Most companies opted for a 64kbps Diginet connection. \u201cThese links ran via copper wire into the Telkom Exchanges, or in IS\u2019s case, we had MUX\u2019s in our data centres,\u201d De Chasteauneuf said.<\/p>\n
These TDD (Time Division Multiplexers) were an entire rack and had timing cards in them which allowed multiple 64kbps links to be shared on one 2Mbps link back to the Telkom network.<\/p>\n
\u201cCrazy to think the physical footprint needed to run 2Mbps of traffic. Diginet was symmetrical so you were able Rx and Tx simultaneously,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
64kbps links, which offered 64kbps local bandwidth and 19.2kbps international, was by far the most popular for businesses.<\/p>\n
This connection cost for R4,000 per month in 1995, which translates into R62.50 for kbps.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe larger corporates could afford 256kbps, but very few could afford more than 2Mbps,\u201d said De Chasteauneuf.<\/p>\n
What is currently taken for granted \u2013 like affordable always-on Internet, coverage, and Wi-Fi \u2013 was simply not available in 1995.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs I recall 56kbps was the best dial-up you could get. This was asymmetrical though and latency was high,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cToday a 100Mbps fibre connection, which is 17,857 times faster than a 56kbps link \u2013 has low latency, is always on, and is often symmetrical.\u201d<\/p>\n
Corporate Internet prices in 1995<\/h3>\n
The image below, provided by De Chasteauneuf, provides a look back at corporate internet prices in 1995.<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Internet-Solutions-1995-Prices.jpg\")
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