Telkom launches ‘cost-effective VPN service’
Telkom announced that it has launched a new “cost-effective Virtual Private Network (VPN) package called VPN Lite which will enable businesses with multiple sites to maintain fast, secure and reliable communications across all such companies’ branch offices, regardless of the location.”
Targeted at the small to medium-sized business market sector, with a maximum of 20 sites, VPN Lite is a cost-effective solution which maximises customer experience according to Telkom.
The new service provides business customers with secure Wide Area Network connectivity over Telkom’s national IP network.
“It will allow customers to send critical data securely and privately between all their branches. Critical business information (business database queries, accounting information, best-effort Voice over IP calls, security video streaming) will be kept safe from malicious users of the Internet,” explains Pierre Marais, Telkom Managing Executive: Network Infrastructure Provision.
He added that the VPN Lite post-paid package will be offered as a usage based package which means that a customer will be billed on the amount of gigabytes utilised.
An off-the-shelf solution, VPN Lite will enable customers to access a web portal to self-configure their VPN. Tutorials and Frequently Asked Questions are designed to help customers to configuring their VPN. A 24-hour help desk is also available to assist customers configure their VPN package.
Marais explains that VPN Lite is a multi-protocol label switching (MPLS) based Internet Protocol Virtual Private Network that grants small businesses an alternative to VPN Supreme. “Where VPN Supreme is targeted at larger businesses that require a customer specific process, VPN Lite provides a general solution for those businesses with simpler needs.”
There will be three product offerings for the service: VPN Lite 20GB, VPN Lite 40GB and VPN Lite 80GB. The billing items for the offering include activation cost, which is once-off, usage, standard rate usage and downgrade penalty. There is no charge for an upgrade.
Pricing
The VPN Lite service from Telkom has a once-of activation charge of R 216-60. There is no upgrade fee for this service but it does carry a R 228-00 downgrade charge.
The cost for data bundles associated with the service is R 638.40 for 20 GB, R 1 140.00 for 40 GB and R 1 824.00 for 80 GB. The cost for additional usage is R45.60 for all packages.
General configuration
Telkom does the initial configuration of the “empty” VPN. Thereafter, a customer is provided with a web portal from which to do any moves/adds/changes to their VPN. This includes creating site usernames and passwords and configuring static private IP addresses for each of their sites. The customer will also be able to see current usage, active sessions and details.
VPN Lite utilises standard ADSL lines for access to the VPN. Customers will login to their VPN in the same manner as they would log on to the internet. Therefore, they will use a username and password to logon to their VPN from any existing ADSL line. Router utilities and tutorials are available on the VPN Lite web portal to aid customers to setting up their Telkom-bought ADSL routers.
Marais adds: “VPN Lite will be sold with data bundles very similar to the cellular packages in South Africa. For instance, a VPN Lite 20GB will allow a customer 20GB per month from all sites at a discounted rate; any usage above the 20GB limit will be charged at the standard rate. The number of sites will not affect the customer’s bill.”
VPN Lite will initially only employ ADSL all-round as a medium of access by utilising any ADSL speed i.e. fast (384kbps) through to fastest (up to 4Mbps). Telkom has also tested WiMAX to work with VPN Lite and plans to add other access technologies and hosting services to VPN Lite in future phases of the product.
“Importantly, the customer is in charge of his VPN configuration which means that detecting and handling fraud can be managed from the VPN Lite web portal. For instance in the event that a password is leaked, the network administrator has the ability to reset passwords to prevent unauthorised use of the VPN,” says Marais.
Upon activation, he adds, a customer will be sent instructions on how to register to use the service via a SMS. The customer will also be sent SMS messages to alert him that he is reaching his bundle limit and that standard rates will apply once this threshold reached. The usage for the month will also be visible via the web portal.
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