DataPro first independent IPS to offer ADSL

With Telkom announcing the availability of ADSL, first-tier Internet service provider (ISP) and network integrator, DataPro, says it is the first ISP to introduce this service to the marketplace.

Douglas Reed, MD of DataPro, said: "ADSL has finally arrived. The Telkom testing period has begun at certain exchanges in Johannesburg and Pretoria. Cape Town and Durban will be included by May 2003. In keeping with DataPro tradition, we are first to market," he said.

DataPro`s ADSL product offering is aimed at the heavy household user and the small office home office (SOHO). All in all the ADSL Household solution offering will cost R785.09 per month and the ADSL SOHO solution R910.52 per month. Upfront costs will be in the region of R2 500 (includes modem and installation). These prices exclude VAT. Customers will use their existing telephone lines.

Reed said the company does not expect a rush of sales because the service has some severe limitations, namely:

* You have to use an ISP`s mail server, not your own.

* You cannot host your own Web site.

* You cannot be more than 3.5km to 5km from the exchange.

* The usage is restricted to two or four concurrent users.

* Usage will be restricted to 3GB of traffic, which is the equivalent of downloading the full 512Kbps capacity for 14 hours. This, said Reed, should not be an issue for the test period unless there is abuse.

* There is speed guarantees.

* There are no uptime guarantees.

* The ports on each exchange are limited and the total capacity is limited to 1 780 ports.

* Works on copper only.

* Available at selected exchanges only.

* Currently the service is only available in Pretoria and Johannesburg.

"We expect a deluge of enquiries and we are dependent on Telkom to ascertain the technical viability of each request."

He urged end-users to be patient in the early stages of ADSL`s introduction.