6 replies to this topic

[Scot]

I was reading this article which make me wonder how many people in the world are affected by bandwidth caps. More and more ISPs are jumping on the bandwagon to limit access in a time where online streaming video is increasingly popular. In America, Comcast imposed a 250GB limit with AT&T looking to get into the capping business one day. It's well known that aside from fixed costs of infrastructure, the cost of delivering that extra GB is extremely small, almost negligible. So why do companies do it? Because they can? Because people will still pay? Because online video subscriptions threaten their bloated cable packages?

[Noitidart]

The whole verzion mobile package for the chrome os is metered isn't it? I hated it so much I didn't bother applying from the chrome os.

My home net is not bandwidth capped I guess. But the transfer rate is. I don't know my technical terms really sorry.

[Scot]

Not sure but "unlimited" mobile packages tend to be capped at 5GB a month unless you pay extra. Ironic isn't it? And if you go over they charge you something like $.05 per MB which is like 1000000000% markup or something like that.

The concept of metered internet is basically an extension of them charging more money for something that doesn't cost them extra like mobile carriers used to charge $.10 per text message.

[iargue]

The FCC is against this. I hope they win.

[jcrdude]

Comcast - Capped - Fuck That Noise

They're the only ones I can really get a high speed connection on, but it's capped. I'm forced to accept the bad with the good.

And rest assured that if I were in charge of the bill, I'd drop TV service in a minute because I prefer streaming it on my laptop.

People like me are pretty much the reason shit got capped in the first place

[Faval]

There has been metered internet in Australian since... forever so you guys have had it great up until now.

Yeah, I've talked to plenty of australians online and it makes no sense. Why have a 60Mbps connection with 20-100gb limit per month? Then limit the speed to 128Kbps?

It's pretty bullshit and anti competition if you ask me. The bell in Canada probably only wanted to limit bandwidth so they can make more money and support their cable tv venue.

I don't have a visible cap here but I'm sure my isp would send a letter if I downloaded a terabyte a month.

Most of the world is lagging behind in broadband, meanwhile Japan has 1Gbps for the equivalent of 60USD a month.

Edited by Faval, 01 February 2011 - 07:56 AM.