JohnnyCool
I don't know for sure if there are any moves to implement WiMax in Bali. (It [i]might[/i] be available in places like Jakarta, Bandung..?)
Some time ago I became aware that parts of the By-Pass road around Sanur were being ripped up to lay fibre optic cables. I was mildly excited because they were kind of just down from the street where I was living at the time (about 400 metres). The digging stopped, the holes were filled and to this day, I have no idea who or where was connected. And for how much, of course. Meanwhile, I moved houses anyway and even [i]Speedy[/i] wasn't available, for a month or two.
That's when I got sucked into an unlimited "service" with [i]Telkomsel Flash[/i]. If you think Telkom Speedy's services leave a lot to be desired, try Telkomsel. I lasted nearly two weeks, couldn't get a connection inside their main office in Denpasar, really wanted my money back (silly me), for a "service" I wasn't getting by any stretch of the imagination. Then almost miraculously, I got a call from [i]Speedy Bali[/i] informing me that I could now get a connection. Not only that, the [i]Speedy[/i] connection had been upped to 1 Mbs download and 128 Kbs upload. For the same price!
(I wrote and composed a bunch of related content here, but maybe I took too long. Had to log-in again and although I usually save things as I go, just in case, I lost it.)
[quote]Incidentally, I was down at Telkom trying to get some help (Wishful thinking?) and picked up their latest flyer which now states "Up to 384Kbps". Frankly, I'd be very satisfied if I could even get that. The best download speed I have ever had, even using an accelerator and at 2AM was about 90Kbps. Frankly, at the moment I'd even be satisfied if I could get a reliable steady connection of any speed!!![/quote]
The Telkom flyer you picked up must be a very old one. I've been downloading all kinds of files this afternoon and my "download speed" is 500-600 Kbs. When I'm lucky, it's even more.
I am not saying that [i]Speedy[/i] is the bee's knees. Far from it. Companies like [i]Blueline[/i] are offering wi-fi connections promising download/upload speeds of 1 Mbs, (both ways), for a significant monthly price, after you buy their equipment.
I don't understand why you're having such a bad experience with [i]Speedy[/i]. Well, I have a few theories/pointers which I wrote down 20 minutes ago but lost and am too tired to resurrect right now.
Feel free to PM me and maybe we can figure out what's going on with your "connection" (or lack thereof).
:D
milan
I understand, Johnnycool. Thanks for the explanation but it's worthy to know that one doesn't have to pay that much. My place in Jakarta is in the middle of the "kampung" too and not in the Jakarta city per se. Thus, I was surprised for the service offered and rendered. Even the Jakarta Globe newspaper has several times delivered to my door free for promotional purpose.
Not to mention the way I closed the deal on purchasing the house too came fast, unexpected, fell into places in no time and was unplanned. Therefore, seeing simple things could be so complicated somehow brings this need in me to help even if just as simple as giving information or sharing my experiences.
milan
[quote]In Australia, it might be easier to do things in Sydney compared to Currabubbula (near Tamworth in NSW). It might be easier to do things in New York city than Dead Man's Creek in Texas.
[/quote]
Wow, you mean Bali is that far removed from Jakarta? Especially that Currabubbula could be Australia's Bali is quite an eye-opener for me. Anyway, your point is well taken.
The bottom line is not to be taken for a ride by paying excessively.
JohnnyCool
[quote]Seems you're overcharged and it all sounds so complex the way you all describe here...
Is Bali that difficult?[/quote]
It's not [i]that[/i] complex here if you can afford to pay very inflated prices for sub-standard services. Bali ain't Jakarta.
I'm happy for you, [i]milan[/i], that everything went so smoothly, quickly and cheaply for you. People in "real" Indonesian cities, (like Jakarta, Bandung, Surabaya, even Yogya), have many more cost-competitive options to choose from than in Bali.
Most likely, it's got to do with supply and demand. All those centres I mentioned have populations that exceed the total population of Bali. And they are predominantly Moslem, not Hindu, (another "factor").
Bali [i]can[/i] be "difficult", especially if you try to use a Western yardstick to measure things by. I think it's rather odd, with the relentless "Westernisation" of southern Bali (and several other regions), that there are double-standards. The "rules" that bind Balinese are not always the same ones applied to foreigners trying to live here.
The irony is that many Balinese are continually exploited by big companies often based in Jakarta or "internationally". The Javanese connections are like a form of re-colonisation. It's not the Dutch, English, or Japanese these days. More like wealthy, powerfully-connected Javanese who couldn't care less about Bali's culture except for the fact that Bali is still a significant cash-cow for them.
Wealthy Balinese aside, many Balinese still don't quite get it.
:shock:
JohnnyCool
A few things,[i] milan[/i], based on your reply.
[quote]I understand, Johnnycool. Thanks for the explanation but it's worthy to know that one doesn't have to pay that much.[/quote]
Maybe so, [b]if[/b] you live in or near Jakarta, near [i]your[/i] place. That's a long way away from Bali (both in terms of physical distance and, dare I say, mental attitude)?
[quote]....Therefore, seeing simple things could be so complicated somehow brings this need in me to help even if just as simple as giving information or sharing my experiences.[/quote]
Your need and willingness to "help" people is very admirable.
However, don't you think the "help" you're giving should be [u]relevant[/u] to the recipients of your good will? Maybe I've missed something here but I don't see how current "living" conditions in Jakarta relate to Bali (at least not yet, and hopefully never).
In Australia, it [i]might[/i] be easier to do things in Sydney compared to Currabubbula (near Tamworth in NSW). It [i]might[/i] be easier to do things in New York city than Dead Man's Creek in Texas.
I hope you get my drift (and that's before I moderated myself).
8)
