Virtual Internet service providers (VISPs) are appearing at a rate of around 10 per month in SA. There are now about 120 VISPs on IS` infrastructure, (about 180 in the country) and their number is swelling as companies of all sizes start to see the benefits they offer.
Simply, a VISP is an organisation that offers dialup Internet connectivity and related services to companies of all sizes. They are able to tailor-make the dialup offering and customise it to suit its subscribers.
Until recently, ISPs tended to offer a one-size-fits-all service to their clients. Smaller ISPs could not afford the sophisticated networks that larger networks had.
About five years ago, most smaller ISPs were absorbed into large groups as they fought to build their client bases. This resulted in two large players which have dominated the market ever since. Now smaller, VISPs are offering specialised services to organisations by using the state-of-the-art networks of large ISPs.
Says Leon Labuschagne, VISP product manager at Internet Solutions: "VISPs run on our infrastructure, and offer dialup services to organisations as well as any related services they may require, such as e-mail, hosting, and backup solutions This approach allows the huge economies of scale that enables VISPs to operate, because most are small companies that would not be able to afford the top-notch network that we run. It also allows companies to benefit from the branding and marketing of providing dialup services without needing to invest in any expensive infrastructure"
Many large companies are starting VISPs in-house, which run a dialup service for their employees. So, for instance, company X can have a special dial-in service for its employees, with all its branding and special configurations, and it will be hosted on the IS network.
"VISP operations may also be targeted geographically. For instance, one of the largest VISPs in SA serves subscribers primarily in the Free State ," says Labuschagne.
"We have 250 000 dialup subscribers dialling into our network through different organisations. XSINET dial-up customers, for example, enter through the XSINET portal where they have access to the news, entertainment and other subscriber content services that the company provides. The whole thing runs on the IS network," he says.
Another example is the hugely successful free Internet service provided by Absa. Absa`s branding and facilities are highlighted on the site, but it runs on IS` dialup network. Other companies such as those specialising in Web page design, for example, can offer a customised dialup facility through their VISP services.
"Packages that cater for just about any application can be designed. If a VISP wants to give its customers a starter pack, for example, it can put this together easily. All the benefits of our network apply to the VISPs that use it. It is secure, reliable, and is able to carry any of the products and services that are offered by VISPs," says Labuschagne.
VISPs are popular in Europe and the US and are becoming increasingly popular locally, because a one-size-fits-all dialup approach can be avoided. VISPs are able to offer even small companies tailor-made sites at reasonable cost.
"The employee model is particularly popular. The in-house VISP can be tailored to provide, coupled with the provision of PCs, an Internet access benefit to employees. Employees can then dial in to the Internet, corporate LAN, bulletin boards, staff information Web pages and so on," says Labuschagne.
"Internet access can be given to high-value clients which increases the value of the brand, acknowledges their loyalty, and rewards them. If clients dial up on this service, they can also be directed to specific Web pages which are not generally available from the Web, where special promotions can be displayed, for example.
"Some companies and organisations have a primary aim of providing information or content. The VISP service allows them to make the information available to their clients, through Web interfaces, chat rooms and e-mail.
"A VISP can also be coupled with transaction-based services, so customers who utilise the Internet access, can do online shopping as well," he says.
Share
Internet Solutions (IS) is SA`s leading provider of infrastructure foundations for electronic business and the forerunner in providing companies with effective connectivity solutions. At present, it connects over 1 500 organisations to the Internet and over 3 000 sites through its range of VPN solutions, thus forming the primary electronic business community in SA.
IS offers a fully managed environment together with expertise in areas such as internet access, VPNs, hosting, dialup, security and data management. Their best-of-breed infrastructure is without equal and has been the preferred choice of leading companies since 1993. As the Internet industry leader, IS is also dedicated to sharing its success with others by providing improved access to education and information to all South Africans, particularly previously disadvantaged communities.
Editorial contacts