Comments on: Romtelecom now competing for broadband in Romania http://romerican.com/2006/10/16/romtelecom-now-competing-for-broadband-in-romania/ Dispatches from an American in Romania (was Transylvania) Sun, 29 Aug 2010 10:37:50 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Andrew http://romerican.com/2006/10/16/romtelecom-now-competing-for-broadband-in-romania/comment-page-1/#comment-139205 Andrew Wed, 19 Aug 2009 23:41:24 +0000 http://romerican.com/2006/10/16/romtelecom-now-competing-for-broadband-in-romania/#comment-139205 Just curious but is there actually a reliable high speed ISP in the Titan area? By reliable I mean one that allows you to go online 75% of the time as well as allows one to use a webcam to do video blogging? Just curious but is there actually a reliable high speed ISP in the Titan area? By reliable I mean one that allows you to go online 75% of the time as well as allows one to use a webcam to do video blogging?

]]> By: khayman http://romerican.com/2006/10/16/romtelecom-now-competing-for-broadband-in-romania/comment-page-1/#comment-4796 khayman Thu, 02 Nov 2006 20:09:20 +0000 http://romerican.com/2006/10/16/romtelecom-now-competing-for-broadband-in-romania/#comment-4796 In all honesty I really don`t like what Romtelecom is offering. I was excited to hear they have entered the (lackluster) market as well, however I ended up being quite disillusioned. I currently have RDS Link and I have to say I very much prefer it to Clicknet. While Romtelecom does provide relatively acceptable speeds (by lax European standards - think Sweden and Bredbandsbolaget), the weekly downstream bandwidth limit is pathetic at best: 5GB for the most expensive option and 1GB for the cheapest one. What the hell is that? I pay $9 for my RDS connection, it gives me a 480Kb/224Kb download/upload with no bandwidth limit. The speeds are almost as pathetic as Clicknet`s bandwidth limit, however that part is unlimited here, I`m downloading between 80 and 90 gigabytes every month. I understand the speeds are EXACTLY the same for people who have the $15 and the $19 connections respectively, which is a bit funny, but quite 'romanian' if you get my drift. :P I`ve yet to see the new and famous Fiberlink, however judging by other people`s experiences it is significantly better (I still doubt they truly offer speeds like they say they do). Then again I guess the choice of ISPs is for different type of customers, those who need better speeds but don`t download too much would be more than pleased with Romtelecom. Sorry for the rant. In all honesty I really don`t like what Romtelecom is offering. I was excited to hear they have entered the (lackluster) market as well, however I ended up being quite disillusioned.

I currently have RDS Link and I have to say I very much prefer it to Clicknet. While Romtelecom does provide relatively acceptable speeds (by lax European standards – think Sweden and Bredbandsbolaget), the weekly downstream bandwidth limit is pathetic at best: 5GB for the most expensive option and 1GB for the cheapest one. What the hell is that?

I pay $9 for my RDS connection, it gives me a 480Kb/224Kb download/upload with no bandwidth limit. The speeds are almost as pathetic as Clicknet`s bandwidth limit, however that part is unlimited here, I`m downloading between 80 and 90 gigabytes every month. I understand the speeds are EXACTLY the same for people who have the $15 and the $19 connections respectively, which is a bit funny, but quite ‘romanian’ if you get my drift. :P I`ve yet to see the new and famous Fiberlink, however judging by other people`s experiences it is significantly better (I still doubt they truly offer speeds like they say they do).

Then again I guess the choice of ISPs is for different type of customers, those who need better speeds but don`t download too much would be more than pleased with Romtelecom. Sorry for the rant.

]]> By: volker http://romerican.com/2006/10/16/romtelecom-now-competing-for-broadband-in-romania/comment-page-1/#comment-3544 volker Tue, 17 Oct 2006 17:33:59 +0000 http://romerican.com/2006/10/16/romtelecom-now-competing-for-broadband-in-romania/#comment-3544 Romerican, you understood correctly ... I walk among you and I ended up without Highspeed-DSL (or, for that matter, TV). I was/still am pretty pissed off at that fact - back in Germany, the TCO of a viable broadband connection wasn't significantly cheaper than the current Romtelecom offers. Somehow the owners of my appartment are deeply emotionally attached to that other provider, though ... So, anyhow, consider yourself pushed! Available bandwidth is directly proportional to personal happiness, that's a scientific fact. Romerican, you understood correctly … I walk among you and I ended up without Highspeed-DSL (or, for that matter, TV).
I was/still am pretty pissed off at that fact – back in Germany, the TCO of a viable broadband connection wasn’t significantly cheaper than the current Romtelecom offers. Somehow the owners of my appartment are deeply emotionally attached to that other provider, though …

So, anyhow, consider yourself pushed! Available bandwidth is directly proportional to personal happiness, that’s a scientific fact.

]]> By: Romerican http://romerican.com/2006/10/16/romtelecom-now-competing-for-broadband-in-romania/comment-page-1/#comment-3526 Romerican Tue, 17 Oct 2006 11:07:10 +0000 http://romerican.com/2006/10/16/romtelecom-now-competing-for-broadband-in-romania/#comment-3526 Musculin - Patriciu is surrounded by Bush clan appointees... er, distantly associated persons... as would behoove those families... er, diversified corporations... who increasingly control... er, are a minor market player in... such an important resource. It seems to me that the strategic choice would be to support the PSD dingleberries while they were in power, because there's nothing quite so fun as buying your friends when those people are begging you to do just that. On the other hand, you shift more money towards the group who both advocates market-friendly policies and is an underdog likely to be very thankful for your help. In fact, if all you do is distribute equally, that alone will help level the political field for the then-underfinanced PNL. Heaven forbid you accidentally give a little more to them rather than the old guard. I'd be curious if I could some day bump into a little financial detail on the historical campaign contributions of Patriciu, Bush, & Co. as it would be interesting to learn at what point did they continue supporting the oligarchy and when, assuming they did, did they start throwing more weight behind the current administration. Musculin – Patriciu is surrounded by Bush clan appointees… er, distantly associated persons… as would behoove those families… er, diversified corporations… who increasingly control… er, are a minor market player in… such an important resource. It seems to me that the strategic choice would be to support the PSD dingleberries while they were in power, because there’s nothing quite so fun as buying your friends when those people are begging you to do just that.

On the other hand, you shift more money towards the group who both advocates market-friendly policies and is an underdog likely to be very thankful for your help. In fact, if all you do is distribute equally, that alone will help level the political field for the then-underfinanced PNL. Heaven forbid you accidentally give a little more to them rather than the old guard.

I’d be curious if I could some day bump into a little financial detail on the historical campaign contributions of Patriciu, Bush, & Co. as it would be interesting to learn at what point did they continue supporting the oligarchy and when, assuming they did, did they start throwing more weight behind the current administration.

]]> By: Musculin http://romerican.com/2006/10/16/romtelecom-now-competing-for-broadband-in-romania/comment-page-1/#comment-3525 Musculin Tue, 17 Oct 2006 10:49:24 +0000 http://romerican.com/2006/10/16/romtelecom-now-competing-for-broadband-in-romania/#comment-3525 One example of a large Romanian-owned company that comes to mind is Rompetrol www.rompetrol.com, whose main shareholder is Dinu Patriciu, the sponsor of the Liberal Party and the Social-Democratic Party alike (no left/right divide here), a fellow pretty much as legit as good ol' Tiriac. One example of a large Romanian-owned company that comes to mind is Rompetrol http://www.rompetrol.com, whose main shareholder is Dinu Patriciu, the sponsor of the Liberal Party and the Social-Democratic Party alike (no left/right divide here), a fellow pretty much as legit as good ol’ Tiriac.

]]> By: Romerican http://romerican.com/2006/10/16/romtelecom-now-competing-for-broadband-in-romania/comment-page-1/#comment-3521 Romerican Tue, 17 Oct 2006 09:26:59 +0000 http://romerican.com/2006/10/16/romtelecom-now-competing-for-broadband-in-romania/#comment-3521 Oh, I couldn't agree more about the amazing level of sell-out Romania has undergone. If much of that profit is spent on foreign homes, <a href="http://szekely.blogspot.com/2006/10/in-praise-of-hummer.html">Hummers</a>, and other wealth-exporting riff raff, then Romania could find itself in dire economic straits for decades to come... as a virtual slave to its neighbors. I'm all for interdependency, but that's not what seems to be happening. Hopefully, enough of the nouveaux riche will step forward and reinvest into the economy by pushing forth some new and innovative companies which actually compete with the region. While so far that doesn't seem to be happening, one has to hope someone will do the right thing. Maybe ol' Tiriac ain't so bad afterall in this light. Oh, I couldn’t agree more about the amazing level of sell-out Romania has undergone. If much of that profit is spent on foreign homes, Hummers, and other wealth-exporting riff raff, then Romania could find itself in dire economic straits for decades to come… as a virtual slave to its neighbors.

I’m all for interdependency, but that’s not what seems to be happening. Hopefully, enough of the nouveaux riche will step forward and reinvest into the economy by pushing forth some new and innovative companies which actually compete with the region. While so far that doesn’t seem to be happening, one has to hope someone will do the right thing.

Maybe ol’ Tiriac ain’t so bad afterall in this light.

]]> By: Csiki Andy http://romerican.com/2006/10/16/romtelecom-now-competing-for-broadband-in-romania/comment-page-1/#comment-3513 Csiki Andy Tue, 17 Oct 2006 07:26:42 +0000 http://romerican.com/2006/10/16/romtelecom-now-competing-for-broadband-in-romania/#comment-3513 We pay $20 pm for (I think) 2Mbps with the company formerly known as Astral - I suspect it was an introductory offer which no longer esists, but which we still get. I have to say that the speed we have is quite enough for me. Still, it's good that RomTelecom are finally getting their shit together. Are there any large Romanian companies (other than those owned by Ion Tiriac) which are locally owned now? Banks, telecoms, breweries, petrol, cars, supermarkets, insurance, etc etc are all seemingly foreign owned. We pay $20 pm for (I think) 2Mbps with the company formerly known as Astral – I suspect it was an introductory offer which no longer esists, but which we still get. I have to say that the speed we have is quite enough for me. Still, it’s good that RomTelecom are finally getting their shit together.

Are there any large Romanian companies (other than those owned by Ion Tiriac) which are locally owned now? Banks, telecoms, breweries, petrol, cars, supermarkets, insurance, etc etc are all seemingly foreign owned.

]]> By: Global Voices Online » Blog Archive » Romania: Romtelecom http://romerican.com/2006/10/16/romtelecom-now-competing-for-broadband-in-romania/comment-page-1/#comment-3500 Global Voices Online » Blog Archive » Romania: Romtelecom Mon, 16 Oct 2006 22:40:18 +0000 http://romerican.com/2006/10/16/romtelecom-now-competing-for-broadband-in-romania/#comment-3500 [...] Romerican writes about Romtelecom and other players on Romanian telecoms market. [...] [...] Romerican writes about Romtelecom and other players on Romanian telecoms market. [...]

]]> By: Romerican http://romerican.com/2006/10/16/romtelecom-now-competing-for-broadband-in-romania/comment-page-1/#comment-3494 Romerican Mon, 16 Oct 2006 20:12:45 +0000 http://romerican.com/2006/10/16/romtelecom-now-competing-for-broadband-in-romania/#comment-3494 Volker - You ended up without highspeed DSL? I thought, for sure, that you were one candidate for the real deal! Or did I misunderstand and you are not... among us... just yet? Yeah, baby, I am totally tempted to go for the whole enchilada. I just need that push! That or a reasonable voice to tell me to save money. Heh. Volker – You ended up without highspeed DSL? I thought, for sure, that you were one candidate for the real deal!

Or did I misunderstand and you are not… among us… just yet? Yeah, baby, I am totally tempted to go for the whole enchilada. I just need that push!

That or a reasonable voice to tell me to save money. Heh.

]]> By: volker http://romerican.com/2006/10/16/romtelecom-now-competing-for-broadband-in-romania/comment-page-1/#comment-3492 volker Mon, 16 Oct 2006 19:23:53 +0000 http://romerican.com/2006/10/16/romtelecom-now-competing-for-broadband-in-romania/#comment-3492 Due to certain ... erm ... disagreements w/ my landlords ("What on earth would anyone need more than 256kbps for?!") I'm stuck with a one-year 1Mbps (burst, symmetric) contract with a local provider from SB. Now, after 7 weeks of cold-turkey bandwidth deprivation, I'm almost tempted to get some sort of a life ... the horror. Go for the 4Mbit ... you know you want it :-) Due to certain … erm … disagreements w/ my landlords (“What on earth would anyone need more than 256kbps for?!”) I’m stuck with a one-year 1Mbps (burst, symmetric) contract with a local provider from SB.

Now, after 7 weeks of cold-turkey bandwidth deprivation, I’m almost tempted to get some sort of a life … the horror. Go for the 4Mbit … you know you want it :-)

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