IP: a look at ISPs in Japan

[Dave Farber <farber () central cis upenn edu>]

[Matt was one of the founders of cyber. H also wrote a chapter about the
first year of CTI in Going Global,  edited by Edward Ifshin (EhIf () aol com).
This is in reponse to a query I sent him about the ISP situation in Japan.
Matt is a very talented American living in Tokyo and living and earning a
living on the Net djf]


Date: Sun, 3 Mar 1996 21:37:04 +0900 (JST)
From: Matt Rosin <mrosin () shrine cyber ad jp>


I recommend surfing into www.ntt.jp from there search engines are
available.  Currently there is a glut of over 100 providers.  It is
becoming economical to purchase individual ISDN, and 28.8 access is
available at various rates for a couple thousand yen per month, though one
new service offers 500 yen/mo plus 4 yen/minute and the old guard provides
5000/month access. 


There is currently a big shakeout in which many ISPs are trying to sell 
off access services and move into hardware non-intensive businesses.  
The majors are agressively reducing prices but not necessarily 
increasing quality or support.  It is widely believed that the domestic 
telephone monopoly NTT will attempt to take over as an access provider 
itself considering its success with late-night flat rates for data 
services.  This is ironic in that NTT's high rates have been the main 
impediment to the spread of Internet access and are a major factor in AV 
manufacturers' product planning.




A good idea would be to check Internet Magazine (Japanese) which covers 
them all.  Foreigners may be well directed to www.gol.com or 
www.cyber.ad.jp if web site programming and support is necessary. 


Matt Rosin