The INTERNET today , has been has been acknowledged as  
the  fastest growing medium used for communication , information management and education . But the expense of  getting an INTERNET connection restricts its use to a selected class of people who can afford  it . It is this scenario that  
has led to the mushrooming of cybercafe's {places where INTERNET access is provided at hourly rates }. However all the cyber cafes are predominantly located in South Bombay and Western  Suburbs . For people of THANE and surrounding areas visiting such Cyber cafes is not only an inconvenience but also time consuming process ; However now THANE finally has its own 
INTERNET CENTER, which offers services at a very reasonable rates . 

  
                        VIDYA PRASARAK MANDAL {VPM } ,  a 63 yrs old public trust has started the " INTERNET ASSOCIATION FOR EDUCATION {IAE}" On the 1st day of April , 1998 . "The idea is to offer INTERNET connectivity at affordable rates to people especially students who could use it for education , communication and employment purposes " ,  says  Dr Vijay 
 Bedekar  of VPM . Located in VPM's Thane College Campus , IAE is equipped with adequate infrastructure to facilitate internet surfing. 
  
                      The association lab is fully well equipped with latest computers and stuff that is required  for making the surfing time a quite enjoyable one . It has a TCP-IP a/c which enables the Net Surfer to use not only text but also the graphics facilities on the Net . Besides , members can avail of advice whenever they need some . Chetan Kelkar, the lab supervisor of IAE, explains, " We 
guide the new members on the basics of Internet and also help them get an E-mail registration and downloading of software." 
  
                        Internet buffs can avail all these facilities at a very reasonable rates as compared to other Cyber cafes in Bombay. VPM in future , plans to increase the number of machines in IAE, Dr.Bedekar opines, "As the number of people get accustomed to the Internet increases,  we would like to raise our capacity provided there is also a rise in the enrollment of members."