Bought a Sapido 3G Mobile router last year as a possible replacement for my SmartBro Share-It. So I’m just waiting for my 24-month contract to expire so I could completely move up to this set-up in the car. But then, the local distributor met up with me early this week and showed me their whole new Sapido line-up.
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The telecoms industry have always been slugging it out in terms of “price wars”. Sometimes, they’d also do the same in the technology front and being the first of anything new is always considered a prized trophy. Globe and Smart (and Sun, pre-PLDT acquisition) have been like that for years.
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The National Telecommunications Commission will be holding a Public Hearing & Consultation regarding the Memorandum Order on Minimum Speed of Broadband Connection. Details after the jump.
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There’s been a lot of debate surrounding the recent deal between Google and Verizon regarding net neutrality. Some even say that Google has sold out just to get a the ball rolling. But what does this deal got to do with us here in the Philippines?
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Last Saturday, I signed up for the unlimited Plan 999 of SmartBro Share It. It was locked for 24 months but they have a promo where you can buy a computer set (Intel Core Dual Core E2200 2.2GHz) for just Php4,000.
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I have been getting inquiries from people asking about the peer to peer issues with their Globe DSL. Today, Globe Telecom has issued a formal explanation regarding the issue. See details below:
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Here’s another 3G broadband router sent in for review — the Edimax 802.11b/g 3G Router. It’s like your regular DSL router with additional USB ports to hook in a 3G modem and also acts as a Printer server.
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For the last couple of weeks, my PLDT DSL connection at home has crawled to a turtle’s pace. I don’t often get this type of problems in the last 4.5 years but this time, it took longer than one would expect.
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A couple of days ago, I attended a WiMax forum hosted by Intel Philippines. They are helping push the use of WiMax in emerging markets where there are very low but fast growing PC users. Why?
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Just got an SMS confirmation from Globe that they’ve already rolled out and servicing customers on their WiMax network. I’m still getting the details but the Inquirer ran the story last night that it will be 512Kbps at Php799 per month. This service will certainly be competing against Smart Bro’s Fixed Wireless offering.
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The other day, when my DSL broke down, I was forced to use my backup Smart Bro Prepaid and Globe Visibility to connect to the net. Problem was that only one PC at home had the connection. He’s a quick solution I did to share 3G internet over WiFi.
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Over at PTB, Arnold is taking a spot survey from readers on the status of their ISP’s connectivity. For my end, it’s still spotty. There will be times that the speeds are decent (though not at par with normal) and there will be times that it’s totally useless to go online.
I have PLDT myDSL which is the worst hit. Surprisingly though, Smart Bro seems to be doing much better than expected.
So, I went out and tried several AirborneAccess hotspots but couldn’t login. Then I discovered that my free account from them already expired last December 31. Time to use that Globe WiZ backup but none is in sight.
Again, Smart 3G/GPRS saves the day. It’s not really that fast but feels better than dial-up (97kbps via 2Wire).
How’s everybody else’s connection nowadays?
The SmartBro installation team just arrived here at my place to hook me up. Took them about 30 minutes to install and configure my account and I’m now running on Smart Bro (Just one of my desktop PCs. My laptop and other PC is still on myDSL.).
First off, some speed tests:
PLDTPlay: 260.3 kbps
GlobeQuest Utilities: 235.0 kbps
2Wire: 99.50 kbps
TestMy: 113 kbps
Smart Bro top speed: 384kbps
During the installation, I talked with the two tech guys and explained to them my arrangement with Smart. The tech guys were actually a bit curious why my account was different, at least that’s what the designated subscriber code says. They added that the subscriber code I am using is for internal use and usually assigned to COs. I told them I hope it does not affect my connection speed from that of a regular subscriber.
The above speed test results would indicate I am in no better luck than any other subscriber. Ok, on with the testing.
Btw, remeber that wifi incident last week at Malate? The techs did confirm to me that it’s something they’ve also encountered before and when they reported it back to the NOC, they were told that it’s for an experimental hotspot. Looks like Airborne Access is going to have some internal competition of sorts.
Looks like PLDT is aggressively selling its DSL service, now with a residential package of Php999 per month (PLDT Plan 999) at speeds of 384Kbps. This is the former bandwidth allocation for their Plan 1995 which is now at 512Kbps.
On top that, their Php788 per month for Smart WiFi is being heavily promoted in the provinces.
The Plan 999 was also an old promo for students only but has now been expanded to cover regular residential subscribers. With the introduction of DSL Plan 999, I think PLDT will soon be upgrading existing subscribers to higher bandwidths. Much more that Globe Telecoms is pushing to 2Mbps for Php2,995 (Explore Gold Plan).
The problem here though is that PLDT is so aggressive in selling broadband connections to potential new customers that it has already forgotten about the existing ones. Just read the comments over at the Smart WiFi entry.
I am sure they know that it’s cheaper to retain new customers than to get new ones. Oh, I forgot they have that 1-year lock-up clause.
Got home this evening to find pamphlets at my doorstep from Globe. Apparently they are now offering broadband connections to residential areas with speeds of up to 2Mbps. Sweet.
Here are the DSL rates and prices:
*GenTxt Express Unlimited
Monthly Fee: Php995
DSL Speed: 384kbps
Express Unlimited
Monthly Fee: Php1,495 (promo price of Php995 just now)
DSL Speed: 384kbps
Explore Silver
Monthly Fee: Php1,995
DSL Speed: 768kbps
Explore Gold
Monthly Fee: Php2,995
DSL Speed: 2Mbps
* I think the GenTxt plan is for students. Not sure about it but looks very similar to the PLDT DSL student rate before (Plan 998 or something). And read this — a Globelines landline subscription is NOT a prerequisite to Globelines broadband.
The 2Mbps under Explore Gold plan did took most of my attention. Really, really nice to have something like that at home all by myself. And to think that only last year, I was paying GreenDot Php2,750 for a mere 256kbps connection.
