Around five years ago, VSNL led the country to the information superhighway. Since then, Internet services have not only been privatised, but there is a surfiet of Internet service providers, or ISPs, today. Even mini-metros like Pune are being serviced by no less than four ISPs. As the Internet metamorphoses from concept to commodity, price wars are inevitable.
But should price be the sole criterion for Net services? Hemant Adarkar does not think so. He lists some issues that customers must consider before paying up.
Connectivity
How fast can you log on to the Net? Do you still have to keep dialling for more than half-an-hour like during the early days of VSNL as a service provider? The stability of the connection is also an important issue. Can two or more users surf the Net simultaneously from the same account (multiple concurrent logins)? What is the ratio of total number of subscribers to total number of incoming lines? One dial-up line per 10-15 subscribers is the international norm. Is your ISP planning to introduce Internet via cable? Are you sure that there will be no 'last mile' problems with your cable service operator?
Bandwidth
The speed at which data can be transferred to your desktop is called the bandwidth in technical parlance. Compare various ISPs for bits per second of sustained transmission. In developed countries, ISPs offer guaranteed transmission of 6-10 kbps.
Storage
What is the storage capacity of your e-mail folders? Does your ISP allow you to host your personal webpage free of cost? This can make eminent business sense if you are operating as a SOHO (small office home office) outfit. Does your ISP offer a secured Intranet for professionals such as doctors, lawyers and architects?
Reliability
This is a measure of your ISP's firefighting capacity to minimise the server down time. Are the shutdowns frequent? Is there an alternate route to the Net? Is there a procedure for preventive maintenance of the servers? If yes, how long does this procedure take?
Security
Does the ISP have a security policy? What steps has your ISP taken to prevent hacking? What about network viruses reaching your desktop? Is the ISP ready for e-commerce? In other words, do you think twice before typing in your credit card number?
Coverage
Akin to the mobile phone networks, do you have roaming access to the Net? The question to ask: does your ISP offer you a local dial-in number in several cities? This should not be confused with programmes like Telnet, which let you connect to a remote server through a local connection to another ISP.
Value-added services
What are the other services offered by your ISP apart from the plain vanilla? Does your ISP, for example, run an information portal? ISPs in Hong Kong and Australia offer financial services and provide the front office to banks, NBFCs and insurance companies.
Customer support
Is there a call center round-the-clock?
Pricing
Does the pricing suit your level of Web access? This varies for individuals and corporates.
Quality
Ask friends, colleagues or relatives who are connected about the quality of service they get.
