Internet access in Jos, Plateau State Nigeria

Internet access in developing and underdeveloped countries generally faces great challenges in terms of infrastructure such as fiber optic cables, backbone connections, lack of reliable Internet Service Providers (ISPs), slow or no Internet connection speed. very fast (poor services), internet access to the general public, and high cost of internet access/connection.

Nigeria is not an exception to these problems, although there seem to be significant improvements in recent times and great plans for the future, the problems still exist and are presented as a challenge yet to be conquered. Plateau State and Jos, its capital city, are located in Nigeria and are not exempt from the Nigerian situation.

Internet access in the city of Jos and indeed in Plateau state and even in Nigeria as a country, has been done mainly through the use of satellite (VSAT), which is a considerably very expensive means of accessing the Internet. . People who cannot afford the high cost of owning or maintaining one usually frequent public Internet cafes or resort to Internet access services offered by mobile telecommunications companies present in the State.

Locally, it costs around $1.00 to $2.00 (N150.00 to N300.00 as of March 2010) or even more for each hour of Internet access at public Internet cafes within the Jos metropolis. Notable local internet cafes and internet service providers in Jos, although some have closed, include; Net-link 24hr (Jos Business School), Bethnan Internet Café, Rabjib, Zecon, Afrione, Zebeh, Logic Systems, UCL Internet Café, System Links, Metro Cybercafé, MD Internet café, etc. It is also worth noting that most local Internet Service Providers (ISPs located in Jos-Plateau) make use of Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity), MMDS (Multipoint Microwave Distribution Service), and sometimes , Fixed WiMax (Global Distribution Service). Interoperability for Microwave Access) through the ISM bands to connect customers to their VSAT (Internet access satellite) equipment for Internet access. This involves the use of customer premises equipment such as antennas (receivers) and wireless routers and Telco-Office transmitters mounted on poles/masts that operate primarily in line-of-sight (LOS) and sometimes non-line-of-sight (LOS). NLOS). ).

With all the speeds offered by these Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs) and Wireless Metropolitan Area Networks (WMANs); end-of-day performance for the customer is reduced to the actual shared Internet access speeds available to the Internet Service Provider (ISP) for its customers, which is a maximum of 5 to 7 kbps (kilobits per second) in a very good day.

However, Internet access today in the city of Jos and Plateau state is generally dominated by mobile telecommunications companies offering mainly general packet radio services (GPRS), enhanced general packet radio services ( EGPRS), third generation mobile Internet access (3G) and EV. -DO RevA type Internet access technologies with the use of custom modems unique to each mobile telecommunications company operating as an Internet Service Provider which, in some cases, are better than what the Internet Service Provider alternative offers local (ISP). These mobile phone and telecommunications companies are like MTN (MTN Fast Link), Zain Mobile, Starcoms, Zoom, Visafone, Multi-Links Telkom and Glo Mobile.

In general, the Internet is very accessible in Jos and Plateau State, although not at true broadband speeds, it is still very useful depending on the Internet Service Provider (ISP) you choose to use. However, the best we’ve tested so far, albeit not without downtime issues, is Multi-links Telkom’s EV-DO Rev A Hybrid Internet Access Modem. We rate it the best in terms of speed and reliability, though it falls short in terms of range capability (can’t be used in some rural areas), setup (first-time installation), and affordability (compared to the cost of what others mobile phone telecommunications companies are offering).

Amidst all this, one thing is for sure; you will never lose the internet torch to connect with family, friends and colleagues or surf the web and do some downloading or whatever you use the internet when you are in the beautiful city of Jos or most of the Plateau State.

Markets and places of interest in Jos-Plateau; Vegetable and Building Material Market, Gada Biyu Market, Faringada Tomato Market, Langtang Road, Rukuba Road Market, Ahmadu Belo Way, Jama’a Junction, Mangu Market, Jengre Market, etc.

Jos-Plateau in Nigeria is also the place to find the following staples in abundance and at good prices at wholesale and retail prices. Commodities like; vegetables (including Irish potatoes, cucumber, cabbage, tomatoes, green peppers, green peas, watermelon, water, onions, carrots), cereals (including popcorn, sorghum, millet, yellow corn, white corn, beans, acha, rice, soybeans, sesame seeds), fruits (including oranges, bananas, mango, pineapples, strawberries, grapes) (including cow, beef, goat, sheep, goat, chicken eggs, broiler chicken) and gemstones (including topaz, ruby , blue tourmaline, pink tourmaline, aquamarine, quartz, sapphire) and many more.