by admin | Sep 5, 2015 | Tech Talk
By: Jerome Auza
Discussions with the “slow” Internet speeds in the country would immediately make some people curse at our telco operators. “My connection is slow!”, “I’d be lucky if I can open my favorite website during peak hours.”, “The modem keeps disconnecting.”, “Speed test is only a few KBPS.”
But what do we really need? More bandwidth or better reliability of service?
Unfortunately for most of us, our service contracts with the telcos state “Minimum of 10% of subscribed speed at 80% reliability where available”. So you could be paying for 2MBPS but the commitment of the telco is only 200kbps. And you are signing a contract where it is okay that your connection is down one day a week or 4 hours a day or one minute every five minutes.
I had an opportunity to point this matter to Sen. “Bam” Aquino who was in Bohol on September 4, 2015 to open the Negosyo Center inside the Bohol Investment Promotions Center office at the Provincial Capitol. During his breakfast meeting with the Bohol Chamber of Commerce and Industry, I asserted that 80% reliability is not enough. And given we only have two telcos, even if you subscribe to both providers, at 80% reliability each, there is still a significant chance that both providers would be down in a given period.
Is the problem bandwidth or reliability? My take on this is that the main problem is reliability. Take for example one of my work requirements which is to connect via SSH to a remote server in the US. When I’m using 3G or LTE service and I’m idle for about a minute, the connection would terminate. When I do the speed test, I get 6MBPS. So why is my SSH session disconnected frequently?
On a trip to Taiwan last year, I needed to connect to the US server remotely while we were traveling from Taipei to Hsinchu, about 100kms away. Using 3G service from one of the Taiwanese telcos, we traveled the entire distance without a single disconnect. If you think about it, I have been handed over to several cell sites as we traveled but the remote connection wasn’t disconnected even once. When I did the speed test, I got about 4MBPS.
So why is it that in the Philippines with my 3G service showing more “speed”, it feels much slower than in Taiwan which as slower “speed”?
The answer is reliability. Because the service there was much more reliable, I am able to open pages much quicker and I don’t have to reconnect again and again to complete the work I have to do. Websites load much quicker if the browser doesn’t have to repeat requests frequently.
How do we compare in terms of reliability commitments by telcos in other countries? I’ll try to answer this question in a coming article. I already got a copy of a service contract from a UK company and they are offering at least 99% reliability. If you have a copy of service contracts of providers in other countries, please give me a link or a copy to <a mailto:info@auza.net>info@auza.net</a>.
by admin | Sep 5, 2015 | Local News / Bohol Balita
Senator Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino met with the Bohol Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) board of trustees on September 4, 2015 at 9:00AM at the Coralandia Resort for a open agenda meeting. The trustees were led by BCCI President Engr. Al Uy. Bohol Governor Edgar M. Chatto was also present during the meeting.
The senator gave an overview of the Go Negosyo Act (Republic Act No. 10644) which mandates the creation of Pinoy Negosyo Centers, under the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), in each city and municipality around the country. These Pinoy Negosyo centers are meant to make it easier for entrepreneurs to register and start up their businesses, as well as gain access to sources of financing.
The senator also asked for feedback on some of the programs where his office was involved or have supported.
Among the topics discussed were the proposed tax reforms, tax breaks for startups, and how to enable local manufacturers to compete with established suppliers from outside the province in suppling the tourism industry with various products such as premium soap for hotels. The senator mentioned that our tax law is too complex and the tax brackets are outdated.
The senator also wants to encourage startups which would generate jobs for the country by giving them a tax break for the first two years. Earlier this year, President Benigno
(L-R) BCCI President Engr. Al Uy, Sen. Paolo Benigno Aquino and Bohol Gov. Edgar Chatto during the open agenda meeting with the BCCI.
Aquino signed into law the Youth Entrepreneurship Act or RA10679. The measure creates financial literacy modules in all levels of Philippine education, to inculcate a culture of enterprise development among the Filipino youth.
Also discussed in detail was the matter of the “slow” Internet service in the province and the country in general. Trustee and chairperson of the ICT committee of BCCI Jerome Auza pointed to Senator Aquino that the telcos in the country are committing only to 80% reliability of their services. Auza pointed out that 80% reliability is equivalent to the Internet service being down one day every five days or six days a month. For better service, the reliability commitment must be raised much higher.
BCCI has supported a USAID funded capacity development program to help enable SMEs gain the capability to make funding proposals that will have a good possibility of being approved by funding institutions.
The senator expressed his admiration to Bohol because the province has cultivated a dynamic and productive relationship among the LGUs, government agencies, the private sector, NGOs and religious organizations.
by admin | Aug 29, 2015 | Tech Talk
The Philippine Roadmap for Digital Startups was unveiled in the recently concluded Geeks on a Beach International Conference on August 20-21, 2015 in Boracay, Philippines. The development of the roadmap was led by DOST-ICTO Program Director Mon Ibrahim with contributions from the key players from different private businesses and fund management organizations.
The startup scene in the Philippines has recently become very active with Startup Weekend events happening in key cities around the country and successful tech events like Geeks on a Beach. There are also Techtalk events that are smaller in size and mostly informal meetups of tech enthusiasts. There is also influx of venture capitalists from outside the country interested in funding startups based in the Philippines.
Accelerator programs sponsored by PLDT and Globe, among others, have successfully produced viable startups. One example of such success is SALT, an invention that uses salt and water to produce enough electricity to power a small lamp and charge mobile devices.
The conclusion of the document summarizes the goals of the roadmap:
“The focus is to produce innovative businesses that find solutions to our country’s most inherent challenges. The roadmap is a collective effort for the community by the community, which includes the government, tech startup participants, and the academe, to come up with appropriate programs for the Philippines, focusing on the country’s unique factors/features. The purpose is to provide support on all stages of development for tech startups and entrepreneurs of different backgrounds to flourish.”
by admin | Aug 29, 2015 | Tech Talk
On Monday, August 24, 2015, Facebook hit one billion users logged within a 24 hour period. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg made the announcement along with their new experiment called M, Facebook’s equivalent of Siri, the famous digital personal assistant on Apple devices.
This one billion milestone is indeed a breakthrough by a company that changed how the world look at relationships. Facebook has also changed how we view privacy and this matter has remained controversial and users have to find the right balance between getting in touch and up to date with relatives and friends without revealing too much information that may be used by malicious persons.
On a technical note, delivering a free service to a billion people in 24 hours requires computing and storage resources that are obviously massive. So how does Facebook earn money to pay for all these resources and manpower required to run this free service? Most of it is in advertising.
One should realize that the users of Facebook are its product. The personal profile users provide in Facebook is a treasure trove for marketing people. Facebook can deliver ads targeted to a certain profile of users and thus have a high likelihood of success. For example, an advertisement for wedding services can be shown to women who are engaged. Whether this is a bad or a good thing it is main up to the user to decide.
by admin | Aug 20, 2015 | Local News / Bohol Balita
TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, August 20(PIA) –Boholanos who might have developed a multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) may have eased worries soon as the province’s second satellite treatment center would open at the GovCelestinoGallares Memorial Hospital within the month.
The first MDR-TB satellite center outside Cebu was at the Don Emilio del Valle Hospital in eastern Bohol, according to Bohol TB program focal person PolizenaRances.
Speaking at the Kapihansa PIA to commemorate the Lung Month in October, Rances, who is a nurse by profession revealed that MDS-TB patients in Bohol used to come to Cebu for treatment.
She said that bacteria that cause tuberculosis (TB) can develop resistance to the antimicrobial drugs used to cure the disease.
When the tuberculosis does not respond to most potent anti-TB drugs: isoniazid and rifampicin, then the person hasMDR-TB.
Health authorities have aired their concern over the emerging TB-treatment mismanagement.
While most people with tuberculosis are cured by a strictly followed, six-month drug regimen that is provided to patients with support and supervision, inappropriate or incorrect use of antimicrobial drugs, or ineffective formulations of drugs, self-medication and premature treatment interruption can cause drug resistance, which can then be transmitted, especially in crowded settings such as prisons and hospitals, Rances bared at the Kapihansa PIA Thursday.
Patients under treatment who stop upon noticing that they are getting well already, are more likely to develop MDR-TB and would need an even more potent drugs while treatment becomes increasingly difficult.
When there is treatment available, it is expensive, limited and are not always available. When it is, some patients may also experience adverse effects of the drugs.
As drug resistance can be detected using special laboratory tests, treatment can only be done in special treatment centers, often found in the regional hubs.
To ease treatment for Boholanos, the Del Valle Hospital MDR TB Satellite center opened to serve the side of Bohol farther from Cebu, where the satellite center is located.
Soon however, Boholanos with MDR TB can come to the Gallares Hospital as the MDR TB opens theresoon.
For those who suspect that they might have contracted the disease can immediate4ly come to Rural Health Centers nearest them for possible treatment, Rances said.
To those wondering if they are at risk, symptoms which include cough that is over 2 weeks old, can be immediately referred to a pulmonary expert.
Sometimes, symptoms also include pain in the chest and back, shortness of breathing and expulsion of blood through the mouth, but in rare times, TB can’t be determined because some people do not manifest symptoms. (rac/PIA-7/Bohol)
by admin | Aug 15, 2015 | Local News / Bohol Balita, Tech Talk
Industry standard data cabinets are now available in Bohol through local IT firm Auza.Net, the exclusive dealer of Vivanco data cabinets and structured cabling accessories in Bohol. The company has partnered with Dflex Strategic Solutions, Inc. for the supply of Vivanco products in Bohol.
Data center, communications room and computer network projects require the use of standard materials and accessories, as well as best practices for structured cabling, in order to achieve high reliability and flexibility of the network.
For inquiries, please contact Auza.Net at info@auza.net or call 038-5107846.
Wall mounted cabinet
Data cabinet
by admin | Aug 15, 2015 | Opinion
By: Jerome Auza
I thought it was one of those hoax news one morning when I saw that Google has become Alphabet. But it’s true. Google has reorganized the high level management of the various companies that it owns and created Alphabet to become this collection of companies. Google would be the largest of these companies.
According to Larry Page, former CEO of Google and now CEO of Alphabet, “Our company [Google] is operating well today, but we think we can make it cleaner and more accountable. So we are creating a new company, called Alphabet. I am really excited to be running Alphabet as CEO with help from my capable partner, Sergey, as President.”
According to the home page of Alphabet (www.abc.xzy), Alphabet will handle capital allocation. The new Google will be trimmed down of the other companies that are doing things far away from the main Internet products. These other companies will be under Alphabet instead. Each company will have it’s own CEO.
Do you know what alphabet also means for this new umbrella company? It’s betting on new things or “alpha-bet”. Alpha is a term used in the tech industry to mean new or prototype. By investing into new things, Page is excited to “getting more ambitious things done.”
Don’t worry, everything Google will still work as usual. But surely, the word alphabet will have another meaning and future books for kids may have “G is for Google” in one of the pages.
I should add that their URL or website address is very clever: www.abc.xyz.
by admin | Aug 15, 2015 | Tech Talk
PH Startups Encouraged to Join
The international conference Geeks on a Beach will kick off on August 20, 2015 at the Crown Regency Resort and Convention Center in Boracay. TechTalks.ph founder Tina Amper called on tech entrepreneurs to join the Geeks on a Beach (GOAB) international tech confab. The activity is set for August 20-21 but there are side activities before and after the dates.
According to Amper, TechTalks.ph’s GOAB, is the place to be for Philippine startups or innovation-driven enterprises in Southeast Asia who are looking for prospects for funding, partnerships, networks, and fun-filled learning on technology and entrepreneurship.
“Geeks on a Beach offers startups and related software technology companies great venue opportunities to succeed. Why go elsewhere to find partners or funding on your own? They will all be at GOAB where there is less hype and more action. So be there and find your own destiny,”
added David Overton, CEO of Sym.ph and Chief Geek of GOAB.
GOAB, which had its first staging in the world famous white sand beaches of Boracay Island in September 2013, boasts of having lent a hand in getting attention, mileage, and funding for a long list of tech startups from all over the country.
Filipino startup Cogito.ph credits its getting of seed funding from Kickstart Ventures after an unexpected pitching byCogito.ph founders on a shared taxi cab ride with Kickstart during last year’s GOAB in Mactan Island in Cebu.
Gian De La Rama, CEO and co-founder of InnoVantage Inc., shared that the few minutes pitch his team did while in a cab with Kickstart President Minette Navarrete led to several meetings a few months after that culminated with Kickstart funding Cogito.ph earlier this year.
Another GOAB success story is Philippine payroll service Salarium’s winning of this year’s Seedstars World (SSW) world startup competition in Geneva, Switzerland where the Pinoy startup bested nine other finalists to claim the grand prize of a $500,000 equity investment.
Salarium CEO Judah Z. Hirsch said that his startup’s journey to the Seedstars Grand Prize began when he joined GOAB. “I met the Seedstars Guys at GOAB,” said Hirsch.
Real estate property listing site ZipMatch.com co-founded by Chow Paredes and John Dang also closed a deal with international investors IMJ Fenox and 500 Startups as well as a host of local funders such as IdeaSpace and Hatchd Digital during GOAB.
TechTalks.ph’s Amper said that GOAB’s first three years has gone a long way in bringing much-needed interest for startups in the country from investors, businesses, government and other sectors that can be solicited support even if the local tech community is still in the infancy stage.
She added that it is high time to put a spotlight on homegrown startups through events like GOAB with the Asean integration and the optimistic projections of the Philippines as the fastest-growing economy in Southeast Asia.
GOAB Chief Geek Overton called on everyone interested to attend GOAB to register for the early bird discount by visiting the websitewww.geeksonabeach.com. For more information, you can follow the Facebook and Twitter accounts @geeksonabeach email hello@geeksonabeach.com.
by admin | Aug 8, 2015 | Local News / Bohol Balita
The Bohol ICT Council met with the City Administrator Leonides Borja on August 6, 2015 at the Bohol Agricultural Promotion Center to discuss upcoming activities related to ICT.
The BICTC was represented by Ms. Lai Biliran, Chairperson, Jerome Auza, Vice-Chairman and Ms. Inday Dominise of the Bohol Investment Promotions Center who is also a trustee of the council. In attendance also was Ms. Rolaine Uy.
Bohol ICT Council and City Administrator Borja
by admin | Aug 8, 2015 | Opinion
By: Jerome Auza
Internet service in Tagbilaran city bogged down for several days in Tagbilaran City starting on August 1 crippling several Internet enabled firms and many offices and home users subscribed to PLDT. The service was restored on August 6 in the afternoon.
Auza.Net was one of those Internet enabled firms that was severely affected by the issue. We had put in place a redundancy link to the Internet using Globe. Unfortunately, the line had problems also. There was no dial tone which means there was a cable cut somewhere. So there we were, on Monday morning, trying to find a workaround for our connections.
We had 3G service on some mobile phones so some of the staff used it on Monday while I was scrambling to find a way to get a decent connection. We soon figured out that the PLDT service was down only for some websites like Facebook, Google, Yahoo and most other websites. However, it was operational for Gmail and Google Apps, BPI Online Banking and, luckily for us, on one of our remote servers in the US. So we simply routed our Internet traffic through that remote server in order to be operational again but at a much slower speed.
Other companies were not so lucky. They were totally down and had to resort to 3G service or WiFi from coffee shops that were not affected.
The question I want to ask PLDT is “What took you so long?”
I thought there was multiple redundancy within the PLDT network. I thought there was spare capacity available for immediate use if there are International routes that are congested. I thought we were ready for BPO/KPO operations in Tagbilaran from the telco perspective.
Several hours of downtime is probably a reasonable time to fix a network issue given we are in the Philippines and not in an industrialized country. But six days of downtime is just unacceptable. Even the business accounts that paid a premium for their service were down for just as long.
To be fair, the leased line connections of PLDT were operating normally. PLDT prioritizes these expensive connections for repairs when there are network issues. Large BPO/KPO companies would be using leased lines so they would unlikely experience that much downtime. In addition, this was the first time our connection at Auza.Net was down for an extended period. Usually a router reboot would solve the connection issues we experience once in a while.
Small firms relying on the Internet could be shutdown and lose business if downtimes like this happen often. How can we encourage ICT companies to flourish in Tagbilaran and Bohol if once in a while they will have to endure extended downtimes counted in days? What would our freelancers do to continue providing their services? What will tourists feel when they cannot post their vacation updates because the hotel they stayed in had no Internet the entire time they were there?
But do you know what’s the irony? PLDT didn’t breach its service level agreement (SLA) at all. I actually signed up for “Minimum of 10% of subscribed speed at 80% reliability where available” as stated on the contract. The 20% unreliable period within a month is 6 days.
So the downtime last week is within the SLA.
I think Globe also commits to only 80% reliability. So even if you have connections from both telcos, the chance of both of them being down at the same time is actually quite high at only 80% reliability of each. This actually happened to us last week.
We need to demand much more than 80% reliability of the Internet service we are subscribing. Even worse, this 80% is counted against 24 hours operation. Whichever regulating agency allowed that 80% reliability in the SLA should seriously review it.
Just think: it is actually within SLA that the telco can be down for one day per week. It is within SLA that one cannot use the Internet for one day per week. On a daily basis, it is 4.8 hours. If that 4.8 hours happened during office hours every day it is still within the SLA. I think that is a joke. And I pay for it. Everyone who needs Internet pays for that joke.
by admin | Aug 1, 2015 | National News, Tech Talk
The International Summit on Technology, Startups and Design, also known as Geeks On A Beach is the leading international technology and business conference that highlights tech industry startups in the Philippines and the world.
It gathers together tech driven enterprises, innovators, investors and global speakers in a fun milieu to inspire game changing solutions to the world’s small and big challenges.
GOAB is organized by TechTalks.ph and DOST-ICTO (the Philippine government’s Department of Science and Technology – Information Communications Technology Office). TechTalks.ph is a non-profit, independent community of business, technology, and startup enthusiasts known for organizing tech startup events such as tech/startup meetups, Startup Weekend and GOAB. Other organizing partners include HappyGaraje.com, Sym.ph & PRWorksPH.com.
GOAB was first held in 2013 in Boracay island with 330 participants from 27 countries around the world. In 2014, GOAB was held at Moevenpick Resort Hotel in Mactan Island, Cebu. Over 440 attendees listened to local and global leaders including Dave McClure of 500Startups, Maria Ressa, CEO of Rappler.com, and top executives from Smart Communications, Globe, IdeaSpace.ph, Kickstart.ph and others.
There will be talks and panel discussions from local and international speakers about the latest trends and topics in investments, tech, startup and design industries.
The GOAB International Startup Pitching Competition is open to all early stage tech startups that have revenue and traction. Startups will have a chance to pitch their products to potential investors on the GOAB stage.
There is also an exclusive roundtable discussion by investors for investors.
There will also be breakout sessions were participants can get up to date with the latest technologies and trends in the industry.
With music and drinks, The participants will put their party hats on and celebrate the beautiful Boracay Island. Geek conversations most of the time leads to new ideas and new action plans. Who knows where these meaningful connections will lead to.
