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Hg2491 · Mar 1, 2009, 10:39 PM

Hello guys,

During the last couple of years new phone and cable companies have established as service provided in Dominican Republic. We have always used the traditional providers for they were the first. We pay RD$2840 (~81 USD) for the phone and RD$1000 (~28 USD) for cable.

The phone plan includes unlimited local minutes, the normal extras (call waiting, double line, etc), preferential international calling rates and a 1280/160 kbps DSL connection. Sadly, we don't get the advertised speed; I should have a download rate of 160 kbps, but it doesn't get passed 130 kbps. When it rains we lose the connection for an unknown reason. On the other hand, the cable plan includes 163 channels, where we only get 99 because we still have an analogue decoder (the digital ones are scares, we have been wait-listed).

So there are new options now, as I mentioned before. This new company offers Internet (WiMax), VoIP (for international purposes) and cable (satellite dish) packages. They have a RD$2500 (~72 USD) combo that includes a 768/256 kbps Internet connection, 140 channels, and a VoIP with a local number.

I could downgrade my existing phone plan with the traditional provider to a RD$876 (~25 USD) 2000-minutes plan. Last month we consumed 1918 minutes, so I think we'd be ok.

What do you guys recommend? Should I continue paying ~110 USD or risk it and try the new company and end up paying ~97 USD, with the downgrade on Internet speed and phone minutes. At least I would be getting what I'm paying for.

Hg+

Big Mac · Mar 2, 2009, 06:20 AM

Can you try it and switch back in six months if you aren't happy?

Hg2491 · Mar 2, 2009, 06:51 AM

No, the combo binds me for 12 or 18 months.

shifuimam · Mar 2, 2009, 06:57 AM

If it requires a one-year contract and it does end up sucking, it's only a year...you can always switch back once your contract is up.

Also: why would you need a traditional landline phone if you're getting VoIP? Have you thought about using Skype or something instead of a regular phone?

Hg2491 · Mar 2, 2009, 07:05 AM

Originally Posted by shifuimam

Also: why would you need a traditional landline phone if you're getting VoIP? Have you thought about using Skype or something instead of a regular phone?

They only provide unlimited plans for calls to the US and Europe -- lame. For 2000 local minutes I would end up paying ~60 USD vs. ~25 USD for the local line.

If I end up getting the VoIP, I'll use it for incoming calls only.

shifuimam · Mar 2, 2009, 07:11 AM

I'd only wonder about the 2k minutes on the traditional phone provider, then. You used nearly that much...how much does it cost if you go over?

Hg2491 · Mar 2, 2009, 07:29 AM

~USD 0.02 per minute.