FAQ

h1. How does an Aurinoco subscription compare with BSNL's?

{{toc}}

h1. General

h2. Auroville

h3. Campus Area Network (CAN)

Aurinoco is building a network infrastructure for Auroville to support multiple services as well as Internet access.  The cost is partly funded by subscription payments.  An Aurinoco subscription is partly a contribution to this project.  

h3. Internal services

Aurinoco provides Linux and Windows update services which reduce subscribers' Internet usage.  These are free to subscribers.

Further services are planned:

* Backup service

* Kaspersky Internet Security subscriptions

* Storage service

* Video on demand

h2. Optical fibre vs. telephone line

Aurinoco connections are via optical fibre cable (OFC) as opposed to BSNL's telephone line.

Telephone lines are an old technology gradually falling into disuse.  Increasingly new residences do not have telephone lines as their occupants choose cell phones over land line phones.

Network connections via OFC do not need to be disconnected for lightning protection as long as electrical supply to UPSes are disconnected.

h2. Support

Aurinoco support:

* Is easier to contact than BSNL's including by email.

* Visit subscriber premises for troubleshooting.  BSNL normally require subscribers to take their modems to the telephone exchange.

h1. ACN

ACN is explained at [[What subscription plans are available?]]

h2. Outages

Currently ACN outages are about the same as BSNL's but without the short disconnections that some BSNL subscribers experience.

Aurinoco has plans to reduce outages.

h2. Speed

ACN subscribers normally get the full speed of their plans.  BSNL plans are "up to" the plan speed and actual speed is commonly less than plan speed. 

h1. ERN

ERN is explained at [[What subscription plans are available?]]

ERN plans are not comparable with BSNL plans because the Internet access is provided by National Knowledge Network for research work