Today I'll tell you about such an important component of Czech (and not only) student life - internet. Prague is in the center of Europe, so internet here is wonderful. More about this - below. Or immediately by points:
1) Connection
2) Payment
3) Setup
4) Speed and quality of work
5) Restrictions
6) Conclusions
My first acquaintance with Czech internet was, rather, unsuccessful - in dormitories of the language center in Poděbrady internet was of low quality (when it was 🙃).
The main problem was the impossibility of using Skype and its analogues - video connection was of disgusting quality, audio - with interruptions. However, somehow we got used to this too, but, in general, this slightly marred the whole impression from that wonderful year.
And so, for the sake of internet I managed to enter Prague university. In autumn I moved into dormitory "17. listopadu".
This is a dormitory for Math-Physics faculty of Charles University, so internet here should have been excellent. Jumping ahead - expectations were justified 101%.
1) Connection
To connect internet, you needed to go down to the 1st floor and find a little room where they deal with this. Unfortunately, during holidays, the room worked only a couple of times a week, we arrived very unsuccessfully and waited about 5 days.
For connection students of Charles University need to bring ISIC and passport. I didn't have ISIC then yet, so I connected internet later.
Students of other universities only needed a passport.
Then, they'll create you an account for the information system (another one), in which you'll monitor your internet.
Also they'll send you a password for connection by mail.
2) Payment
Next - the most interesting.
Internet costs 100 crowns per month, as in Poděbrady. But there's one inconvenience here - you can pay for it only by bank transfer.
Basically, by this time all students have a Czech bank card, so there are no problems with this. The only problem - it's convenient to pay through internet, which you don't have :)
To pay for internet, you'll need to create a payment template by clicking the "platby" button in the information system. In general, everything is easy there, you'll just need to copy each line in internet banking. Payment will take a couple of days, so the first time you'll be sitting without internet quite long.
In any case, you'll have to go and ask internet from neighbors. We combined the pleasant with the useful - went to the Technical Library.
3) Setup
Paying for internet is not the last step to victory. You'll need to prepare your computer for connection. In general, everything is very well described here.
I won't dwell on this point, settings change often, so describing the whole process makes no sense.
Czech girls who understand nothing about internets usually buy chocolate and ask the first "matfyzák" (Czech: Matfyzák, Math-Physics student) they meet to help with connection. So for a certain circle of dormitory inhabitants September is chocolate month.
4) Speed and quality of work
Having gone through a couple of circles of hell with payments and connections, you'll be provided with access to universal happiness :)
To speak here, frankly, there's nothing - everything works perfectly. Low latency, huge speed (around 100 mb\s, planned to increase to 1000), not a single break in a year.
Complete opposite of internet in Poděbrady.
Connection speed through Russian VPN:
Before leaving, internet in Moscow was slightly slower for me :)
5) Restrictions
Everything good, however, has a limit.
Internet is created, first of all, for studying. Therefore, certain restrictions are imposed on the user.
First, you can't use routers (for security purposes). Router setup is very complex, however possible. You can make a wi-fi network using OpenWRT firmware. In general, for smart guys there's no such restriction.
The second big restriction - you can't download\distribute content protected by copyright. Easily bypassed using VPN. From myself I can recommend VPNGate service.
Third, one of the most unpleasant restrictions - 40 GB for upload per week. At the beginning of the year it was 20, but for New Year they gave us a present :)
Actually, they're enough with plenty to spare, and I worried for nothing. You should monitor traffic here.
Conclusions
I think everything is already clear. For the price of 100 crowns you'll get perfect internet. Yes, you'll have to stress a bit with setup and payment, however, it's worth it. An extra point for those who haven't decided yet to go to Czech Republic :)