ASAHI Net ADSL & Hikari!
Submitted by Hyakuman on Wed, 2008/07/09 - 18:34.
So I decided to dump Yahoo BB! because I'm too far from the relay station to get anything close to the 50Mbps that I'm paying for. Naturally I was intrigued by Odelia's link for Asahi NET and decided to see what they have to offer.. and I'z be impressed!
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If you're looking to get ADSL or Hikari (Fiber Optic) service, I think these guys are the ones to go with. For those of us that can't speak Japanese, they have full (and by full I mean EVERYTHING) service in English as well as Japanese. This includes the website and all service information like mail and email.
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In my particular case, I'll be paying 6270yen/month for 100Mbps NTT Flets Hikari (Asahi NET acts like the agent so there's no need to deal with NTT personally). The nice thing is that they take care of everything so you deal only with them including payments (and in English). As well, you get your own customizable email address, 180mb of webspace, etc... However for the n00bs, the best feature is that you just have to have a credit card (foreign issue is okay) and a Japanese address to get the ball rolling, no need for that damned gaijin card. You can print off an application that you can mail directly to them, or alternatively if you can tackle the J-go then you can apply directly online.
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Finally, ASAHI Net has a referral campaign so if you sign up, let me know! Hah, of course I sound like a bit of a used car salesman but hey I want some free gift cards!!
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Check out the URL here... https://asahi-net.jp/en/
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J-com
Have you looked into J-com's cable internet too? Their office is in Takasaki. I have the 30M package, and I think it's a little cheaper than the asahi net. It was super easy and fast to set up (paid for through my Japanese bank account and no gaijin card required), had it working by the Monday after I arrived in Gunma. Anyways, just wanted to throw another option out there. You may need some assistance from your sup or a Japanese speaker to help set it up though.
Nah...
Personally I'm not very interested in J-Com but they can really help people get the whole cable + internet package in one if they so choose. For me, I'm looking forward to the 100Mbps upload and download (yeah I know actual speeds will be considerably different) but with Yahoo BB, I'm clocking in at 2.2Mbps max from my location a mere 1.9km from the relay station. That sucks.
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Anyways, a little supplemental to my previous post. NTT will call you (I did it in Japanese but you can talk to them in English if you ask). Like most English available companies you might have to wait a bit for an English speaker. They will confirm the date of installation and ask that you provide them with an ID copy in the form of DRL (I sent in my Japanese DRL), Gaijin Card (the temporary one is fine), or PPT is good too I think. I faxed it to them, but you can mail it too if you can't find a combini close by. As well, make sure that you inform your landlord/supervisor of the installation (Hikari option only) and give NTT the contact name and number.
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After that, everything is finished up and ready to roll. ASAHI Net will email you telling you the application is complete, and you just have to wait for the NTT guy to bring the equipment and install the fiber optic line (Hikari) or fiddle around with your phone line (ADSL). For reference, I applied on 07/09 and my service will be ready to use on 07/18. Can't guarentee it'll be that fast, but it's better than the 1.5 month wait from Yahoo BB when I first got here.