We ARE paying too much

[donn]

I thought that R3500 for a modem was a bit high. That's US$ 580.

So a bit of searching on google has made me weep:

<b>Europe</b>
http://www.nexgear.com/pda.php?pid=2003

"Airdata’s partner Next Generation Internet (NGI) offers PortableDSL 128 at a flat rate of only € 9.95 per month, plus a connection fee of €14.95 per month. <b>NGI PortableDSL 768</b> costs € 19.95 for the Internet flat rate, € 24.95 for the monthly connection fee."

€ 19.95 + € 24.95 for 768k! [)]

<b>UK</b>
http://www.forrelease.com/D20040507/sff030.P2.05072004120420.25991.html

Under its subsidiary UK Broadband, PCCW, one of Asia's leading integrated communications companies, is offering NETVIGATOR high-speed wireless service to residential and business customers living in an area west of London at rates starting at only 18 pounds Sterling per month.

http://www.netvigator.co.uk/order/ [:0]

£18 per month for 512Kbps
netvigator modem replacement cost £75. Initial modem is free
We also offer a 1Mbps service for £28 a month.

This is really sad.[!]

Donn Edwards
http://privacy.4mg.com

 

[buffalobill]

I couldn't agree more. Woosh in New Zealand provides the exact same technology. They offer two modem purchase options:
1. NZ$ 199 upfront with a 30 day money back guarantee (ie R776)
2. NZ$99 down and $10 a month for 12 months.

No fixed contract and they don't even bother with a wussy 128k option. The 250K service costs NZ$54.95 (R214) for unlimited usage; or NZ$39.95 (R156) pm with a cap of 1Gb. Aditional Megs are charged at 0.05c per meg (R0.20c).

An Ethernet cable is NZ$30 or R117.

The difference is that Woosh is a private company and there's lots of competition. The Government's bungling over the SNO is costing us dearly.

&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;
I have an inferiority complex. But it's only a little one.

 

[buffalobill]

In fairness, though, the Woosh business packages seem expensive. The 500k business package starts at NZ$359 (R1 400) for 5Gb going up to $1099 (R4300) for 20Gb. Additional Gbs are charged at 0.10c each.

&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;
I have an inferiority complex. But it's only a little one.