NTT B'Flet

[ax]

I couldn't get the hell what NTT B'Flet is, and what is B'Flet phone and all.
I apply for B'Flet, but when I fill the forms, they ask me to select provider from a number of them including Sonet, Gol, whatever I can't remember.

I was wondering isn't NTT B'Flet a provider service? then why do I have to selct from many other provider in its form? I finally signed up for GOL service though, but stil what is B'Flet troubles me...

ax

 

[mr.sumo.snr]

B-Flets is fiber optic technology. It's a completely separate line from your telephone and hence will need a new hole to be drilled. I assume therefore that you're a homeowner like me - otherwise you'll need permission from you're landlord. The building may well have already been hooked up for B-Flets in which case you'll be fine.

GOL is a very good ISP - my friends in Kanagawa use it with their B-Flets connections and get slightly faster speeds than my OCN service (OCN is NTT's own ISP). But I'm out in the sticks where GOL isn't available.

You connect to B-Flets as you would with a regular ADSL modem (broadband connection with username and password in Windows XP). It IS lightening quick - assuming that the site you're downloading from also has fast servers. Downloads from Microsoft approach the 5 mbs speed. BTs generally top out at 0.75 mbs down and about 1 mbs up. On a TV show like The West Wing I usually have each new (350mb) episode snagged in about 30 minutes, during which time I've uploaded about 2 gigs. If you like Sepponian and UKland television then B-Flets is the sensible option.

I don't know anything about the telephone service - don't make many international calls. I use my webcam a fair bit though. Online gaming is excellent. If you like downloads then you're going to need a lot of extra disk space - soon. Of the three gaijin B-Flets users I know apart from myself, we've probably increased our hard disk capacities from around 100 gigs 18 months ago to an average of 500 gigs now. I have 680 gigs attached to my main workstation plus another 240 gigs on my web server/ftp server.

I hope you're here for the long stretch 'coz going back to anything less than fiber optic would be cruel and unusual punishment for this happy surfer.