Rolling Out Broadband Internet, On The Cheap

Mathamota writes "The goverment controlled telephone company in the city of Kolkata (Calcutta), India is providing a Internet access service called DIAS (Direct Internet Access System) which provides 24 hour connection at 128kbps (when the phone is being used, it drops to 64). However, the best part is that the cost of Plan I (which has a data transfer limit of 500 megs) is only Rs 825 ($ 16.50) per month, all inclusive. The technology used in this stuff is quite interesting, and there is a whitepaper available at the site of the company which developed the system." At first glance, it sounds just like plain old ISDN; but after reading the white paper, it's a bit different. Cool idea.

Comments

It is ISDN

[x0n]

It's Indian-Style Dodgy Networking.

- Oisin

download cap

[pmacwill]

500MB limit?
500MB a day right?

hah!

[syle]

At first glance, it sounds just like plain old ISDN; but after reading the white paper, it's a bit different. Cool idea.

Nice try! But, we know that editors aren't allowed to read the articles they link to. You won't fool us so easily, Hemos...

If that is your real name.

isdn

[papasui]

Jeez and all this time I thought ISDN stood for 'Insanely stupid dial-up networking'.

Re:isdn

[dacarr]

No, sir, it stands for "It still does nothing".

Re:Looks like a good idea

[gid]

Not on a 128kbps connection you can't. :)

$16.50!!

[mike_scheck]

Thats insane! Do you know how many Java developers $16.50 would buy? I bet your IT management does....

Argh!

[Anonymous Coward]

You mean third-world countries are getting broadband before I do?

Re:Argh!

[saskboy]

"You mean third-world countries are getting broadband before I do?"

Yes, even Canada has had broadband for a decade now. ;-)

Re:Population

[Anonymous Coward]

India has a lower population density than Japan.

OTOH, mass usage of Slashdot there will definitely reduce the population, since Slashdot is the most effective girl repellent known to man.

Re:Population

[Anonymous Coward]

>> 1/3 of those people are under the age of 14. FOr comparison about 21% of Americans are under 14.

That's also because they die younger.

But still, I agree with you. And we both know that linux is the most effective birth control for men that's ever been created.

Re:First reaction was "Great!" until I asked mysel

[MeanE]

"So that's like someone in the US paying $500/month for DSL."

Soooo...your saying the prices are much better there?

825 rupees?

[BitwizeGHC]

Do you realize how many Moblins I have to kill to get 825 frickin' rupees?

Geez...

Re:128 kbps is hardly broadband

[dotgod]

quite true. See here.

Re:The real dirt

[bheer]

Considering this service has just started, that too as a pilot project (available initially in one exchange per city), I'd have to say that your `punjab' friend was talking through his turban. :)

Re:If you can't outcompete 3rd world workers...

[Sky Lemon]

Hell I would be employee of the month each month I had 'virtually no contact with management'. :) I think what we need to do here in the U.S. to boost productivity is to use the 'virtually no contact with management' model by out sourcing managerial positions instead of technical positions. That way companies could save big on their payroll savings and since noone understands managers anyway there's no real 'language-barrier' that hasn't already been put in place.

Posting your site on Slashdot?

[McCrapDeluxe]

Say goodbye to those 300 megs ;)