X-ListName: Discussion about Japan's Electronic Frontier Sender: owner-efj@twics.com Subject: Japanese Internet Services FAQ [English,mostly] Date: Thu, 21 Apr 94 09:10:10 +0900 From: Bruce Hahne I have received many, many requests for this FAQ so I'm going to post it. It is unfortunately already out of date, and mail to Rogers Huw bounces so I don't know if he's going to do an update. Anybody want to maintain this FAQ? このFAQの願いはたくさん来ましたので、postします。あいにくもう古いです。 Huwさんまでのemailはbounceしてしまうから、Huwさんは新しいヴァージョンを 作るつもりかどうか、分かりません。新しいヴァージョンを作りたい方はいま すか？ -- Bruce Hahne "Information super highway" is a lousy metaphor, bruce@jise.isl.melco.co.jp so let's boycott the expression. Copy this I speak only for myself. into your .sig if you agree! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Newsgroups: fj.life.in-japan From: rogersh@ccs.mt.nec.co.jp (Rogers Huw) Return-Path: Subject: Japanese Internet Services FAQ Date: Fri, 21 Jan 1994 05:19:17 +0000 Message-ID: <199401210510.AA00301@ccsmail.ccs.mt.nec.co.jp> Sender: usenet@demon.co.uk Lines: 514 Here is the Japanese Internet FAQ file. I'm mailing it to all those who contributed, soc.culture.japan, fj.life.in-japan, the s.c.j FAQ file maintainer, and the moderator of news.answers for posting. Hopefully it will become available via ftp from rtfm.mit.edu. Thanks to all those who helped to make this happen... ----------------------- DISCLAIMER ----------------------- The maintenance of this file is a not-for-profit endeavour contributed to by the Internet community. The maintainer makes no representations about the suitability of this information for any purpose. It is provided "as is" without express or implied warranty. This file may be freely copied, excerpted, and redistributed by any means, with the restriction that this disclaimer must be attached to any copies or excerpts. ----------------------- DISCLAIMER ----------------------- Japan Internet Services ======================= This file describes both "remote host" and "SLIP/IP" service providers in Japan. These terms (as used in this document) are explained below: A "remote host" service is where you interactively log in to a provider's host machine using a leased/dialup line and use their services from there. You're using your local machine as a dumb terminal in this case, and you download files manually using kermit or some other such protocol. An "SLIP/IP" service is where you manage your own local Internet host (usually a multiuser UNIX box, e.g. a PC running Linux/NetBSD), are allocated a global internet address by the service provider (either dynamically each time you connect, or statically on registration), connect to the provider's host using SLIP/IP over leased/dialup/X.25 line, and configure your machine to automatically download incoming mail/news from the provider's host using SMTP/NNTP. Some IP service providers also offer remote login to their host, thereby providing both facilities in one. Some require you to remote login then manually initiate SLIP over the login connection from a shell. Comments enclosed [] in the text below are mine, as are the subject headings. The rest is quoted/excerpted information from Email responses to my survey. The companies surveyed in this document, and the Email addresses for further information are listed below. AT&T vgebes@sys.attjens.co.jp Intercon rjb@iikk.inter.net IIJ davidc@iij.ad.jp TWICS burress@tanuki.twics.co.jp Aegis aegis!davidg@kuis.kuis.kyoto-u.ac.jp Please Email corrections, additions, and any comments on this FAQ to rogersh@ccs.mt.nec.co.jp. READ THE DISCLAIMER. -Huw (rogersh@ccs.mt.nec.co.jp) 1994/1/21 AT&T Jens ========= [information from vgebes@sys.attjens.co.jp Mon Jan 10 11:08:45 1994] "Currently AT&T Jens is a leader in the value-added networking (VAN) industry in Japan, offering several domestic and international networking services. We are currently offering a variety of internetworking solutions through our Spin UUCP network and InterSpin IP network services." * IP/SLIP services We offer the following IP connection services to any customer currently. In addition, we plan to offer dialup PPP service in the near future, although the service offering has not been completely decided as of Jan. 1994. Also note that currently we are not offering remote host services, only full IP connection services. One-time subscription fee: 50,000 yen (1) Digital leased line connection We are currently offering direct, full time connection to the Internet over digital leased lines from NTT. Service prices have been set for lines between 64Kbps and 256Kbps as follows. Note that Type A service includes everything up to the router at the customer site, as well as on-site maintenance. Type B includes installation of the connection line,but the customer is responsible for the router and associated equipment. Monthly Service Charge per connection (in yen) Speed Type A Type B 64Kbps 425,000 385,000 128Kbps 620,000 580,000 192Kbps 830,000 770,000 256Kbps 985,000 925,000 Monthly NTT Leased Line Charges (+ approx. 2000 yen handling fee) Distance Speed - 15 Km - 30 Km - 40 Km - 60 Km - 80 Km 64Kbps 48,400 106,400 176,400 201,400 221,400 128Kbps 73,400 171,400 271,400 321,400 336,400 192Kbps 129,000 256,000 396,000 456,000 466,000 256Kbps 147,000 301,000 466,000 541,000 561,000 (2) Dial-up router connection In addition to full time connection, AT&T Jens also offers a service providing for access over dialup connections through either the PSTN or the INS-C switched ISDN network (1 64Kbps B channel). This connection uses a dialup router on both sides. As mentioned above, we are making preparations to offer dialup PPP and/or SLIP services soon. Current dialup connection service prices are as follows. PSTN dialup monthly service charge per connection Speed Type A Type B 19.2Kbps 215,000 yen 180,000 yen INS-C switched ISDN B-channel monthly service charge per connection Speed Type A Type B 64Kbps 283,000 yen 248,000 yen Note: All communications charges will be billed by the corresponding service provider. * speed of international link (in Mb/sec) We are currently in the process of upgrading our international link from 128Kbps to 512Kbps. The new link should be operational by the end of Feb., 1994, and we will continue to increase bandwidth as necessary. * uptime estimate for international link Has remained up since the beginning of service on Sept. 17, 1993. * linespeeds supported (leased and dialup lines) Please see above for current linespeeds and prices. Higher and lower speeds are available, though pricing is currently undecided. * SMTP and Email caching service provided We currently store mail for dialup users and UUCP users. All others are directly connected, so no caching is necessary. * NNTP service provided Yes. * Email<->USENET services provided Yes. * FTP/Archie/Gopher/WAIS/WWW/IRC services provided All IP customers have full connectivity, and therefore full use of all Internet services. The Spin network is currently operating an FTP archive, an ftp-mail server, an archie server, a whois server, and have plans for a gopher server and other services in the future. * Email / USENET via UUCP One-time subscription fee: 30,000 yen Connection Type Speed Monthly OR Usage Charge Charge PSTN 9.6-18Kbps 115,000 yen OR 30 yen/min ISDN Switched B channel 38.4Kbps 115,000 yen OR 30 yen/min ISDN Packet D channel 9.6Kbps 35,000 yen - Leased line connection 9.6Kbps and up 185,000 yen - Note that for UUCP connection over the PSTN or INS-C ISDN networks, you may choose to pay a single monthly charge for unlimited usage, or a usage based charge of 30 yen per minute. The above charges do not include the basic communication charges (e.g. telephone charges from NTT). The communication charge for ISDN D-channel packet connection is .2 yen/octet. Also, for usage charge based billing, there is a minimum usage stipulation of 180 minutes, or 5400 yen per month. * Email / USENET / BBS services via remote login We are not currently offering dialup host (remote host) services. InterCon ======== [information from rjb@iikk.inter.net Sun Dec 12 05:31:13 1993] "InterCon International (IIKK) became a coporation (Kabushki Gaisha) early Sept., 1993, and began offering full commercial Internet services on Sept. 17th, 8:02pm We sent out the first in Japan to begin actual full commercial Internet services, and our first customer was connected on that date. Today we are one of only 2 companies legally offering full Internet services. We are a member of CIX in the US, and our international leased lines go through AT&T's leased lines. IIKK is fully authorized by the Japanese government to provide these services." [InterCon seems to be a pure IP services provider, but they may provide some extra services via remote login to their host.] * IP/SLIP services Full commercial global Internet access, began full service Sept. 1993 * target market (corporate or personal or both) Commercial access, mostly coporate, but also including some academic, and small company services. We are now providing, and are concentrating on leased-line access services, but will add SLIP/PPP by Dec. 31st., 1993 and dial-up ISDN (64k) by Jan. 31st 1994. * charges (monthly, per hour, per Kb, etc.) Charges are for full access, including local and international. Although we assist the customer in arranging the least expensive leased lines available to gain access to our system, we do not charge for this. We charge for full access currently, regardless of data quantities or amount of usage. There is different pricing for organizations providing services to others. All charges are monthly; no hourly, no kb charge. IIKK provides 3 different levels of service, at 3 different price levels. Leased line costs from customer site to our system are dependant on speed, and distance from our pops (in Osaka, Nagoya and Tokyo). These costs are paid to NTT, or other leased-line carrier. Currently we lease lines only from 64k and up. The Internet acess cost is 315,000yen through my company. Add to that the local leased line costs, about 78,000yen to get an idea of the costs. Our 19.2k leased-line service should be about 140,000yen, price not yet set. The 9.6k leased-line price has not been set yet either. These are using different technologies. We should have those prices set, and be prepared to begin selling this service in January. The following is representative pricing for most of our services. Each price level represents additional services. All price levels have full access to the commercial Internet. InterAccess Bronze SPEED MONTHLY SERVICE FEE ONE-TIME SET-UP FEE 19.2 Kbps 210,000yen 60,000yen 64 315,000 60,000 128 400,000 60,000 512 470,000 100,000 768 540,000 100,000 1.5 Mbps (T1) 680,000 100,000 InterAccess Silver SPEED MONTHLY SERVICE FEE ONE-TIME SET-UP FEE 19.2 Kbps 315,000 60,000yen 64 450,000 60,000 128 560,000 60,000 512 680,000 100,000 768 860,000 100,000 1.5 Mbps (T1) 1,045,000 100,000 InterAccess Gold SPEED MONTHLY SERVICE FEE ONE-TIME SET-UP FEE 19.2 Kbps 370,000yen 60,000yen 64 480,000 60,000 128 680,000 60,000 512 875,000 100,000 768 1,225,000 100,000 1.5 Mbps (T1) 1,565,000 100,000 * speed of international link (in Mb/sec) Currently we only have a 128k international link. Will be uprading in stages to 1.5meg within 6 months. * uptime estimate for international link Has been linked from day one of service, Sept. 17th, 1993 * linespeeds supported (leased and dialup lines) Currently support speeds from 64k up, and will upgrade international links as customer depand requires it. IIKK will be offering lower speed services from 9600bps service within one month. * SMTP and Email caching service provided Yes * NNTP service provided Yes * Email<->USENET services provided Yes * FTP/Archie/Gopher/WAIS/WWW/IRC services provided FTP available, telnet of course. [Other services not known]. IIJ === [information from davidc@iij.ad.jp Mon Dec 20 16:15:08 1993] "IIJ is a small startup company currently providing domestic IP and UUCP services to Japan. Currently we have submitted our application for the special type 2 license required to resell international leased line services to the Ministry of Post and Telecommunication are waiting on the issuance of the license before we offer international IP connectivity. If you already have access to the Internet, you can obtain postscript versions of our documents by ftping to ftp.iij.ad.jp and retrieving the files in either pub/info/English or pub/info/Japanese (depending on your language of choice)." [IIJ seems to be like InterCon, offering primarily IP services. Unlike InterCon, IIJ are still without a license for providing international Internet services, so I suggest contacting them to verify the current situation.] * IP/SLIP services IIJ does not currently provide SLIP services. Please note that our IP service charges include the cost of a router at your end (e.g. a Cisco IGS or equivalent) and basic maintenance and consultation services for your Internet access but do not include the costs associated with the local telephone service (e.g. installation and monthly telephone charges). In addition to the 64 Kbps IP service offering mentioned above, we are also planning on providing IP connectivity with higher and lower bandwidths such as 9.6 Kbps (voice grade), 128 Kbps, 192 Kbps, 256 Kbps, 384 Kbps, 512 Kbps, 768 Kbps, 1 Mbps, and 1.5 Mbps. * target market (corporate or personal or both) Corporate. * charges (monthly, per hour, per Kb, etc.) Monthly charges, the rates depend on the bandwidth ordered. * speed of international link (in Mb/sec) Initially 192 Kbps, upgrading to 768 Kbps within 3 months * uptime estimate for international link Jan-Feb '94 * linespeeds supported (leased and dialup lines) 3.4 Khz (voice grade), 64 Kbps, 128 Kbps, 256 Kbps, 384 Kbps, 512 Kbps, 768 Kbps, 1.5 Mbps, 10 Mbps (at our NOCs). * SMTP and Email caching service provided Yes. * NNTP service provided Yes. * Email<->USENET services provided No. * FTP/Archie/Gopher/WAIS/WWW/IRC services provided Yes except for IRC. * Email / USENET via UUCP * charges (monthly, per hour, per Kb, etc.) UUCP anonymous service: 30 yen / minute for speeds up to 19.2 Kbps (analog) UUCP subscriber service: 30,000 yen for startup charge, 2,000 yen / month for account maintenance charge, 30 yen / minute access charge (up to 19.2 Kbps analog or digital), 50 yen / minute access charge (from 19.2+ Kbps to 38.4 Kbps digital) IP service (64 Kbps): 60,000 yen for startup charge, 500,000 yen for monthly charge * linespeeds supported (leased and dialup lines) Up to 19.2 Kbps * international links Yes (at no extra charge). TWICS ===== [information from burress@tanuki.twics.co.jp Fri Dec 3 16:14:02 1993] "TWICS has provided computer communication to individuals and businesses in Japan since 1984. It began as a BBS,then in 1986 first brought international E-mail connectivity to the public. In October, 1993, TWICS became the first public-access Internet system in Japan." [TWICS is a "remote host" service provider. They are testing SLIP/PPP as I write, but have no rates yet as far as I know.] * Email / USENET / BBS services via remote login All system services are available to TELNET/RLOGIN users. Most people access our host computer through dialup lines or X.25 connections, and run a shell on our system. POP services to be available soon. * target market (corporate or personal or both) Individuals, businesses, professional organizations, schools, foreign trade representatives, governments, students... * charges (monthly, per hour, per Kb, etc.) 5000 yen/month includes access to all facilities for up to 20 hours each month. A 200-500 yen per hour charge (pro-rated) is added for additional time, depending on the time of day. * speed of international link (in Mb/sec) 64Kbps * uptime estimate for international link Available since October, 1993. * linespeeds supported (leased and dialup lines) 300-14400bps dialup * Email<->USENET services provided E-mail to USENET? I'm not sure what you mean here. We carry about 2600 newsgroups. * FTP/Archie/Gopher/WAIS/WWW/IRC services provided We currently have TELNET, FTP, ARCHIE, WHOIS, TALK and IRC installed. GOPHER client available real soon now. Aegis ===== [information from aegis!davidg@kuis.kuis.kyoto-u.ac.jp Wed Dec 15 11:29:43 1993] "Aegis sponsors, protects, and furthers communication in English and other languages via electronic means. It particular, it provides news and mail services from BITNET, JUNET, USENET, and the Internet. The term 'aegis' originally meant the shield of Zeus, supreme deity of the ancient Greeks, and that of his daughter Athena, the goddess of wisdom, and has come to mean protection or sponsorship." * Email / USENET via UUCP and remote login Note that we only offer UUCP so sub-domains of Aegis as a convenience to members. That is, we are not a gateway. And we aren't a commerical service either but a not-for-profit society which supports communication by electronic means. * charges (monthly, per hour, per Kb, etc.) 20,000 yen/year for USENET + mail within Japan (*.jp) and to BITNET (*.bitnet). Mail to all other addresses is 20 yen/K in both directions. * linespeeds supported (leased and dialup lines) Three dial-in lines: 14,400, 14,400, 9,600 with PEP. * international links We are linked with the Internet as aegis.org.