Indonesian government has some pie-in-the-sky idea of rolling out fibre optic cables throughout the archipelago but it doesn't have the money to do it. It's trying to find foreign investors to pay for it. The whole archipelago is one thing, but one running from Jakarta to Bali [i]might[/i] be more realistic. I'm still holding my breath. I just had a quick look at your website...when I have more time, I'll look again. As far as [b]dial-up[/b] connections go, potential users should be aware that whichever ISP they use and whatever they're charged, they still have to pay [b]Telkom[/b] for the amount of time they're using their phone-line because [i]Telkom[/i] has timed charges for calls. It's a bummer but it's a fact of life. When I lived in Jogjakarta some years ago, I used [b]Indosat[/b] as my ISP for a dial-up connection to my house. It got pretty expensive and was often extremely slow. When I asked them why it was so bad, they put all the blame on me and my existing telephone line. It turned out that my phone line was actually pretty good and [i]Indosat[/i] was simply ripping me off. I know that for sure since, in desperation, I tried [b]Telkom Instan[/b] and often managed to get 45.2Kbs. I then tried another ISP called [b]Centrin[/b], which turned out to be much cheaper than the other two. When I returned to Bali, I continued using [i]Centrin[/i] for several years and didn't have any major problems. My only beef with [i]Centrin[/i] happened one day when I was paying my bill and asked the staff why I was struggling to get 33.6Kbs (actually a bit less). It was only then that they told me [i]Centrin[/i] has [b]two[/b] numbers for logging in...one in Denpasar for a maximum of 33.6Kbs, and another one which is "digital" for an actual maximum of around 44.6Kbs. I always found [i]Centrin[/i] to be considerably cheaper than using [i]Telkom Instan[/i]. I left [i]Centrin[/i] some time last year. Not because I was dissatisfied with their service but because I thought it was time for me to take on what I call the "kiddie's broadband" that [i]Telkom Speedy[/i] offers. It's no great shakes but I haven't found a more affordable alternative in Bali, so far. (I mean, without buying expensive antennae and other peripherals to go wi-fi or satellite.) The basic [i]Telkom Speedy[/i] package costs Rp 330,000 (incl. tax)/per month for a total download + upload of a measly 750MB. Going over 750MB costs Rp 770/MB (incl. tax). The stated maximum speeds are 384/64Kbs. The maximum speed I seem to get, (in Sanur), for downloads is around 345Kbs. Still, that's faster than typical dial-up connections so I'm not complaining. [i]Telkom Speedy[/i] has other packages, of course, like 512Kbs, but they're too expensive, in my opinion. One advantage of ADSL is that the phone-line is not tied up and/so you don't have to pay [i]Telkom[/i] for the length of time you're using the internet. I reckon that's a big plus. Who knows? Maybe one day in the hopefully near future, ordinary people in Bali will be able to have fast(er) and cheaper connections than what's available right now. I might add here that when I need to download a [b]big file[/b], I go to an internet cafe down the road from me which has a 1536Kbs connection and it only charges Rp 10,000/hour for the privilege. I can understand how and why Indonesian telecommunications is just waking up...I hope it grows up a lot faster. We'll all see. :roll:

Sanurian

[b]RE: Roundup of ISP[/b] Hi [b]Roy[/b] (belated seasons greetings to you and yours and best wishes for 2007). [quote]...I guess what bothers, or frustrates the dickens out of me is that I only regard the internet and e-mail as a tool. My mentality on this is based not unlike that of a carpenter. For him, if his hammer worked, and worked well, why consider a new or modified hammer?...[/quote] You're exactly right, Amigo. We all buy and use different computers for different outcomes. If [b]your[/b] dial-up connection(s) are more than adequate for your needs, that's great. For you. Others use the internet for more than just e-mail, etc. Some want to download songs, videos, even large software. That can be a huge hassle on a slow dial-up connection, no matter what time of day or night it is. And [b]all[/b] dial-up connections are slow compared with the other options which may be available in one's area. For example: have you ever tried to download a rather small-sized file by today's standards of say 3MB on your Centrin connection? If so, how long did it take you? Now try something like 500MB...how many days (or weeks) will that take? Maybe you could take an adz to a block of wood and build a very funky-looking computer. You'd still need to buy electronic parts somewhere along the line. And you'd still need to "connect" somehow. I wonder what your internet bill + telephone time actually costs you? For some, the total bill is neither here nor there. For me, the frustration of painfully slow downloads is extremely annoying. So much so that buying an ADSL modem, for example, for between Rp 500,000 - 1,000,000 and having access to a system that can be 6-10 times faster is worth it. That's what I would consider to be a "modified hammer". What's that old phrase again? Oh, I remember: "[i]Horses for courses[/i]". [i]If I had a hammer, I'd hammer in the morning...[/i] Do you get driven around in a Model T Ford, by any chance? I didn't think so. Still watch B+W television? Use a crystal radio for your world news? :shock: :D

drbruce

[b]RE: Roundup of ISP[/b] Hey Orang Gila, I stopped by the bar in the market the other day, but the lady that was there said you were at the restaurant. But, I did get a chance to look at the bar which is very nice. My wife wouldn't let me have a beer though. Maybe next time.

Sanurian

[b]RE: Roundup of ISP[/b] [b]Roy[/b] wrote: [quote]...As I said, the internet is primarily business for me...no songs, no video, and no 3d photos (sorry Bert). I pay no more than approximately 200 thousand rupiah a month to get the job done...including lots of posts here...[/quote] Does that figure include your telephone costs while you're on-line? Maybe you should check your receipts. And just out of curiosity, which of the two available [i]Centrin[/i] log-on numbers do you use? One has a maximum of 33.6Kbs, the other is 56Kbs. Both of these figures are the theoretical maximum download speeds on a dial-up connection. In practice, they don't reflect the reality of what users get (in any country). There are many factors involved which can seriously compromise one's received service. Many people get confused about how modem/down-load speeds are represented. The basic piece of "information" on a computer is called a [b]bit[/b]. A bit represents a zero and a one. Eight bits make up one [b]byte[/b]. Adding the prefix [b]K[/b] to bits or bytes multiplies the basic figure by 1000 (actually, 1024, because of the nature of binary arithmetic...if you multiply 2 by itself 8 times, you get 1024, not 1000). The convention in writing these figures is like this: 56Kbs (note the small case "b" and means 56,000 bits/second), an equates to 7K[b]B[/b]s (Kilo [b]Bytes[/b]). So far, so good. But in reality, nobody achieves maximum rated modem speeds because of the myriad "other" factors involved. Normal network overheads take 10% off straight away. For example: Telkom Speedy's basic broad-band service offers 384Kbs download speed. Dividing that number by 8 (to convert from bits to bytes), gives 48KBs. Taking 10% off that gives an actual, realistic download speed of 345.6Kbs (43.2KBs). Then there's this thing called a "contention ratio", which refers to how many people are actually using/sharing a connection at the same time. "Typical" contention ratios in the west vary between 10:1 and 30:1. ("Dedicated connections" should be 1:1 but cost a [b]lot[/b] more.) I have no idea what they are in Indonesia (service providers here don't really tell us), but they can be much more than in the west. There may well be ISPs here shoving 100+ users on one modem/port. If you dial into one of those, your speed slows down to a crawl. Sometimes, disconnecting and reconnecting might get you to one that doesn't have as many users on it. [b]So - how can you tell what speed you're actually getting?[/b] There are many utilities available that can measure both your download and upload speeds in real time. My personal favourite is called [b]DU Meter[/b]. It even has a stopwatch feature which you can start to find out exactly how much traffic has occurred on your connection, both up and down. And you can even run several stopwatches at the same time. Network/internet congestion also takes a toll on how fast various sites download. There's no cure for that apart from trying troublesome sites at different times of the night or day. And for those of us who do want to download "bigger" files, a download manager is essential. I use [b]Download Accelerator Pro[/b] (which I paid for). There is a free version with some advertising called [b]Download Accelerator Plus[/b]. What they do is search the internet for the fastest available download sites for the file you want to download, download the various pieces and put them back together. In other words, they make the best possible use of the available bandwidth you have. And if your connection drops out during downloading, you can (usually) resume an interrupted download at a later time. And [b]nomad4ever[/b] [quote]...I can't have Speedy, as I have a digital (modern!) phone number...[/quote] I'm not sure what exactly you mean by that. If you've got the time, please tell me some more. I still maintain that [i]Telkom Speedy[/i] is the most affordable "broad-band" option available to (some of) us in Bali. I would dearly love to hear of something better and cheaper. 8)

Roy

Gee Phil, it was just a joke! I have no idea how you make ends meet. Last we met, you still had both your arms and legs...so if something has changed since then, I apologize. :cry: :cry: :cry: Lighten up amigo. It’s not like you to allow yourself to be played like a fiddle. :roll: As for Bali dogs, I only disregard the short hair dingo variety. I am quite fond of the long haired Kintamani breed. :shock:

orang gila

[b]Re: RE: Roundup of ISP[/b] [quote=Sanurian]That's great of you [b]Roy[/b] Your last comment was totally uncalled for. [/quote] :shock: would have to agree with you on that one, maybe you pissed Roy off though, by revealing that you have some "knowledge" on the subject. :oops: Now, back the the subject, which I think was internet access :wink: A great thread, which really hasn't helped me much, as living remotely, ie; in the highlands, we don't get much choice, it's telkomnet, or nothing. When we first came up the hill, we had a dial up account with someone, completly forgot that we'd be on interlocal calls, and ran up a HUGE phone account. And I have learnt to be patient; when downloading large files, I discovered the joy of making a fresh coffee.

mimpimanis

Lee - I too am interested to have feedback on the XL offering as having looked at the site it is available in Lombok. I did meet someone last year using his laptop in a warung in Kuta, he said he was using a 3gcard, that must have been it. He reckoned the connection was pretty good but for what I want I need a connection of 128kbps. Anyone using a 128kbps connection in Bali? If so can I ask who your provider is & how reliable you find it. Thanks Gemma

Jimbo

[b]RE: Roundup of ISP[/b] In Saudi I get 1 GB ADSL for a $80 per month on a private line and in the UK 2GB ADSL for $34. Attached to that is a wifi network cost of the box was $80 and my children all hook up to that. There is availability up to 10GB for $50 per month. Once you have used the internet at these speeds dial becomes a major pain so I feel for you guys. My Kids download 3 GB a month of music alone!!!! Still I would sacrifice all to get back. I almost had a job in Aceh which fell through and now I am chasing another in Jakarta. No matter what I will be back in July.

niksing

Jogry, I am interested in satellite as an option. Can you share with me who you are using. Thanks, Nikki

Bert Vierstra

[b]RE: Roundup of ISP[/b] Jogry isn't using a satellite connection. She is using a Wifi connection to a provider that is using a satellite connection. In the North there are a few options now. Spicenet, xlcom, and sharing a sat connection with neighbours.

niksing

Thanks for the info Bert. Is there anyone here that is using satellite or a similar WIFI connection to Jogry in the Canggu to Tanah Lot area? Just trying to review our internet options as much as possible before we arrive next month (woo hoo only 39 days to go!) I know the standard modem options are going to be unsuitable for our needs as we both need internet for business. Everything else is falling into place with shipping now booked, house rented (sort of!) land purchase almost complete, architect progressing well and my parents have now arrived and started to settle in. Wanting to get some info on internet so at least while I have a decent internet connection here in Singapore I can research as much as possible. Nikki

Bert Vierstra

RE: Roundup of ISP These guys seem to be popular in that area: http://www.blueline.co.id/index.htm http://www.globalxtreme.net/

Sanurian

[b]RE: Roundup of ISP[/b] Hi [b]niksing[/b] As Bert's pointed out, [b]Blueline[/b] and [b]Global Extreme[/b] are readily available in the south of Bali (for a relatively [b]big[/b] price). If price is no barrier for you, they work OK. But they ain't Singapore. [b]Telkom Speedy[/b] is still the most hassle-free, "cheap" option I know of. Their "basic" option is Kbs 384/64 for 750MB/month...extra MBs at [i]Rp[/i] 770/MB. They have pricier deals but nothing to get overly excited about, but they do have them. Someone might correct me here, if I'm wrong, but general web-surfing is not affected all that much by connection speeds UNTIL/UNLESS we want to download something big (like music, videos, software, etc), when connection speed means everything. "Dedicated connections" which "guarantee" download/upload speeds and low contention ratios still cost an arm and a leg here. :roll:

niksing

Thanks Sanurian for the info. I know I have been pretty spoilt for the past 10 years here in Singapore with almost instant 24 hour unlimited broadband access for a super low price. One of the things I am just going to have to get used to in Bali and find imaginative ways around it! Not everything can be perfect in paradise! Is there anyone on the boards using satellite or the radio antenna options that are provided by Blueline etc? Would like to get an idea of availability and speeds for down and uploading. Thanks, Nikki

Sanurian

[b]RE: Roundup of ISP[/b] [b]niksing[/b] [quote]...I know I have been pretty spoilt for the past 10 years here in Singapore with almost instant 24 hour unlimited broadband access for a super low price...[/quote] You most definitely have (been spoiled). :D Having lived in Bali for a long time, being reminded of the speed/price of internet connections in the west makes me feel a little depressed. Thanks for that. Functionally "fast" connections are available, at a premium cost, and dependent upon where one lives here. There are even "jungle connections" for those who live in areas with no electricity or phone lines (not cheap, either). Let us all know how you navigate your way through the morass of Indonesian ISP's and what they provide/promise. For the truly affluent amongst us, it's probably not a big deal...maybe just an annoyance and a learning curve to slow down (literally) and enjoy the other things available to us. :D 8)

swisshawaiian

I live in Pererenan (between Tanah Lot and Kerobokan) and have been using Blueline for the past six months. I'm quite happy with it, very reliable. I only had about three outages during the half year, each lasting about half a day. I don't pay any flat fee, only for usage, which is as follows: Mo-Fr 8am-6pm Rp 1500/MB Mo-Fr 6pm-10pm Rp 750/MB any day 10pm-8am Rp 300/MB weekends 8am-6pm Rp 750/MB For customers who have a high usage, you can pay Rp 250,000/month flat and get a reduced rate per MB (RP200, Rp500 and Rp 1,000/MB).

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