Vanuatu IT Users Society

I’ve been playing with a Digicel GPRS modem for the last few days, and thought I’d share some initial impressions.

To me, a computer without Internet access feels like a car without wheels. Trotting around town with my GPRS-enabled laptop has made me realise just how many ways the Internet supplements my daily existence. Technical disputes with my kava-drinking buddies are resolved in a flash. (“Dude, railway ties are so treated with creosote. So there.”) My extended family can keep track on what their friends overseas are up to. The opportunities to learn are immense, too. (True story: someone asked me how tall a giraffe is. For the first time ever, I was able to say, “Hang on. I’ll show you.”)

That said, GPRS is far better suited to intermittent connectivity than staying online full-time. A quick facebook update here, an email there – that sort of thing. But compared to the amount of Internet available throughout most of the country (i.e. none) I’ve got to say it’s pretty darn cool to have it when you need it.

Read on for the geeky details.

NOTE: Take everything I say with a grain of salt – I’ve only just started this evaluation, so I reserve the right to be very, very wrong on some or all what follows….

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TVL last night announced significant reductions in the price of ADSL and WiMax services.

The most significant reduction is the Internet Home 128 kb service that was reduced from 16,800 vt/month to 5,950 vt per month.

See the attached file(s) for details.

TVL New Internet Pricing ENGLISH (PDF File)

TVL New Internet Pricing FRENCH (PDF File)

Following discussions on VIGNET since 8 September, the main points raised in the discussions have been formed into a survey.  Please have your say on these issues by completing the survey.  We will use the results of this survey to help with the VITUS submission to the Ministry of Infrastructure and Public Utilities.  Submissions close on Wednesday 17th September so we will close the survey at 12 midday on that day to allow time to add the survey responses to our submission.

Survey link: http://www.surveymethods.com/EndUser.aspx?E4C0ACB4EDA6B8B5

The Ministry of Infrastructure and Public Utilities is inviting comments on the following:

1. Draft telecommunications licensing policy (Download here)
2. Draft standard telecommunications licence (Download here)
3. Draft application for licence (Download here)

I think that VIGNET should see if we can do a response that represents the thoughts of all members.

Responses are required by 5:00pm on Wed 17th September so there is not much time to prepare responses.