PAPEETE, Tahiti (April 15, 2003)Tahiti
has moved into the Internet fast lane with the launching of
a broadband service
that is expected to produce 1,200 subscribers by the end of
this year.
Thats the prediction of Paul Dugué, general manager of Mana, French
Polynesias Internet service provider created in 1998 as a wholly owned
subsidiary of the French Polynesia Postal and Telecommunications Department (OPT).
During the past five years Mana has built up 11,000 subscribers, and Internet
traffic represents more than 50% of the OPTs public telephone network
communications.
OPT board of directors has given its approval to a Mana internet broadband development
program for the island of Tahiti which is expected to be achieved before mid
2004. Mana next step will bring broadband services to Internet users on Tahitis
sister island of Moorea, which is scheduled to occur at the end of 2004.
OPTs Latest Metu@ Project Development
The broadband service is the latest development in the OPTs Metu@ project,
which aims to provide each citizen of French Polynesia access to information
and communications technology (ICT).
The objective is to bring Internet access for everyone, regardless of where they
live in French Polynesia, at a cost compatible with a households buying
power and using the most appropriate technology said French Polynesia
Vice President Edouard Fritch, who is also the governments minister of
new technologies, postal services and telecommunications. But he added that the
price to access such services takes into consideration the size of the
market and the investment and operating costs for the services.
This new broadband network () will first concern the consumer in the most populated
areas on Tahiti island, Fritch said.
The Internet Service Provider has created ManaADSL to cover internet
broadband service and the ManaPass for analog and ISDN Internet
connections. Both new Mana products reflect the demographics of todays
Internet users based on a study conducted by the OPT and Mana.
Joint OPT/Mana Study Found What Users Wanted
This recent study focus two categories of Internet usersprofessionals
and residents. It points out the classic complaints among residential users
that the Internet connection was too slow, involved too many disconnections
and involved billing that was too complicated.
On the other hand, professionals complained on Internet connections
capacity which does not allow efficient and inexpensive use of multimedia
services. A permanent access along with simplified billing is far more interesting
for
that specific category of Internet user.
Three ManaADSL Broadband Packages Available
ManaADSL offers Internet users a choice of three packages for a broadband
connection.The three packages are aimed at Internet users ranging from the
enthusiastic individual to a small business.
The selected technology A.D.S.L., or Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line ,
offers high-speed Internet service that permits Internet users to remain connected
24 hours a day, with billing on a fixed monthly basis plus a possible data
volume surcharge. Although it uses existing OPT telephone lines, broadband
allows todays modern Internet users fast digital access and simultaneous
telephone conversations or use of a facsimile machine over the same line.
ManaADSL MONTHLY RATES
|
TYPE OF INTERNET USER
|
COST
|
INCOMING SPEED
|
OUTGOING SPEED
|
MAXIMUM MONTHLY VOLUME
|
|
Basic: e-mail, light surfing, light downloading
|
16 500 F CFP US$150
|
128 KB/S
|
128 KB/S
|
2 GIGABYTES
|
|
Multi-media use: transferring photos, visiting video websites,
listening to radio stations online
|
29 700 F CFP US$270
|
256 KB/S
|
128 KB/S
|
3 GIGABYTES
|
|
Big-time users: online game playing, transferring architectural
plans, sharing Internet access with computer network
|
39 600 F CFP US$360
|
512 KB/S
|
256 KB/S
|
5 GIGABYTES
|
|
NOTES: F CFP= French Pacific franc;
US$ rate calculated at 109 F CFP=1USD; KB/S=KILOBYTES
PER SECOND
|
Any additional megabyte will be charged 10 F CFP each if the
monthly volume is exceeded.. A 10% value added tax (VAT) is added
to the final monthly cost of each package.
Each package allows each subscriber to have five megabytes of cumulative storage
for five e-mail services; 10 megabytes of storage for a personal website; one
access to a news website; and a virtual check on accumulated volume use.
Two Special Broadband Rates for Local Businesses
Mana also offers two special rates for local businesses wanting
to sign up for an Internet broadband connection. They are called
ManaPro fixed rates. There is a world Internet access rate
that is 50% less expensive than previous non-broadband rates.
And there is a local Internet access that is six times less
expensive than previous non-broadband rate.
Internet broadband connections will be provided
first within the City of Papeete during April. Starting May
1, the adjacent
communes of Faaa and Pirae will have access. Six other
communes Arue, Mahina, Punaauia, Paea and Taravao - will
have access starting June 1st as Mana deploys around the island
of Tahiti in both directions, arriving at Taravao, where the
main island and its peninsula are joined.
However, eight communes, with smaller populations and, therefore,
fewer Internet users, will not have access to Internet broadband
services until November and the three communes on Tahitis
peninsula will not have access until 2004. By that time, the
whole island will have access to broadband
Five ManaPass Packages for Current
Analog and Digital Internet Subscribers
Meanwhile, Mana is also offering five dial-up packages to current analog and
digital Internet subscribers using the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN).
The new fixed rates are 14%-24% cheaper than previous rates for analog connections
of 56 kb/s and 30% to nearly 49% cheaper for digital connections of 64 or 128
kb/s.
ManaPASS MONTHLY RATES
|
|
TYPE
OF INTERNET USER
|
MONTHLY
USE
|
COST
|
SAVINGS
FOR ANALOG USERS
|
SAVINGS
FOR DIGITAL USERS
|
|
PRESENT
ANALOG OR DIGITAL SUBSCRIBERS
|
5 Hours
|
4 180 F CFP US$38
|
414%
|
449%
|
|
10 Hours
|
5 280 F CFP US$48
|
17%
|
445.5%
|
|
20 Hours
|
7 590 F CFP US$70
|
420%
|
440.5%
|
|
50 Hours
|
14 520 F CFP US$130
|
422.5%
|
434%
|
|
100 Hours
|
26 070 F CFP US$240
|
423.5%
|
430.5%
|
Each of the five packages for analog and digital
subscribers include the same extra services as for the broadband
packagesfive
e-mail in-boxes with a total of 5 megabytes; a 10-megabyte personal
website; access to one news website; and virtual check on time
consumed. There is an extra charge of 10 F CFP for each additional
minute and the 10% value added tax for the entire monthly cost.
Internet Bandwidth Increased 33%
All these new services led to a 33% increase of OPT current internet
capacityIn order to offer these new services and the demands
those services will create, OPT and Mana have had to increased
by 33%. the available international bandwidth via satellite
dedicated to Internet. This expansion operation has been successfully
completed today with Teleglobe on an Intelsat Ltd. Satellite
located on the 180°E orbital slot.
The current total cost for linking French Polynesias
Internet users to the World Wide Web is around US$ 2.5 million
per year.
That helps toThis satellite costs fully explain why even internet
services are still remain relatively expensive when compared
with other countries :
- High level of investments for a very small market (ADSL : $US
15.8 millions for 5.000 users in the long term) ;
- the regular internet service is the same for any one living
in French Polynesia
Despite Geographical geographical dispersion and isolationand
technical constraints, the cost of accessing accessing the Internet
access is the same for anyone living in French Polynesia : could
it be on Tahiti, French Polynesias most populated island,
as it is would be for any of the 8,712 people living in the Marquesas
Islands, between 1,330 kilometers/826 miles and 1,500 kms/932
miles northeast of Tahiti.)
|
