Just as a public utility for water uses pipes to serve your home, an Internet Service Provider (ISP) pumps communications bandwidth via telephone lines, cable connections or dedicated Internet lines to your business or residence.
You then connect that line to the port of your PC and dial the number of your ISP - which most likely is located offshore - to reach the Internet. The scenario you face: lack of bandwidth and slow access speeds.
According to Terry Kier, MD of MasterSkill Training, a division of Softline Limited, people are overlooking the obvious solution to these problems - locally based servers.
"As a leading IT training company that specialises in the implementation and distribution of customised training solutions via the Internet, we understand the frustrations of low bandwidth and slow connections. That is why our server is located in South Africa. It is uniquely placed to take advantage of access to leading content and technology delivery platforms, enabling us to build on current business relationships," says Kier.
"This locally based server not only eliminates bandwidth issues, but also allows for other spin-offs like cheaper and faster e-commerce capabilities," says Kier.
He explains that one of the advantages of a locally based server is that it allows for the internal bandwidth of an ISP to be negotiated and physically inspected. "You are never sure what kind of link an overseas site might have, but with a local server the physical link to the ISP can be chosen - it is usually 64k or higher. Having a locally based server means that certain access speeds and availability can be guaranteed."
Kier says that an ISP that already caters for the intended target market - in this case South Africa - can be better chosen as it is easier to visit a local site to determine their level of technology, competence and service.
"Locally based servers are physically more accessible for updates, upgrades and routine maintenance, making it easier and more cost-effective than that of their overseas counterparts, most of which are situated either in the USA or Europe.
"This means that ISP's can be approached with support and performance issues, which can be conferred. The ISP can also be physically reviewed for customer peace of mind, meaning that service level agreements and support can be better upheld," says Kier.
"Local representation also puts users at ease, as they tend to respond to customer requests quicker and they can be seen physically. They are much more reliable with minimal down time and offer immediate recourse in the unlikely event that something does go wrong. Customers can also get immediate assistance if eventually they cannot solve their technical connectivity problems."
Another great advantage of local servers, according to Kier, is that download times can be minimised, saving time and money.
"Locally hosted sites tend to respond faster for the users of that area. Local users can request to be connected directly to a specific ISP, which greatly increases their speed and Internet performance. Also, by reducing the amount of links and suspect connections to the server and by connecting to the same ISP that the service is on, the dial up connection can be speeded up.
"By approaching a local ISP and putting all your eggs in one basket - company web site, web access, dial up access and personal access for employees - better rates can be negotiated, resulting in reduced costs for the company."
An obvious factor that plays an important role in choosing an ISP is the exchange rate and how it affects the South African economy. "Rental of a locally based server is not affected by the exchange rate, making the service more predictable and manageable when it comes to costs.
"And, with all the advantages of listed, only one thing remains to be said: Local is lekker!"
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