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Internet Access Envy: Stories Where Broadband is Faster, Cheaper Than What You Get

Phillip Dampier November 21, 2013 Broadband Speed, Community Networks, Competition, Consumer News, Data Caps 4 Comments

poison-envyThe BBC recently reported Americans are vastly overpaying for substandard broadband service that continues to fall behind in global rankings. In response to the story, some real world examples from around the globe threaten to produce North American Broadband Envy:

Bulgaria – Dirt Cheap Broadband:Bulgaria is a great place for being online,” says Radi Radev, who lives in the capital city of Sofia. “Competition is strong and it is usual to pay as little as $13.5o per month for 40Mbps. Higher speeds are available for up to 40 dollars. However, it is common to pay for 40Mbps, but actually receive 80+ for no extra charge. Slower Internet service for office use can be as cheap as $6.75.”

Finland – Broadband Heaven: “I’d say I live in Internet heaven,” says Juho Nykanen, who lives in Turku. “Broadband to the home by either cable or fiber is inexpensive and competition is very good from a consumer’s perspective. Most service providers offer one to two-year deals from under $13.50 per month for 10Mbps to 100Mbps or more for between $27-67 per month, depending on where you live. Usually you get the network adapter included in the package or you can buy with no leasing. Wireless 3G and 4G prices are related and in some cases even lower than regular wired Internet access. Network coverage is good, and improving all the time.”

United Kingdom – DSL Extreme: “I am more than happy,” says Simon from Blackpool. He can use a phone, tablet, laptop, PC and Xbox all at once with no visible effects. For example, he is able to run Netflix on all the above devices and watch five movies at the same time. Simon buys a 60Mbps broadband package as part of a $91.50 triple play bundle that includes TV, phone, broadband, and line rental. He doesn’t buy premium sports or movie channels. “I test my broadband regularly and often my speed is in excess of 60Mbps. I can download a 700 MB film in two minutes.”

Broadband Utopia in Utah: “We pay about $70 per month for phone and Internet,” says David from Murray, Utah “although we will be switching soon to a lower priced competitor.” I have 50Mbps upload and download speeds (increasing to 100Mbps soon) with no caps on monthly data transfer. Our city is part of Utopia – a publicly owned open-infrastructure fiber-to-the-door network where multiple carriers compete on the same infrastructure. It’s not perfect but the speed/price is great compared to the local cable and phone companies that own their respective infrastructures.”

Broadband Unlimited in Switzerland: “Here in Geneva, for 90 Swiss Francs [$82] per month, I get 150/10Mbps broadband, as well as free local and international calls,” says Zac Thomspon. “This is via a cable network. There is also absolutely no download limit on data, or any usage caps. It’s an excellent deal.”

Romanian Gigabit

Romanian ISP RCS & RDS sells unlimited 1,000Mbps fiber broadband for $18 a month. But if you also subscribe to digital TV and mobile service, your monthly cost for Digi Net Fiberlink 1000 drops to $15 a month.

Let the Boss Pay for Internet Access: “Here in Denmark, our employers often pay the costs of our home Internet access – it’s seen as a necessity for work,” says Lars from Copenhagen.

Broadband High in the Netherlands: “I am on 150Mbps (actual speed 170Mbps) down and 15Mbps up with TV and phone lines for $86. I am in broadband heaven,” says Clive L. Stevensweert.

Deutschland Broadband Einigkeit und Recht und Freiheit: “I moved from the U.S. after living there for 54 years,” says Jim Hagerman. “The cost of TV, Internet and phone was outrageous. In Germany I pay $54 per month for phone and DSL faster than I had in the States. I can call Europe landlines and the U.S. for free! I pay $67 per year for HD+ on my television. I stream EuroSport with no problems, including the entire 24 Hours of LeMans. I have far better capability here in Deutschland than I had in the U.S. for far less money.”

The Carpathian Connection: “I’m lucky to say that we’re in broadband heaven,” says Cosmin from Oradea, Romania. “My provider has just started selling a 500Mbps connection for $15 a month. I’m on a 50Mbps connection that costs only $9, but it’s enough for my needs.”

Budget-Priced Unlimited DSL, French-Style: “Here I have a bundle of landline phone, unlimited ADSL Internet and plenty of TV channels for $43 per month, inclusive of ‘line rental’ and route,” says Russ Lewis from Gex. “The landline phone is my former local number, not some special number. We get completely free calls to landlines, but not usually mobiles, to France and over 100 countries. Technically, these calls are limited to a maximum of three hours each, but who talks for that long anyway? As we live about three miles from the telephone exchange, the DSL Internet speed is around 6 Mbps, but people closer to an exchange can get two to three times faster speeds.”

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Kevin S
Kevin S
10 years ago

While it always is an enlightening and entertaining read to learn about Broadband overseas, one major point cannot be overlooked. And that is this: Ok sure, “fill-in-the-blank” has better internet speeds and bandwidth overseas than my town of “fill-in-the-blank” state/town. BUT…what is the population density and demand for service in that area vs my overcrowded/oversold area here? Sofia, Bulgeria only pays $14 a month for 40 Mbps service?…wow..wait..they only sport a total of 1.2 million people and I doubt they all are connected. NYC alone has over 8 million people. Im not saying US Broadband has to cost us what… Read more »

James
James
10 years ago

It’s so funny to listen to individuals defend the high cost of Internet/TV/Phone/Mobile in the US with specious arguments about density (or the lack thereof), geographic diversity or whatever the heck they can pull from their bums.

The reason broadband is so outrageously expensive — and so poorly performing — in the US is the same reason that mobile service, health care, flights and even a good espresso are more expensive in the US than Europe: the corporations overcharge us because they can.

Scott
Scott
10 years ago
Reply to  James

Exactly, and it only takes someone with enough funding such as the municipal broadband, scrappy private fiber companies, or corporations like Google to come in and deploy out a solution such as 1000Mbit for $70/mo to show its utter BS.

Once the investment has been made for the infrastructure the actual cost of providing the service is minor.

The Cable and Telco’s just want tax payers to either fund their for-profit infrastructure build outs, or to do everything with a 3yr ROI to satisfy Wall St investors which is ridiculous.

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