Bringing the Net home

IF you have been thinking about accessing the Internet from your home, there are several options available in Malaysia.

These include traditional dial-up, ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line), and fixed wireless Internet access. These services are offered by various Internet service providers (ISPs).

The difference between these technologies lies in how fast data flows from the Internet, which is measured in kilobits per second (Kbps).

Dial-up connections are the slowest, with a top speed of around 53Kbps, while the others are broadband connections, which generally refer to Internet connections of approximately 512Kbps or faster – about 10 times the speed of dial-up.

Faster connections (bigger bandwidth) enable faster transfer and download of data from the Internet.

Depending on which option you pick, you will also need a phone line.

In terms of hardware, Internet access does not require a powerful computer, so any personal computer, notebook or Mac produced in the past four years should be sufficient for getting online.

In terms of software, you will need a web browser program such as Microsoft’s Internet Explorer, which is included with Microsoft Windows, or Mozilla Firefox, which can obtained at http://www.getfirefox.com/ for free.

To send and receive e-mail you will need an e-mail program such as Microsoft’s Outlook Express (included with Windows), Qualcomm’s Eudora, or Mozilla Thunderbird.

Dial-up
Dial-up connections were the first Internet access technology available to home users in Malaysia, and they are still the most widely-used method for getting online.

Among the ISPs that provide dial-up connections are Telekom Malaysia with its TMnet 1515 service, Mimos Bhd with its Jaring service, and TIME dotNet Bhd with its TIMENet Dial-up service.

While it is relatively slow, dial-up Internet access does have a few advantages, namely, it is widely available, easy to set up, and is well established.

All you need is a dial-up account, a standard telephone line, and a modem for your computer.

However, it should be noted that dial-up Internet access is a “metered” service; there are local call charges and ISP charges, ranging from 2.5sen to 4sen per minute.

Some ISPS also offer “pre-paid” packages, which allow users to dial up for a preset number of hours per month.

ADSL
ADSL was the first affordable broadband technology to be made available to home users in Malaysia.

ADSL works on existing phone lines but it provides Internet access at much faster speeds than dial-up connections.

For most users who want ADSL at home, there is only one choice – Streamyx from Telekom Malaysia.

TIME dotNet does offer a DSL service called HomeNET, but so far it is only available in a few condominiums in Kuala Lumpur.

By comparison, Streamyx is available in most major cities and towns in all states.

To use Streamyx, subscribers need an account from Telekom, a network interface card (NIC) for their computer and an ADSL modem, which resembles an external dial-up modem.

Despite its “modem” moniker, an ADSL modem does not actually dial up to a telephone exchange. Instead, it connects the user’s PC directly to the Internet.

Streamyx customers also get a “microfilter” (also called an ADSL splitter), which separates voice and data signals on the phone line.

This allows users to make and receive phone calls even when the ADSL service is being used.

Streamyx’s unlimited access packages range from RM66 to RM99 a month, while metered access starts at RM44 a month for 60 hours usage (without modem).

Subscribers can get download speeds of 512Kbps or 1.0Mbps, depending on the package.

Fixed Wireless
A number of alternative broadband providers have appeared in Malaysia, and most of them have chosen fixed wireless technology to provide broadband to consumers.

Wireless broadband providers typically use MMDS (multi-channel multipoint distribution service) technology, which consists of a series of base stations that communicate via radio frequencies with subscribers’ PCs equipped with receivers.

The concept is somewhat similar to cellphone networks, with each wireless broadband base station able to provide coverage over a few square kilometres and serve thousands of users.

By going wireless, these companies effectively bypass the “last mile” barrier to home users.

The “last mile” or “local loop” is the connection from a telephone company’s switch or exchange point to fixed-line customers.

In Malaysia, practically all “last mile” connections are owned by Telekom Malaysia, and this is seen as a major hurdle for rival telcos and corporations that want to provide broadband access through fixed lines.

Among the companies hoping to challenge TM Net’s dominance in home broadband is TIME dotNet with its Webbit wireless broadband service, Mimos Bhd with its Jaring Wireless service, eB Technologies with its e-Buildings service, and NasionCom with its NasionCom Wireless Broadband service.

However, these fixed-wireless broadband providers are concentrated almost exclusively in the Klang Valley, though the companies all claim to have expansion plans for other areas in Malaysia.

The charges range from RM49 to RM218 per month, depending on the service package.