Broadband in Auroville, Tamil Nadu?

[larrysa]

My daughter lives in Auroville, just north of Pondicherry, in Tamil Nadu, and she's looking for a way to connect broadband from her home. She's considering both options: wireless or wired (DSL). She needs broadband (enough bandwidth for graphics and video) and unlimited access, for a fixed monthly fee.Any advice? Thanks in advance.- LS

 

[kindofblue]

If you were to list out the options you have - all the service providers, you could get some objective inputs. Otherwise the question is very open ended...

 

[larrysa]

Thanks Ramaseshan. I'll try to be more specific.

There are a good number of people who are connected to Internet in Auroville, through a variety of ways. Reliance through a landline is one of them. That seems a relatively simple option, but it implies that my daughter will have a permanent house and, at this stage, she is likely to change houses within the Auroville community for at least a couple of years maybe. So DSL with Reliance or another provider is perhaps not the best option at this time.

So the alternatives are wireless. Reliance Netconnect (is that the name?) seems a candidate. Would it work in Auroville? People who live there seem to say so. Are there alternatives? What would the connection speed be? Download speed? Is the USB modem they provide enough to connect to the Net from a house in the forest? Are there more powerful wireless solutions, with an antenna maybe?

In any event, the objective is to have an unlimited connection, so that my daughter (and myself when I will be visiting) can do some design work online from home.

I hope this is less open-ended. Thanks again.

 

[srk006]

Reliance Netconnect is not a Broadband option. Its practical speed is around 100kbps. Better is take a wired DSL connection. Don't worry about changing houses. Most of these providers don't charge for shifting.

 

[larrysa]

Thanks SRK. That's very useful. A DSL line would obviously offer more bandwidth, and quite dramatically from what you say.Now I've heard of people in Auroville, Tamil Nadu, who have super wireless installations, with an antenna on their roof etc. I don't really know how to contact them right now, but could that be an improved wireless solution? Have you heard of such things?

 

[kindofblue]

Larry,I havent atleast heard of these wireless gizmos you're mentioning(maybe WiMax??) but like SRK mentions, a wired connection may not be a big challenge while shifting places. If you go with BSNL - you can be almost assured that they cover most places (and a good way of ascertaining this would be to find out if the new place has a BSNL land phone)THe other option with phones like reliance is a walky - these are wireless land-phones. Take it anywhere you go. Whether they support an internet connection or not is something you'll have to find out.All the best.

 

[larrysa]

Thanks, Ramaseshan. I think that what you and SRK suggest makes sense. I will first look into wired connection possibilities. I'm pretty sure that we'll get more bandwidth like that. Auroville is a community scattered in a forest, but wires have been pulled to many homes and public buildings. BSNL seems to be widespread. Not sure what's the maximum bandwidth they can provide there. Best, Larry

 

[kindofblue]

I've been to pondicherry once (didnt have broadband in mind, it was more to look at shops selling lovely teakwood (used) furniture). Auroville is on my "ToVisit" list...