Metered broadband pushed by Verizon
It was not too long ago when Verizon, deemed the best wired and wireless broadband network in the United States, never said a word or lifted a finger on issues pertaining to a metered broadband service.
It all changed when Verizon CTO Dick Lynch spoke before peers in the broadband service industry in a recent Houston gathering. Lynch reportedly said the future of broadband service will have to be seen in the coming days as something that could be priced based on bandwidth consumption.
Although wireless carriers have since operated on usage charges, broadband has been always put at a flat rate. Verizon currently offers Fios, its fiber-to-the-home network, on unlimited bandwidth capacity and cost of $55 per month for 15Mbps service. Fios is nearing completion since it was constructed five years ago, and is aimed at serving 15 million American homes with some of the speediest in the country.
Lynch said that even with this powerful capacity, the company is studying its management of bandwidth and traffic knowing that forever offering such service without price structures is difficult to attain. This came after Verizon head revealed that it spend $17 million this year along to keep its 3G wireless network, deploy its 4G wireless broadband service and expand its global IP network.
The Verizon boss also said it is keeping its options open and considering their long time subscribers don’t see their price meter plan the same way they do; and also because recent developments toward broadband models might just hamper such plans. Lynch also said the government should push for business-friendly regulations to make their industry come up with flexible solutions and workable plans that would favor the people, instead of coming up with rigid solutions that would put the broadband networks at peril.
Click here for more information related to this post: CNET
Public transport Wi-Fi Broadband to be made a reality
Free wireless broadband could possibly be installed in public transport present in Scotland, revelations say.
As part of this plan, buses and trains in the whole of Scotland will have WiFi installed as a means of encouraging more people to make use of public transport. If this venture is successful, it is hoped that the carbon footprint of the country will reduce due to less people using their own vehicles to go places.
A spokesperson on behalf of the Scottish government said that though the provision of wireless internet access on Scotland busses is a decision to be taken by the operators of that particular bus, the Scottish Government, via Transport Scotland, is in the process of making a business case for providing wireless internet on ScotRail services as a part of this agreement, which shall be presented in the near future.
The spokesperson continued by saying that they themselves were familiar with commuting to places daily and that they would be delighted to be able to do a bit of work or watch some TV in order to make the journey more pleasant. However, when looking at the very poor state of a large number of rail services, the spokesperson said, they would be more than grateful if the trains arrived at the particular stations punctually.
Mobile operators find out the dangers of becoming a dumb pipe
As mobile phones become computers, laptops have become more like mobile phones. Even veterans in the industry have been taken aback at how fast mobile broadband has been embraced – using ‘dongles’ or built – in receivers in order to give internet access to laptops through high – speed mobile networks. The advantage of this is that it can be used everywhere and, unlike Wi-Fi, you are not restricted to a particular place. In just Western Europe, the number of mobile – broadband users will increase by 50% to at least 27 million this year, according to an analyst firm, IDC. There are about 100 million users worldwide.
What’s the reason for this boom in these times of economic recession? Operators have been reducing prices for data connections: 3 charges just 10 pounds for 1 GB of data. Dongle prices are also reducing. Connection speeds continue to go up as operators better their networks. The surprising success of netbooks have also contributed to this. Some operators have even gone to the extent of providing netbooks with contracts.
However, this growth has its disadvantages for operators. One of them is the reduction in control. Subscribers are allowed to do whatever they please: the operator is just a spectator who provides a ‘dumb pipe’ to the internet. Rates have also been falling fast. Didier Bonnet of popular consulting firm Capgemini, noted that the pricing is crazy and that mobile broadband is starting to become just another good.
Another downfall is overuse. Operators complain that a small proportion of users use most of the bandwidth. Illegal file – sharers are hard to track. In order to reduce their usage, operators are considering giving higher priority to some data packets over others. Holger Knopke, T-Mobile, said that ‘network neutrality’ will not be a success.
If they don’t want margins to drop, operators should look to increase their level of service and differentiate them. Olaf Swantee, Orange’s head of mobile operations, says that they have to innovate!
Source - economist.com
More questions loom on stopping illegal filesharing
Since the campaign against illegal filesharing started years ago, it has not waned at all as seen recently by an increase of artists supporting the move.
Now, there is a plan to give three chances to users who engage in illegal file sharing. This means that once they are warned about illegally sharing files three times, then they could have their internet connection cut. It’s like in baseball … strike three keeps you out of the scene. Or is it just for the moment? And could there be another chance to go to the bat?
The debate continues while artists like Radiohead and Keane openly expressed their support to the three – strike ruling. Obviously dismayed at the continuing illegal filesharing, the two music greats wish for users to stop the activity of distributing their music. They recently joined the Featured Artists Coalition (FAC), avid campaigners against piracy where George Michael, Patrick Wolf and other UK music industry personalities also belong.
The three – strike rule would mean that a series of sanctions will be issued to users who take part in the illegal distribution of music online. It asks that broadband service providers will issue two warning letters to users repeatedly violating copyright laws, particularly music; and the final sanction will be that the providers cut the offender’s connection from the service.
BT, while emphatic with the artists’ concern, said this move would mean they will increase their service costs. The leading provider in UK explained that the measure would mean additional operational and management expense, which in turn could be tolled on their subscribers.
Such a move has been analyzed by internet service providers, saying the annual bills of each consumer will most likely increase with additional £2 each month.
Pigeon is faster than broadband connections
Broadband promises to get the world together with high – speed delivery of data but, in South Africa, the internet still seems to be slower than a normal pigeon.
An IT company based in Durban gave a 11 month old pigeon a 4 GB memory stick and pitted it against an ADSL service from Telkom, the biggest broadband provider in the country. Winston the pigeon took just 2 hours to take the data nearly 60 miles, which was the same time that the ADSL connection took to send about 4% of the data.
Telkom shirked responsibility for the slow internet speeds of the firm.
The whole idea for the race came about when a staff at Unlimited IT had complained about ADSL speeds. He said that a carrier pigeon might be faster.
Unlimited’s Kevin Rolfe mentioned to the Beeld newspaper that, due to their reputation for innovation, they decided to put the statement to the sword.
Winston had depart from their call center in Howick in order to deliver this memory stick to their Durban office. There were some rules to ensure that he didn’t have any undue advantage, such as ‘no cats allowed’ and that birdseeds shouldn’t be performance – enhancing.
The firm mentioned that it took an hour and 8 minutes for Winston to get to the Durban office and that another hour was taken up by the data to get uploaded onto the system.
Hundreds of people in SA had followed this on Twitter and Facebook. Rolfe said that Winston was delighted and that he is ‘chilling out’ with his friends at the office.
Telkom said that they were not to blame for the slow speeds, saying that a number of proposals had been made to customers, but they had been rejected.
South Africa is one of a number of countries hoping to gain some benefit by way of 3 new fibre optic cables which are to be laid in the African continent in order to up the level of internet connections.
Source - BBC News
Mobile broadband doesn’t live upto expectations
Data from Broadband Genie, a broadband comparison site, says that only 11% of users of mobile broadband are happy with the speeds that they are getting from their connections. While nearly a quarter were not decided, nearly two – thirds of people said that they felt their connection wasn’t fast enough.
Broadband Genie also mentioned that they are constantly getting complaints from mobile broadband customers about the 3G broadband service and with more and more people subscribing to these services, the level of complaints is bound to constantly increase.
The editor of Broadband Genie, Chris Marling, hoped that this unbelievable figure would get the attention of mobile broadband ISPs and make them think more about the services that they are providing. He felt that they have been selling too many connections without increasing the capacity as such, something that is bound to come and haunt them.
The perception among the public, Marling continued, of mobile broadband is that it is a service which has stability and speed that is comparable with that of fixed – line broadband, which isn’t really the case – and may not be so in the short – term, at least. He continues by saying that exaggerated advertising, as well as false claims of high ‘upto’ speeds have ensured that the public have a false good impression of mobile broadband that the service, in all reality, cannot possibly hope to provide.
The industry, he said, has to put in more effort in order to educate the customers more about the disadvantages of mobile broadband as well so the members of the general public are capable of making proper decisions with regard to whether mobile broadband is the way to go for them or whether they would be better off making use of fixed line broadband services, which are, in reality, more stable than mobile broadband.
This article was sourced from cellular-news.com.
BSkyB gets ASA reproach over unfair ads
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) recently issued a ban against airing of the BSkyB advertisement citing the unfair and misleading attacks on broadband companies BT and Virgin Media.
The internet speeds of service providers, along with concerned groups and individuals, raised their concern over the BSkyB campaign. The ad claims, “If you’re in a Sky network area, we don’t slow your broadband speed down at peak times – unlike Virgin Media and BT.”
The advertisement watchdog supported their decision to ban BSkyB, citing among others that only extremely heavy users would experience slower speeds during peak times, which is but an understandable connectivity and speed situations.
The ruling from ASA stated that the BSkyB campaign breached advertising guidelines on substantiation, truth and comparisons with competitors. It further issued a warning against the BSkyB to refrain from making similar unfair and misleading claims.
On the other hand, BSkyB retorted that all BT and Virgin Media subscribers could be likely affected by their fair use and traffic management policies. They argued broadband speeds of users exceeding “fair use” during peak hours would be experiencing what they claim. This particularly happens, said BSkyB when “heavy users” who are using on popular applications at busy periods with bigger bandwidths.
ASA explained that both BT and Virgin Media do not intend these slower peak-hours speed as implied by the BSkyB advertisement. The regulatory body stated that the public, particularly subscribers to the two internet service providers, would infer from the claim that their speeds are really affected and such slower connection is intended by the two providers.
Particularly to the consumers with low-bandwidth web browsing services, the BSkyB advertisement would make them think the services of both Virgin Media and BT are really slowing down their speed, even if such is not the case, ASA continued to explain.
To read more related information, click here: guardian.co.uk
Past 12 months sees the number of mobile broadband users increase three fold
Broadband comparison website Broadband Finder has found that the number of people using mobile broadband has increased 3 times in the past year, confirming the fast growth in the number of mobile broadband users. The industry forecasts shows that this amount could increase 40 fold within the next 8 years and this number could be in the range of 418 million come 2017, according to Coda Research Consultancy.
Broadband Finder have revealed that the number of people coming to their website from mobile devices has increased and that a large number of people are coming to conduct a comparison of mobile broadband services.
The popularity of mobile broadband lies in the fact that it is very easy to access the internet or check your email regardless of where you currently are. You do not have to worry about any wires or about being in a hotspot. Mobile broadband enables the user to access the internet whenever he wants and wherever he likes to. All that you require is a dongle, a device which is plugged into a laptop or any other portable computer. The presence of an in – built mobile broadband receiver will dispose of the need for this as well.
Thomas Newton of Broadband Finder says that the flexibility of mobile broadband provides a high level of freedom to its users. This is precisely what the modern user wants, he says. He continues by advising potential customers to compare offers from all broadband providers as more and more networks are providing them at great prices.
In a pricing structure which is similar to that found on fixed – line broadband, mobile phone users will be able to get mobile broadband on a PAYG basis or on a monthly contract basis. With the capability of being mobile becoming more and more attractive, the prices are falling, making it more affordable for potential customers.
Source - prweb.com
MiFi launched by 3 – Is the dongle’s end near?
Just as Christmas is about to come, the mobile network 3 has unveiled its newest innovation. It is the Mobile WiFi aka MiFi, which will enable you to make use of the 3G mobile broadband network via a Wi-Fi link.
A wireless router, powered on a small battery, will be included when you have signed on to Mobile WiFi. There is no configuration needed. Just put in your 3 UK SIM and power on the modem in order to activate your porta – WiFi hotspot.
If the question “What’s so special about Mi-Fi?” popped up in your mind, it’s this. Though you can purchase routers which enable you to have a 3G connection via WiFi, there isn’t a solution currently in the market which allows the portability of MiFi or the zero configuration.
This service will be available on purchase of a new subscription. You can avail of 2 packages. One is the ‘Broadband 5GB 1 month’ package, whereby you pay 15 pounds for 5 GB of data. The modem itself will set you back by 69.99 pounds. The other package is ‘Ready to Go’, whereby, for a one – time payment of 99.99 pounds, you get 3 GB of data in addition to the MiFi modem, which could be utilized for 3 months. After this, the modem can be used on a PAYG basis.
MiFi is a great thing for people who would want wireless broadband on the go. A wireless solution is sure to appeal to everyone. Moreover, the number of devices having WiFi is increasing. This includes a number of phones, game consoles and laptops. Though it is an amazing innovation, it is yet to be seen whether customers will be willing to throw in the dongle.
Mobile WiFi will be open for subscriptions from 17th September from 3 and in all 3 stores in the country from the 18th.
Plusnet announces shorter, more flexible contracts
Leading broadband service provider Plusnet recently announced it is offering more affordable schemes for its subscribers, and cutting their offered 18-month contract lengths to just 12 months.
This was announced by Plusnet chief executive Anthony Vollmer, who said that the customers can now enjoy greater flexibility and cheaper services from their company. This would give both existing and new subscribers of Plusnet the choice to leave the service after a year, instead of being tied down longer if they have other plans.
Apart from this good news of cheaper rates and shorter contracts, Plusnet also announced that they made available the no-contract broadband plan. This will mean customers may opt to pay for hardware and the connection at the same time.
Subscribers have been reported to be hassled and dismayed with existing service contracts, not just with Plusnet but other broadband providers as well. This is because most broadband packages offered come with fees for set-up, as well as hardware purchase, that come when they sign-up a contract or when they choose to leave it. When customers opt to change service providers, or are unsatisfied with the connectivity and speed, most would simply pay out the remainder of their contract. With Plusnet’s no contract broadband package, the subscribers have the choice to save when they purchase both the connection and the hardware needed.
Those planning to avail of Plusnet subscription can also avail of the company’s offered bundles of broadband service connection and home phones. Options like the unlimited broadband packages with internet connection can now be purchased from Plusnet.
The service that comes with greater speeds of 8MBps and download limit of 10GB is now available for subscribers at only £5.99. Plusnet said their cost is considered the cheapest when it comes to stand-alone broadband package.
