I received the following email from the sales team at the sat company:
The spacestream product consists of two components: The VSAT service
purchased from Telkom and the ISP service purchased from IDWS. There is a 3
year contract involved to Telkom / IDWS should you wish to make use of the
service.
Information:
Marketed under the Telkom SpaceStream brand, the offering places Data,
Internet and Voice access via satellite technology within reach of virtually
everyone in South Africa, regardless of where they live.The service will be
available in customised packages to suit the diverse needs of the
telecommunications market. Internet access is the main feature of the
service but an option that supports switched voice capability is also
available.Fixed line always-available Internet Access is a reality in South
Africa. However, fixed line services are limited to areas that have the
necessary copper cable infrastructure. There remains a large portion of our
country that does not fall in the "fixed line footprint".VSAT technology
provides the ideal platform to provide an alternative for Internet access
for users who fall outside the "fixed line footprint".
Platforms Available:
"SpaceStream Express"(SSE) is powered by Gilat's Skystar 360ET platform.
This platform is a flexible, two-way, IP-based system. Supporting
interactive IP and multicasting applications, it is ideally suited for the
Internet environment. The system is configured to support customized
Internet access packages ranging
from 64kbps to 512kbps.
"SpaceStream Office"(SSO) is powered by Gilat's ***@y IPT platform. This
platform converges VSAT solutions for voice and fax with always-available
Internet access. The result: advanced, reliable telecommunications in even
the most remote locations, without the time and expense of infrastructure
development. Being somewhat of a trade-off, the IP capability is limited to
64kbps but in addition it provides up to 4 independent voice lines.
Market Fit:
Satellite broadband service is positioned as a high-speed, always available,
asymmetrical Internet access service.
Satellite technology is the reliable solution for communities and businesses
in areas where cable based Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) and
Internet services are unavailable, unreliable and/or too expensive to
install or maintain.
A wide range of market applications has been catered for ranging from a
small business requiring for example voice and Internet connectivity to
businesses wanting high speed/high volume data connectivity.
The service is intended for small to medium sized businesses and consumers
that fall out of Telkom's fixed line footprint. The service meets the need
of commercial farmers, co-operatives, holiday resorts, mining and other
smaller businesses (cafes, restaurants, hardware stores, bottle stores,
etc.) in un-serviced / rural areas requiring access for ordering, confirming
prices and other general telecommunications needs
User Benefits:
The following key advantages are apparent:
a.. Internet access:
Accessing the Internet utilising Satellite technology will offer the user
significantly higher download speeds thus facilitating quicker web browsing
and general improvement to the overall browsing experience.
a.. Choice of Access Speeds
Users have 4 different access speeds to choose from. The technology will
enable the user to access the Internet and download data at the access speed
which suits their particular requirements.
a.. Always available
The technology supports 24/7 availability to the Internet. As with ADSL the
need to dial up falls away thus obviating the need to establish a dial up
connection. Users will therefore have control over their cost, as there are
no call charges to the Internet.
a.. Upgradeable
Users will be able to upgrade or downgrade their service during the contract
term. There is no limit to the number of times users can upgrade.
Effectively allowing them to adapt their requirement as their business
grows. Users can only downgrade their service 30 days after previous
upgrade.
a.. Security
Satellite technology is known for it's inherent security in that all VSAT's
are managed from a centrally located Hub. Furthermore, the user's IP address
is a private address and will not be broadcast on the Internet.
User Prices:
Users will have a choice of one of the following five access packages:
Access
Medium
Receive Data Rate
(kbps)
Transmit Data Rate
(kbps)
Monthly
Volume Caps*
Number of IP Addresses
Internet /Data
Voice
Lines
Access Price VAT inclusive
SpaceStream Express
64
16
500MByte
4
Yes
None
R 998.00
SpaceStream Express
128
32
1 GByte
4
Yes
None
R 1 244.00
SpaceStream Express
256
64
2 GByte
8
Yes
None
R 1 824.00
SpaceStream Express
512
128
3 Gbyte
8
Yes
None
R 3 019.00
SpaceStream Office
64
16
500Mbyte
4
Yes
Up to 4
R1 500.00
Standard Installation R 3 100.00
The IDWS Internet cost is R300 p/m EXCL VAT
Activation cost R150 EXCL VAT
In total for a 64k connection (500mb cap) your typical bill would be R998.00
ex vat to Telkom and R300 EX Vat to IDWS. Once off activation fees would be
R3100 to TELKOM and R150 to IDWS. This service is based on a 3 year contract
with Telkom and IDWS.
User Requirements:
Personal Computer:
Pentium 133MHz, Windows: 95, 98, 98SE, Me, 2000 Professional, Windows XP
32MB RAM, 3.5" Stiffy Drive, CD-ROM Drive, Video card/display 800 x 600, 256
colours
10baseT network adaptor with RJ45 connector to interface with the 10BaseT
port on the VSAT Indoor Unit
One AC Power point for indoor unit
Telephone Handsets for SSO , 150MB free on hard drive (SSO only)
Service Installation:
Telkom Supplied Equipment
Satellite Dish, Indoor Unit (IDU), Ethernet Cable and Cable to connect IDU
to the Satellite Dish
Standard installation
Installation configuration: wall-mount directly attached to the wall, cable
length less than 40 metres.
Non-standard installation
Will incur additional costs but customers will be contacted for confirmation
if this situation arises. Non-standard installs include the following:
Non-standard wall-mount installation requirements (i.e. if customer has
cladding on walls)
Non-penetrating mount with ballast or pole mount installation (requiring
fabricated brackets)
King post required
Specific cases (eg islands, cranes, complex installations) will be priced
after site survey. The site survey is also charged in the case where the
customer refuses the installation.
In addition the installer is not directly responsible for the digging of
trenches and laying of any underground ducting. These tasks must be
undertaken directly by the customer.
Regards,
Tony Da Silva
IDWS Sales
Tel: (011)477-0135
Fax: (011)477-0147
Post by Joe Demarggioho bout a phone number
Post by gmDoes this mean, no more phone lines ?
How much will this cost ?
Cornelius
Post by idwsFinally true Satellite Internet access has arrived in South Africa. No
more
Post by idwsrequirements to be connected via fixed line while downloads. You are now
connected 24 hours a day via satellite to send and receive information
from
Post by idwsthe Internet via VSAT.
IDWS is proud to offer the SpaceStream product in its bundle of Internet
services. IDWS sees this as an alternative to users not having access to
the
Post by idwsADSL network, but that do require cheaper permanent connectivity.
Should you require further information about the SpaceStream product,
please