Why hasn't broadband become more affordable?

[gar598]

Lack of competition? Technology? It seems as if prices ($30+) are fairly standard. I wonder how much internet service is in other parts of the World. Any ideas?

 

[Rock Hydra]

Actually...I visit another messageboard where most of the posters primarily AREN'T from the US, and they have "broadband" but it's like 100-800k roughly. And most of them are capped to something ridiculous like 2 GB a month.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: gar598
Lack of competition

^

Your cable company is a local monopoly, your phone company is essentially a local monopoly since its competitors are using their facilities. Now Verizon is rolling out FiOS, but for those of us in the northeast (except CT) Verizon IS our local phone company.

 

[drinkmorejava]

because the market feels like paying that much for it. Until there's something that's faster, and the consumer will pay marginally more for it, the current speed prices will not be driven down.

In response to Hydra, European broadband, as a whole, sucks ass. There are very few places with high bandwidth capabilites like South Korea and Japan.

 

[BigJ]

We'll always have relatively slow and expensive broadband due to the costs of establishing it and the low population density.

 

[Deeko]

Its getting faster rather than cheaper.

Personally, I'd be happier with $20-$25 3mbit cable rather than $42 8mbit.

 

[redgtxdi]

Originally posted by: Deeko
Its getting faster rather than cheaper.

Personally, I'd be happier with $20-$25 3mbit cable rather than $42 8mbit.

:thumbsup:

Except even *faster* has its limits. There seems to be a natural "groove" to the entire internet at/around 3mb. There's so much friggin' latency within the whole web that 5mb, 8mb, 20mb, whatever.......doesn't seem to 'yield' much more.

There's a difference from 768kb to 3mb but not nearly as much after that.

Give me 2mb for $20/month.........FTW!!

Oh and if ya' don't mind givin' me basic TV and low-priced VOIP (or regular land-line for that matter) and I'll sign on!!!

I'm tired of payin' $100 for TV/internet, plus another $40 for phone. I want ALL THREE for around $50-$75!!

 

[preslove]

Originally posted by: Deeko
Its getting faster rather than cheaper.

Personally, I'd be happier with $20-$25 3mbit cable rather than $42 8mbit.

Yeah, well, the cable company is happier with hte more expensive option

 

[iamaelephant]

Originally posted by: gar598
I wonder how much internet service is in other parts of the World.

I can't speak for other countries, but in New Zealand broadband sucks. I pay $40/month for 256/128 DSL with a 20gb cap. It's crap. Very few plans are uncapped and those that are are outrageously expensive. On a more positive note the government has recently ordered Telecom to unbundle the local loop, effectively releasing their stranglehold on the market. We should see some much cheaper and faster plans filtering through in the next few months.

 

[daveymark]

what are you talking about, I get mine free after double dipping on rebates every six months

 

[Skeeedunt]

Can't you get DSL for like $12.99?

 

[gar598]

DSL requires the purchase of a phone plan, I believe, and in most parts of the US the $12.99 plan isn't available. I'm not familar with the rebates, davey refers to.

 

[Syringer]

Originally posted by: Skeeedunt
Can't you get DSL for like $12.99?

:thumbsup: I was just going to post this.

 

[Rock Hydra]

Originally posted by: Skeeedunt
Can't you get DSL for like $12.99?

Assuming DSL (or any form of broadband, for that matter) is available in your area.

 

[Skeeedunt]

Originally posted by: gar598
DSL requires the purchase of a phone plan, I believe, and in most parts of the US the $12.99 plan isn't available. I'm not familar with the rebates, davey refers to.

That is all true. BigJ's explanation pretty much sums it up I guess. There's obviously no technical barrier to cheap broadband, since it's easy to get in populated areas. Mostly an issue of lack of infrastructure/competition.

 

[everman]

There's still a lot of unused fiber that was layed down in the dot com boom. It isn't very expensive to lay down a lot more than needed as long as you're already doing the installation (digging ditches everywhere), so it's just out there doing nothing.

 

[themusgrat]

Originally posted by: everman
There's still a lot of unused fiber that was layed down in the dot com boom. It isn't very expensive to lay down a lot more than needed as long as you're already doing the installation (digging ditches everywhere), so it's just out there doing nothing.

True, but Verizon seems to be the only company that wants to mess with it. Hopefully they will make their way into the South soon. After they come, I bet prices will bottom out quick.

 

[Imdmn04]

How is 30/month not affordable?

 

[shoRunner]

Originally posted by: Skeeedunt
Can't you get DSL for like $12.99?

i f'in wish.

 

[Lonyo]

Originally posted by: drinkmorejava
because the market feels like paying that much for it. Until there's something that's faster, and the consumer will pay marginally more for it, the current speed prices will not be driven down.

In response to Hydra, European broadband, as a whole, sucks ass. There are very few places with high bandwidth capabilites like South Korea and Japan.

European broadband sucks ass? 8mb DSL/10mb cable is bad? (With no download cap)
Sure, it's not 100mbit like Hong Kong/SK/Japan, but the US isn't that much better.
We also have ADSL2 (up to 24mbps).

Australia has limited connectivity (low speeds and low DL limits).

 

[jlbenedict]

Originally posted by: Skeeedunt
Can't you get DSL for like $12.99?

I'm sure its some 768k/128k plan, and then they'll make you purchase other add-ons with the plan or that price will not apply.

 

[freegeeks]

Belgium
17Mb VDSL + IPTV service (60 channels)
+-40 euro

 

[DivideBYZero]

You can get 16mb ADSL in the UK for £10(~$19) if you already have satellite TV with the company that provides it.

 

[DivideBYZero]

Originally posted by: drinkmorejava
because the market feels like paying that much for it. Until there's something that's faster, and the consumer will pay marginally more for it, the current speed prices will not be driven down.

In response to Hydra, European broadband, as a whole, sucks ass. There are very few places with high bandwidth capabilites like South Korea and Japan.

What the hell are you talking about?

 

[Ulfhednar]

Originally posted by: DivideBYZero
You can get 16mb ADSL in the UK for £10(~$19) if you already have satellite TV with the company that provides it.

I'm with that company for my digital satellite TV, and I might switch to their ADSL service when it rolls out in my area. I'm unsure though as I'm on cable with Telewest Blueyonder at the moment. 4Mbit for £25/month with no caps is very reasonable to me since I don't have to pay for a phone line.

Anyone who says that "European broadband sucks" is sorely misinformed. I get better service than most of my American and Canadian associates for a lower monthly fee.