Comments on: Roundup of ISPs – Internet Service Providers in Bali http://www.nomad4ever.com/2007/01/03/roundup-of-isps-internet-service-providers-in-bali/ Life is what you make it! Thu, 02 Sep 2010 08:47:49 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Chris http://www.nomad4ever.com/2007/01/03/roundup-of-isps-internet-service-providers-in-bali/#comment-48499 Chris Mon, 09 Aug 2010 12:07:47 +0000 http://www.nomad4ever.com/2007/01/03/roundup-of-isps-internet-service-providers-in-bali/#comment-48499 Welcome to Bali <strong>natalie</strong>. It's perfectly normal that one day things work, another day not. Better have a backup solution ready. Just buy another SIM card and try another provider to use as an alternative. Ah, the Smart is CDMA, right? Then the USB dongle won't work with Indosat, XL or Simpati, might need a GSM/3G one. If there is no phone line installed in your area or at your neighbors house, it can take forever to get one. Especially, if you only rent and are not the owner. Maybe ask the owner, if he can help you with getting a line. But be prepared to pay more than usual. Unlimited Internet Access is almost impossible in Bali, if not a dedicated solution. Most 'Unlimited' options of the mobile providers have a volume cap, after which the speed drops to almost a standstill (or maximum modem speed). That's unfortunately still the reality, especially in your area. :( Welcome to Bali natalie. It’s perfectly normal that one day things work, another day not. Better have a backup solution ready.

Just buy another SIM card and try another provider to use as an alternative. Ah, the Smart is CDMA, right? Then the USB dongle won’t work with Indosat, XL or Simpati, might need a GSM/3G one.

If there is no phone line installed in your area or at your neighbors house, it can take forever to get one. Especially, if you only rent and are not the owner. Maybe ask the owner, if he can help you with getting a line. But be prepared to pay more than usual.

Unlimited Internet Access is almost impossible in Bali, if not a dedicated solution. Most ‘Unlimited’ options of the mobile providers have a volume cap, after which the speed drops to almost a standstill (or maximum modem speed).

That’s unfortunately still the reality, especially in your area.

]]> By: natalie http://www.nomad4ever.com/2007/01/03/roundup-of-isps-internet-service-providers-in-bali/#comment-48492 natalie Mon, 09 Aug 2010 03:33:48 +0000 http://www.nomad4ever.com/2007/01/03/roundup-of-isps-internet-service-providers-in-bali/#comment-48492 I am using the Smart EV-DO since 1 month now, and when i signed up it worked ok. Now a few weeks later, i cannot even make a proper video skype call in the evenings. ( seminyak/kerobokan area). I called to complain, and they tell you they will get back to you within 2 weeks notice ???!!! Im having Global Extreme in my office in Kerobokan, wich seems still the most reliable option. Does anybody has updates, of a better option, unlimited internet access? how long does it take to get a phone line and speedy installed? thanks I am using the Smart EV-DO since 1 month now, and when i signed up it worked ok. Now a few weeks later, i cannot even make a proper video skype call in the evenings. ( seminyak/kerobokan area). I called to complain, and they tell you they will get back to you within 2 weeks notice ???!!! Im having Global Extreme in my office in Kerobokan, wich seems still the most reliable option.
Does anybody has updates, of a better option, unlimited internet access? how long does it take to get a phone line and speedy installed? thanks

]]> By: Chris http://www.nomad4ever.com/2007/01/03/roundup-of-isps-internet-service-providers-in-bali/#comment-47226 Chris Fri, 15 Jan 2010 08:37:28 +0000 http://www.nomad4ever.com/2007/01/03/roundup-of-isps-internet-service-providers-in-bali/#comment-47226 Yeah <strong>Don</strong>, that's really the problem in Indonesia, as elsewhere also. When <a href="http://www.nomad4ever.com/2007/07/12/3g-wireless-finally-affordable-internet-for-the-island-of-the-gods/">I started with XL's 3G just 3 years back</a> here in Bali, it was really cool and almost reliable. Just 12 months down the road - as more people subscribed to it - <a href="http://www.nomad4ever.com/2008/08/13/update-xls-3g-internet-problems-its-seriously-broken-in-indonesia/">it became almost unusable</a>, which hasn't changed ever since. Clearly the capacities are not up to its usage. Now I barely use it for my mobile phone, but it works less time than it does at all. So it's not really a good internet option anymore. I wonder, what's the problem here in Indonesia? You have many companies, great competition, but the service quality is really abysmal. Xl, Telkomsel Flash, Indosat - it's merely the same problems with all of them. Compare that with the Philippines, where you mainly have only 2 big providers - but <a href="http://www.nomad4ever.com/2009/08/17/3gumts-internet-smartbro-or-globe-tattoo-in-the-philippines/">they are years ahead</a> of Indonesia in terms of service quality and coverage. Seriously, I wish you best of luck with this CDMA/EVDO solution! Am just a bit concerned, as I don't know of any place, where this technology has proven its reliability under real life conditions. ;-) Yeah Don, that’s really the problem in Indonesia, as elsewhere also. When I started with XL’s 3G just 3 years back here in Bali, it was really cool and almost reliable. Just 12 months down the road – as more people subscribed to it – it became almost unusable, which hasn’t changed ever since. Clearly the capacities are not up to its usage. Now I barely use it for my mobile phone, but it works less time than it does at all.

So it’s not really a good internet option anymore.

I wonder, what’s the problem here in Indonesia? You have many companies, great competition, but the service quality is really abysmal. Xl, Telkomsel Flash, Indosat – it’s merely the same problems with all of them.

Compare that with the Philippines, where you mainly have only 2 big providers – but they are years ahead of Indonesia in terms of service quality and coverage.

Seriously, I wish you best of luck with this CDMA/EVDO solution! Am just a bit concerned, as I don’t know of any place, where this technology has proven its reliability under real life conditions.

]]> By: Don http://www.nomad4ever.com/2007/01/03/roundup-of-isps-internet-service-providers-in-bali/#comment-47208 Don Wed, 13 Jan 2010 17:37:58 +0000 http://www.nomad4ever.com/2007/01/03/roundup-of-isps-internet-service-providers-in-bali/#comment-47208 Hi Chris and thanks for your quick response :) I haven't used it yet but according to this guy (http://javamilk.com/2009/04/30/smart-internet-unlimited/) the service used to be good in Jakarta, about 0.7 Mbit, but as more people subscribed it dropped down to 0,3-0,5 Mbit but still decent and the cheapest solution for true Unlimited service it seems. EVDO is the next generation CDMA and allows for higher speeds. I will probably try this service when I get to Bali, provided my area is covered. Kind Regards Don Hi Chris and thanks for your quick response

I haven’t used it yet but according to this guy (http://javamilk.com/2009/04/30/smart-internet-unlimited/) the service used to be good in Jakarta, about 0.7 Mbit, but as more people subscribed it dropped down to 0,3-0,5 Mbit but still decent and the cheapest solution for true Unlimited service it seems. EVDO is the next generation CDMA and allows for higher speeds. I will probably try this service when I get to Bali, provided my area is covered.

Kind Regards

Don

]]> By: Chris http://www.nomad4ever.com/2007/01/03/roundup-of-isps-internet-service-providers-in-bali/#comment-47206 Chris Wed, 13 Jan 2010 06:00:35 +0000 http://www.nomad4ever.com/2007/01/03/roundup-of-isps-internet-service-providers-in-bali/#comment-47206 <strong>Don</strong>, internet is still a sad chapter here in Bali, although I wouldn't go as far as Sergey in comment #60. The Smart EVDO service seems to be already available in Bali, as there was a huge advertising billboard for 2 months a few weeks back on one of the main intersections (Jl Sunset near Carrefour). They offered unlimited internet for 888.000 Rupiah for 3 months including hardware dongle, if I'm not wrong....however....this solution is CDMA based, so I wouldn't expect too much performance from it. Right now, I don't know anyone who is using it, so no 1st or 2nd hand experience from my side. Did you use it in other parts of Indonesia already? How is the service quality? Don, internet is still a sad chapter here in Bali, although I wouldn’t go as far as Sergey in comment #60.

The Smart EVDO service seems to be already available in Bali, as there was a huge advertising billboard for 2 months a few weeks back on one of the main intersections (Jl Sunset near Carrefour). They offered unlimited internet for 888.000 Rupiah for 3 months including hardware dongle, if I’m not wrong….however….this solution is CDMA based, so I wouldn’t expect too much performance from it.

Right now, I don’t know anyone who is using it, so no 1st or 2nd hand experience from my side. Did you use it in other parts of Indonesia already? How is the service quality?

]]> By: Don http://www.nomad4ever.com/2007/01/03/roundup-of-isps-internet-service-providers-in-bali/#comment-47203 Don Tue, 12 Jan 2010 23:16:16 +0000 http://www.nomad4ever.com/2007/01/03/roundup-of-isps-internet-service-providers-in-bali/#comment-47203 Hi and thanks for good info. I'm about to stay in Bali for at least 1 year in the Cangu area. Since I'm dependent on an internet connection I've been looking around. I don't need very high speed (384 kb minimum) as long as it's solid, but I need unlimited (not semi-unlimited with speed penalty) transfer. By far the best option seems to be Smart-Telecom's EVDO alternative, which is not yet available in Bali. However, according to information I found on their web site, they will start covering Bali during 2010. Do you know anything more about this? Any suggestions for options covering my needs are highly welcome. Regards, Don Hi and thanks for good info.

I’m about to stay in Bali for at least 1 year in the Cangu area. Since I’m dependent on an internet connection I’ve been looking around. I don’t need very high speed (384 kb minimum) as long as it’s solid, but I need unlimited (not semi-unlimited with speed penalty) transfer.

By far the best option seems to be Smart-Telecom’s EVDO alternative, which is not yet available in Bali. However, according to information I found on their web site, they will start covering Bali during 2010. Do you know anything more about this?

Any suggestions for options covering my needs are highly welcome.

Regards,

Don

]]> By: Chris http://www.nomad4ever.com/2007/01/03/roundup-of-isps-internet-service-providers-in-bali/#comment-45824 Chris Mon, 03 Aug 2009 07:11:28 +0000 http://www.nomad4ever.com/2007/01/03/roundup-of-isps-internet-service-providers-in-bali/#comment-45824 Harsh statement, <strong>Sergey</strong>. It actually improved quite a bit over the last couple of years. It all depends on how much you want to spend. The cheapest option is probably Speedy, if it's available in your area. Or choose 2 providers with <a href="http://www.nomad4ever.com/2007/07/12/3g-wireless-finally-affordable-internet-for-the-island-of-the-gods/">3G internet</a>, that way you should have a safe bet even for business reasons and it doesn't bust the bank. ;-) Harsh statement, Sergey. It actually improved quite a bit over the last couple of years. It all depends on how much you want to spend. The cheapest option is probably Speedy, if it’s available in your area. Or choose 2 providers with 3G internet, that way you should have a safe bet even for business reasons and it doesn’t bust the bank.

]]> By: Sergey http://www.nomad4ever.com/2007/01/03/roundup-of-isps-internet-service-providers-in-bali/#comment-45793 Sergey Tue, 28 Jul 2009 02:30:33 +0000 http://www.nomad4ever.com/2007/01/03/roundup-of-isps-internet-service-providers-in-bali/#comment-45793 Just note to everybody who income depend on internet. STAY OUT OF BALI! The only comfortable option you can get here is Speedy (100$/month) for 1 mbs connection, and if you are very luku and stay in soth free wifi from local shops/restarants. It is a pity - but to get internet here i must go to icafe/shopping center for free wifi. Just note to everybody who income depend on internet.

STAY OUT OF BALI!

The only comfortable option you can get here is Speedy (100$/month) for 1 mbs connection, and if you are very luku and stay in soth free wifi from local shops/restarants.

It is a pity – but to get internet here i must go to icafe/shopping center for free wifi.

]]> By: Nicolas Roy http://www.nomad4ever.com/2007/01/03/roundup-of-isps-internet-service-providers-in-bali/#comment-45471 Nicolas Roy Fri, 19 Jun 2009 18:57:26 +0000 http://www.nomad4ever.com/2007/01/03/roundup-of-isps-internet-service-providers-in-bali/#comment-45471 Antennas for 3.5G (1900/2100Mhz) are expensive, provide medium gain and hard to find in Indonesia. Found one +3Bdi gain in Rimo, but at that gain it's not worth it. There is however people who tried a setup with 2.4Ghz (wifi) Antenna and reported excellent results. http://evdotips.blogspot.com/2008/10/parabolic-grid-antenna.html#idc-container Antennas for 3.5G (1900/2100Mhz) are expensive, provide medium gain and hard to find in Indonesia. Found one +3Bdi gain in Rimo, but at that gain it’s not worth it.

There is however people who tried a setup with 2.4Ghz (wifi) Antenna and reported excellent results.
http://evdotips.blogspot.com/2008/10/parabolic-grid-antenna.html#idc-container

]]> By: Chris http://www.nomad4ever.com/2007/01/03/roundup-of-isps-internet-service-providers-in-bali/#comment-45345 Chris Tue, 02 Jun 2009 04:35:14 +0000 http://www.nomad4ever.com/2007/01/03/roundup-of-isps-internet-service-providers-in-bali/#comment-45345 <strong>BigJim</strong>, that should work also fine! Coverage and speed would depend on your internet provider in your area and what model of phone you use. Some can only do 3G, some HSDPA or even HSUPA. There are so many hundreds of models on the market, I have no idea which one to take. Maybe look on some of the mobile phone site like www.gsmarena.com and use their seach engine/filters to find some reviews/user opinions for the brands you'd prefer. :-/ BigJim, that should work also fine! Coverage and speed would depend on your internet provider in your area and what model of phone you use. Some can only do 3G, some HSDPA or even HSUPA. There are so many hundreds of models on the market, I have no idea which one to take. Maybe look on some of the mobile phone site like http://www.gsmarena.com and use their seach engine/filters to find some reviews/user opinions for the brands you’d prefer.

]]>