Cable in Nagoya, to the best of my knowledge, is only available from Starcat (Media Cat). It is in the nature of cable; because of the greater impact of installing the infrastructure, one area usually only has one contractor. Starcat prices came down and speeds went up as soon as ADSL came along as serious competition. As usual there are a number of packages available. Like ADSL it is asymmetric, but there may be a business package avaialable that is not, check it out for yourself if it matters to you. A fixed I.P address is available, and it is possible to choose between a global and a private I.P. address. The default is private, and that is probably better for most people, because of the added security. (It means that your computer is hidden behind Starcat's network). Cable is very easy to set up and is truly 'always on'. If cable TV is your bag, then Starcat may be the option for you, as it is possible to pay for a complete package of cable TV and internet access. However, cable is not available everywhere, and it is usually confined to cities and larger towns. Your cable internet provider is also your Internet Service Provider (ISP).
Cost example: For the mid-level package from Starcat (12 Mbps) with a global I.P. address, I pay 5,565 Yen per month, including tax. Initial construction costs are usually more with cable, but actual costs will depend on your own individual circumstance.
Good point: The easiest by far to set up. Basically, there are no settings. Just connect to the cable modem and use the Internet Connection wizard on your computer to select 'Connect By LAN' and finish.
Minus Point: Not the connection of choice if you live in an apartment block and the building is not wired for cable. It can be difficult or impossible to get the cable to your apartment.
BREAKING NEWS: From August 2003, there will be major revisions to the Starcat service.
Currently the two levels of service are Economy and Standard. But from August, these schemes will be revised thus:
Both of the new schemes include an option of internet telephone service. The internet 'phone service connects via a special modem, like the Yahoo! BB set up, so existing customers will need to have their modem replaced if they want that service. Initially the internet 'phone service will only be for calls within Japan, but the plan is to provide overseas call service later.
Additionally, perhaps as a corollary of the provision of the internet 'phone service, Starcat will be allocating global IP addresses rather than private IP addresses. (This is less secure, but I guess a global IP address is needed for the 'phone to work. I expect that those people currently already using global IP addresses can expect to see their IP addresses changing much more frequently in the future, as Starcat continually redistributes their allocation of global IP addresses. A point of interest to those of us using dynamic DNS for our servers.)
Links: Starcat home page How Cable Modems Work
ADSL is the Broad Band that you can receive via your 'phone line. That does not mean that just because you have a 'phone line, you can get an ADSL service, but it is nearly so, it seems. There are, in Japan, two types of ADSL connection. A type 1 connection allows regular telephone data to be shared with your computer's sent and received signals on the same line. So that the the telephone and computer data do not get all jumbled up, a little device called a splitter is used to ensure that the signals stay separate. It is possible to use both your computer and your telephone at the same time if you have an ADSL connection. A type 2 connection is for those people who, for whatever reason, want to have a dedicated line just for the computer. That line does not have a telephone number assigned to it, as there will be no telephone used on it. In Japan, the system is that the ADSL supplier and the ISP are separate. You choose the ADSL supplier, then the ISP. This is, in fact, a much more flexible arrangement than, say, the UK, where the ADSL supplier and the ISP are one and the same. ISPs usually work out some special deals with ADSL providers so that a complete package is easily arranged. In our office we chose NTT Flets with Asahi-net. As with cable internet, different packages are available, with speed and extras dependent upon the amount you pay. ADSL is 'always available', which is a little different to 'always connected'. The NTT 12 Mbps service is called 'More', as in 'More than 8 Mbps'. Remember, though, that those quoted speeds are the maximum theoretically attainable, and you probably won't notice any difference between 8 Mbps and 12 Mbps. Neither can receive data faster than it comes off the server at the other end, which is the most likely limiting factor of your download speed.
Returning to the subject of ISPs, note that Yahoo! BB is an ISP as well as an ADSL provider. I understand that Yahoo! BB cannot be used on a type 2 connection, although that will not worry most people. A neat thing about the Yahoo! BB arrangement is that the YBB modem comes complete with a 'phone socket to allow 'phone calls to be made at much reduced cost over the internet. This can also be done with NTT FLETS, but it requires the purchase of two more extra pieces of kit and costs a lot more to set up. Club members have reported, however, that the YBB internet 'phone connection is not always so reliable, but the cost savings may be enough to make it worth giving it a go.
I think that all ISPs now offer ADSL service, so in many ways the choices are the same as those that existed before, when we were all using 'dial-up'. That is price, flexibility, English language support. As I mentioned, I have experience of Asahi-net at work and I am satisfied with their service. Other people in the club use Yahoo! BB. GOL is another of the many options. Ask around to get word of mouth recommendations and see which best suits your needs.
Cost example: We had a type 2 line installed into our office. We already had two telephone lines via ISDN, so we could not share the ADSL on that line. So we needed another 'phone line. If you don't need the telephone, a type 2 connection is cheaper. I can't remember what the construction costs were, but they weren't much. Our monthly costs are 3,650 Yen to NTT for a type 2 connection and 700 Yen to Asahi-net, (both prices subject to tax).
Good point: Installation involves no physical construction work.
Minus point: Although still an easy thing to do, setting up still takes more effort than cable and the service can be more idiosyncratic.
Links Asahi-net home page NTT English information How DSL works
Fibre Optic is the new kid on the block as far as internet connection for the masses is concerned, although fibre optic communication cables have been around for quite some time now. In Japan, the principal provider of fibre optic connections is NTT, using their 'BFLETS' service. Other companies, such as Usen, are supposed to be going to do something, and may already have started in Tokyo, but it certainly has not hit Nagoya yet (June 2003). So if you want fibre optic in Nagoya, you need to hook up with NTT BFLETS and an ISP of choice who offers BFLETS services. Again, Asahi-net offers a good choice of services at what seems to be reasonable prices (well, it's all relative, isn't it?) and, in my experience, good support. Check out their site for a goodly amount of information on BFLETS.
As you can read on the Asahi-net site, BFLETS offers a theoretical 100 Mbps, but don't kid yourself that you will see that. However, even if only one third of that could be achieved, I for one would be happy.
Installation of BFLETS, like cable, requires actual physical construction work (ADSL just involves some switching at the exchange; NTT do not even visit you). If there is no way for the fibre optic cable to be routed to your dwelling, then you won't be using it.
Cost example: We have the 'Basic' plan installed. It is not the cheapest, but it does give a fixed I.P. address. Monthly costs are 9,900 Yen to NTT and 3,900 to Asahi-net, making a total of 13,800 Yen per month.
Good point: Theoretically very fast, upload speeds as fast as download speeds.
Minus point: Requires initial construction which may be troublesome, and if they can't route the optic cable, that's the end of that for you.
Links Asahi-net BFLETS page NTT BFLETS page
Home | Meetings | Tutorials | Mac User Group About NIPCC | Creative | Historical Archive | Other Links