What's up with US internet speed?

[dawgball]

Read this blog. The more interesting part is the comments section.

http://paulstamatiou.com/2007/06/26/us-internet-access-speeds-paltry-on-global-scale

People from other countries are saying these reports are likely not true... like most statistics like these. Good media because everything is based on fear.

chadman -- I think the reaction to Spy in this thread is a combo from ALL of his posts being pretty anti-American (not factual, but it is the feeling I get from his posts as well). It seems like he is always looking for something to bash the US on. I think with patterns like this, then it should be expected to get reactions like this.

 

[Jabberwocky]

hey Spy, give me the URL of a Website that pushes 1mps to all of its clients.

 

[Jabberwocky]

Read this blog. The more interesting part is the comments section.

http://paulstamatiou.com/2007/06/26/us-internet-access-speeds-paltry-on-global-scale

People from other countries are saying these reports are likely not true... like most statistics like these. Good media because everything is based on fear.

chadman -- I think the reaction to Spy in this thread is a combo from ALL of his posts being pretty anti-American (not factual, but it is the feeling I get from his posts as well). It seems like he is always looking for something to bash the US on. I think with patterns like this, then it should be expected to get reactions like this.

I tend to agree Dawg.

Jack, we are going to need 20mps throughput. If you can't provide that then you are obviously an anti-American communist sympathizer.

 

[ImFeklhr]

Read this blog. The more interesting part is the comments section.

http://paulstamatiou.com/2007/06/26/us-internet-access-speeds-paltry-on-global-scale

People from other countries are saying these reports are likely not true... like most statistics like these. Good media because everything is based on fear.

A few of the comments from that link are pretty insightful. To wit:

1. America is a HUGE country. Singapore, South Korea, Israel are pretty small, so wiring for super high speed is a LOT easier in a dense area. Plus I wonder if those speeds are just in their urban areas? I wonder what the speeds in 'rural Israel' etc. really are??
How much is the speed in rural US locations "dragging down" our nationwide average?

2. Getting higher download speeds is important, but server infrastructure is almost at its limits already. e.g. websites like Youtube.com are taxing the capabilities of our overall downloading capacity.

So there comes a point where having faster downstream speed becomes pointless. Most websites throttle their speed because they couldn't handle every visitor downloading at 15mps anyway. There is a sense to allowing balanced growth is more important than just a loft downstream rate. Combine that with the fact that more and more people are moving to wireless connections of some form (which are lagging a couple years behind wired connections in terms of speed capability anyway).

We MUST stay on the forefront of technology, because honestly we aren't manufacturing anything aside from knowledge anymore, but I don't think this is something to panic about yet. Fiber-optics, and other new technologies are going to change the landscape in the coming decade regardless.

 

[Chadman]

chadman -- I think the reaction to Spy in this thread is a combo from ALL of his posts being pretty anti-American (not factual, but it is the feeling I get from his posts as well). It seems like he is always looking for something to bash the US on. I think with patterns like this, then it should be expected to get reactions like this.

Yeah, probably so. I admit, I have missed out on some of the "conversations" that a few in here engage in...short attention span in some cases, for me for certain folk...:yawn:

 

[dawgball]

Just to post an update to this thread, our office building in Atlanta just brought in Comcast as an option. We now pay $85.95 for 23mbps down and 8 mbps up.

That's pretty freaking good if you ask me. You also have to relate the price is "adjusted" for a corporate account, so personal service would be cheaper if available in your area.

One thing to consider as well is that in our offices in both Russia and Ukraine all internet activity has limits on upload/download traffic. So the rates that we pay there are based on limited use where here it is unlimited.

 

[DOGS THAT BARK]

You don't sound American, not that there is anything wrong with that. Where are you from ? Am I right ? I was born in London in 61, came here in 63 on USA Jet. Dad was in the AF ! I miss that guy... , Yes DTB I am an American citzen. By your standards, could be a 1/2 qualifier to be your president...:mj07:

You'd come closer to being McCain qualifier--As far as I'm concerned Canadians-Brits Aussies and several others are american and visa versa.

some of my fav people are from UK --been the minority on UK golf forum for years--and great bunch of guys--most do lean tad left but politics doesn't come into play often--I do get some abuse during Ryder Cup but all good natured.

 

[The Sponge]

I'm not sure why being from America or not has anything to do with America lacking comparatively in Internet Speed. I wonder why this country cannot have better performance in this area...and I want it, if possible.

:shrug:

Cable lobby. End of story. They are so strong i even heard im my state they had the power to write a law forbidden this type of behavior (faster internet speeds)

 

[dawgball]

Cable lobby. End of story. They are so strong i even heard im my state they had the power to write a law forbidden this type of behavior (faster internet speeds)

It is through Comcast that we got the above posted speeds at our office. :shrug:

 

[Spytheweb]

Saturday, February 23, 2008
Super-speed Internet satellite blasts off in Japan - CNN.com

Super-speed Internet satellite blasts off in Japan - CNN.com Thanks to Dave Cormier who Twittered this a couple minutes ago.

Wiring the world is a pipe dream. If we are ever going to really deliver global broadband, we have to take to the sky. Thankfully, the Japanese see a future in this. Everybody just complains how terrible satellite Internet is, but that is the nature of technology. It will suck until someone can make it better. Even the speeds promised here won't be terrific in a few years, but that is why scientists get grants. Go do some science and figure out how to do it better.

As long as we leave Sprint and Verizon up to promoting technology, we'll continue to stay in the Internet dark ages. Companies look for ways to make money, not how to prove new technologies (they let other countries do that and then implement, leaving us years behind). That's why we need cooperation and support from the government (don't talk to me about subsidies for laying line). This type of cooperation keeps bleeding edge bleeding. The only thing bleeding at American communication companies is our American pride.

 

[The Sponge]

It is through Comcast that we got the above posted speeds at our office. :shrug:

http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,121416-page,1/article.html

 

[dawgball]

http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,121416-page,1/article.html

Thanks for posting this. I would like to see the reasons on the other side.

My business partner is from Douglas, GA. Their city started providing wireless internet several years ago. It was great when it was new, but the municipality does not have the proper staffing or budget to keep it up. Guess what the next step is?? Raise taxes to support it.

Good discussion for sure.

 

[dawgball]

http://www.weforum.org/pdf/gitr/2008/UnitedStates.pdf

http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSL0951259520080409

http://www.weforum.org/en/initiatives/gcp/Global Information Technology Report/index.htm

US up to #4 on the list of most connected economies.

I, for one, feel like we are in the stone ages. :0corn

 

[dawgball]

To add:

Just looking at the top 4, Sweden is the only one above us that has a higher percentage of people online.

77% versus our 69%.

Denmark = 58%
Switzerland = 60%

 

[Nosigar]

Cuba has nice nternet speeds too.

 

[dawgball]

While I don't agree with his classifying US internet as "third world", I like his way of thinking on this.

Cuban on internet speed