Comments on: Would *you* pay the $20 cost to get 160mbps internet at home? http://iconnectdots.com/2009/04/would-you-pay-the-20-cost-to-get-160mbps-internet-at-home.html Guidance, Insight and Ideas in a Time of Accelerating Change Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:45:12 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Christopher Mitchell http://iconnectdots.com/2009/04/would-you-pay-the-20-cost-to-get-160mbps-internet-at-home.html/comment-page-1#comment-15 Christopher Mitchell Tue, 14 Apr 2009 17:38:40 +0000 http://iconnectdots.com.s11974.gridserver.com/2009/04/would-you-pay-the-20-cost-to-get-160mbps-internet-at-home.html#comment-15 I hate arguments based on density. Our most dense areas still cannot compare with the less dense areas of Japan when it comes to broadband speeds. Density is a factor, but not anywhere close to the most important one. Some areas of the U.S. have invested in very fast networks - Lafayette, Louisiana. Burlington, Vermont - I know that some have said they only offer a 7/7 or 8/8 or whatever, but the truth is that if you need faster you can get it with a simple phone call. They put the community and economic development ahead of profits. As they do in Japan. We can do it here, but we need enough people to pass a 65% supermajority to fund it. We are not prohibited from doing it, it is just hard. I hate arguments based on density.

Our most dense areas still cannot compare with the less dense areas of Japan when it comes to broadband speeds. Density is a factor, but not anywhere close to the most important one.

Some areas of the U.S. have invested in very fast networks – Lafayette, Louisiana. Burlington, Vermont – I know that some have said they only offer a 7/7 or 8/8 or whatever, but the truth is that if you need faster you can get it with a simple phone call. They put the community and economic development ahead of profits. As they do in Japan.

We can do it here, but we need enough people to pass a 65% supermajority to fund it. We are not prohibited from doing it, it is just hard.

]]> By: Brian G http://iconnectdots.com/2009/04/would-you-pay-the-20-cost-to-get-160mbps-internet-at-home.html/comment-page-1#comment-14 Brian G Mon, 06 Apr 2009 22:07:45 +0000 http://iconnectdots.com.s11974.gridserver.com/2009/04/would-you-pay-the-20-cost-to-get-160mbps-internet-at-home.html#comment-14 Steve, good work staying on top of the current broadband changes. I believe comparing the cost of upgrading a broadband network in Japan to the U.S. is flawed mainly due to population density. If you look at Wikipedia you will find that Japan's population density is 10x higher than the U.S. making it easier to reach a large portion of the population with broadband. Density (Pop per km²) #31 Japan: 339 #177 U.S.: 31 It's a shame that the U.S. lags behind Japan, France, South Korea and a host of other countries for offering fast and affordable broadband. Hopefully, Comcast and other broadband providers start to come to grips with the inevitable fact that they will be strongly positioned as being pipe providers for life, not flashy network and content owners. That model should suit them well in years to come as their networks mature and upgrades are less expensive. For now they must cope with the expensive and major upgrades while resisting the move to stifle broadband usage. Steve, good work staying on top of the current broadband changes. I believe comparing the cost of upgrading a broadband network in Japan to the U.S. is flawed mainly due to population density. If you look at Wikipedia you will find that Japan’s population density is 10x higher than the U.S. making it easier to reach a large portion of the population with broadband.

Density (Pop per km²)
#31 Japan: 339
#177 U.S.: 31

It’s a shame that the U.S. lags behind Japan, France, South Korea and a host of other countries for offering fast and affordable broadband. Hopefully, Comcast and other broadband providers start to come to grips with the inevitable fact that they will be strongly positioned as being pipe providers for life, not flashy network and content owners. That model should suit them well in years to come as their networks mature and upgrades are less expensive. For now they must cope with the expensive and major upgrades while resisting the move to stifle broadband usage.

]]> By: Savi Vila http://iconnectdots.com/2009/04/would-you-pay-the-20-cost-to-get-160mbps-internet-at-home.html/comment-page-1#comment-13 Savi Vila Sat, 04 Apr 2009 20:49:33 +0000 http://iconnectdots.com.s11974.gridserver.com/2009/04/would-you-pay-the-20-cost-to-get-160mbps-internet-at-home.html#comment-13 Top Ten for this price: Top quality broadband nations: 1. Japan 2. Sweden 3. Netherlands 4. Latvia 5. Korea 6. Switzerland 7. Lithuania 8. Denmark 9. Germany 10. Slovenia In Netherlands, for near $60 Power Fiber brings 720mbps. USA is not in the top 10 and with 120 could be at the 5th place. Is so shame, because with the emergence of the smart phones, all the things that COMCAST, AT&T does not allows [p2p, video streaming, and so on] we does not have chance to succeed. By far Japan is light years ahead USA. Cheers, Savi Vila Top Ten for this price:
Top quality broadband nations:
1. Japan
2. Sweden
3. Netherlands
4. Latvia
5. Korea
6. Switzerland
7. Lithuania
8. Denmark
9. Germany
10. Slovenia

In Netherlands, for near $60 Power Fiber brings 720mbps. USA is not in the top 10 and with 120 could be at the 5th place. Is so shame, because with the emergence of the smart phones, all the things that COMCAST, AT&T does not allows [p2p, video streaming, and so on] we does not have chance to succeed. By far Japan is light years ahead USA.

Cheers,

Savi Vila

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