From the media

All the experts who closely watched the Internet Service Provider market evolve in India have only one question on their minds--Will the numbers work out for the incoming ISPs? To add to VSNL, MTNL, Satyam Online and Mantra Online, we will soon have BSES, Rolta and Nanda Netcom inviting potential Netizens to take their road to the information superhighway.

Everyone's talking big numbers, except for Nanda Netcom. Fact is, only Nanda Netcom is the one with serious business experience in this arena. And with others like ETH, Global and BPL also expected within the year-end, we just might be looking at an ISP glut soon. Add to that a provider like Hathway (in by October with Internet-through-cable) and everyone's wondering how many will finally survive. Innovative marketing and bundling will be very important in this scenario--be it free access accounts with PCs or free PCs with access accounts. Will prices touch rock bottom, or will ISPs run aground? We'll all know in the next 12-18 months. Till then, here's what you can expect in the next month or so:

Nanda Netcom

With a decade of experience in this service business through Live Wire! BBS, Nanda Netcom is now going to the next progressive step--ISP services. These guys already run a lean, mean operation which is widely appreciated and you can be sure that their ISP services too will give customers what they want most--reliable, secure connectivity at great prices. Nanda's systems will run on Linux (again, robust, reliable and cost-effective) with Cisco routers. The only incoming ISP to give us price details, Nanda's prices are as good as VSNL's, which is the cheapest ISP around today. Plus, these guys will also provide free access to Live Wire! BBS worth Rs 3,000 to all customers. They are also considering an hourly usage system, which will offer a "more you use, less you pay" deal to users. And remember, being a small operation, they can cut prices and bring in new plans at will--with all the others, their hierarchies make this impossible. With Nanda's experience, users can feel safe on security issues too. Among all the incoming ISPs, we'd lay our bets on Nanda Netcom.

BSES

If you live in mumbai's suburbs, BSES (formerly Bombay Suburban Electricity Supply) would be familiar to you as the organisation that supplies you with power. Soon, they also aim to supply you with your daily dose of the Net through their subsidiary, BSES Telecom. BSES's biggest advantage is their optical fibre cable backbone which is in the process of being set up. And as technology enables data to be carried through power lines (Yep! This is a proven fact, and should be widely possible in the next few years), BSES could have an even greater advantage than Net-through-cable providers because everyone has power lines coming into their houses or businesses. BSES is targeting 25,000 users within one year, which seems too optimistic, according to experts. The biggest problem for BSES though could be its image--most people consider BSES to be a government outfit because of its methods of working. In the reply to our questionnaire, BSES promised quality service backed by innovative value-added features. Ultimately of course, customers will decide on that.

Hathway Cable & Datacom

A Raheja company, Hathway seems to have the most exciting mode of connecting to the Net--through the same cable that brings in your TV signals. Hathway promises a flat monthly fee, zero telephone charges, assured security and a connection that stays on 24 hours. Add to that mind-boggling download speeds, and once Hathway is able to offer services in most areas of Mumbai, this will be the best option for heavy users, especially corporates. (For more details read Times Computing, July 21)

Rolta

This incoming ISP has reportedly made among the biggest investments on technology and infrastructure. Rolta is a leader in the CAD/CAM/GIS niche, and one of the most profitable Indian IT companies. However, Rolta does not have experience in marketing products to individuals, nor is it a recognised name for the common user. Rolta gave us the least details among all the incoming ISPs, and while they say they will offer what everyone else does, you'll have to wait for Rolta's launch to find out what will be that extra bit they plan on offering which will make them a success. Or lack of which will result in them being an also-ran.