The demand for internet connectivity has increased significantly in the last few years. In my opinion, this is mostly due to the influx and growth of the expatriate community who have come in the form of RAMSI advisers as well as private investors. Another is the growing local users who are mostly students, either returning from overseas studies or simply primary age students now being more exposed to these technologies.
However, it is of little comfort when Solomon Islanders cannot get reliable internet connectivity. We experience slower speeds because of the expensive bandwidth acquired via satellite as well as the latency we get on our download and upload links.
When we hear of the MDG (Millennium Development Goals) most people fail to realize that in the industry, there are also goals set that should be achieved by each country. On a broader scale the MDG simply provides a template on which different sectors of our society can derive their relevant set of goals and objectives. One of the most important aspect of the MDG which is relevant to our industry is that of access.
Credit to Our Telekom, it is now providing greater access through the acquisition of more bandwidth which it put into place in December 2009. There has been significant improvements in performance since that acquisition. More importantly is the provision of internet connectivity over the new 3G mobile phone network.
The service is undergoing trials but it is available to postpaid mobile phones as well as prepaid users who voluntarily subscribe to the service. To date, a few of my friends (with prepaid SIMs) have been able to access this service either on their mobile phones or using it as modems to connect to the Internet. The response has been great. A group of 15 selected trial customers have also given back very positive feedback on the service and how it has helped to connect them onto the Internet quickly and without the standard wait on an ADSL service from Our Telekom.
One major draw-card is it will require less capital investment to acquire internet connectivity over the mobile phone market. This will no doubt drive the uptake of the service thus fulfilling to a large extent, the MDG’s emphasis on accessibility.
Another development that provides hope for most customers is Our Telekom’s move to charge for internet access by volume rather then by speed. The best analogy for a volume based price regime is the Honiara Bulk Shop. You can buy as little as you want or more depending on what you can afford. So if you can only afford to spend $1 on flour then that is all you will be required to pay. But if you can spend $100, you have the choice of buying more flour. So a volume based Internet service will ensure that you only pay for how much you use. I hope these thoughts will eventually translate into reality for customers. We hope to see the exorbitant prices of ADSL provisioning at Our Telekom shift to a volume based pricing structure soon.
Now the onus is on Our Telekom to simply improve the reliability of this service. However, if the last few weeks is any indication of the quality of service then frustration will no doubt kill enthusiasm for the service. 2011 is the year when the ISP market will be deregulated and if Our Telekom is keen on keeping its customers then it must improve services now.
Unreliable connections to the outside world will not encourage growth in the market. Exorbitant prices will also be an impediment and stifle economic growth.