The People’s Republic of China will become the world leader in fiber optic network deployment by 2016, with more than 50 percent of all fiber subscribers worldwide residing in the country, according to a new report from research firm Ovum.

The unprecedented growth in fiber networks comes through a combination of government incentives, including subsidies and private-public partnerships, and cooperating Internet Service Providers, who want to reach more customers.

In fact, with the Chinese government aggressively pursuing and monitoring broadband upgrades, China will rapidly exceed broadband deployments found in other countries in Asia, including Korea and Japan.  That could allow China to become the global leader in broadband before the end of the decade.

China Telecom is one of the providers that is moving the country towards dominance in fiber deployments, on track to pass 26 million homes with fiber networks this year.

Through the company’s “Broadband China — Fiber Cities” project, China Telecom should pass 100 million homes with fiber broadband access by 2015, with the help of contractors like Alcatel-Lucent.

In smaller cities and rural areas, combination fiber and copper networks plan to deliver temporary speed upgrades with technology similar to AT&T U-verse. But China sees such upgrades as interim, until additional fiber networks can be constructed.

The upgrades are a win-win for China and its citizens.  China’s telecommunications companies are enjoying new revenue opportunities for their wired networks, Chinese citizens will eventually obtain some of the fastest broadband speeds on the planet, and the Chinese government wins an advanced telecommunications network on which it plans to continue growing the country’s digital economy and helping spur additional manufacturing and export opportunities.

So far, China’s large expanse and large rural, often poor population found further inland are not inhibiting China’s infrastructure development plans.

“You cannot become one of the world’s most powerful nations if you can’t deliver basic services to your own citizens,” says Wu Dan, a development coordinator for the Chinese government.  “With clean water, good roads, reliable power, and advanced telecommunications, China’s western cities will grow and become as important as coastal cities in China’s progress.  Internet access is a part of that progress.”

Bulgaria’s capital city, Sofia, will be blanketed in fiber-to-the-home broadband by the year 2014, according to Bulgarian Internet provider EVO.bg.  The company is investing $860 million to roll out its fiber network, which it says will deliver some of Europe’s fastest broadband speeds.

“Our goal is to improve the individual experience and satisfaction of our subscribers by providing new high-quality services, and increasing network capacity,” said Rosen Velikov, EVO chief executive, in a statement.

A significant number of fiber projects in Europe are underway in the east, as countries like Russia, Romania, and the Baltic states of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia have decided a wholesale upgrade of their communications infrastructure is in order.  Just 20 years ago, some customers waited years for a basic telephone line to be installed.

Today, broadband demand is causing a usage explosion, and companies are upgrading their networks to meet the challenges customers bring.

Nokia Siemens Networks is a major vendor for the project, and is confident Bulgaria’s fiber future will deliver the best possible service for the country’s Internet users.

“Bulgarian citizens demand increased broadband access and new, convergent services – EVO is playing an important role in bridging the broadband gap,” said Nokia Siemens Networks’ head of central-east Europe sales Dietmar Appeltauer.

[flv width=”490″ height=”380″]http://www.phillipdampier.com/video/RT ATT Buys Support from Non-Profits 6-10-11.flv[/flv]

It’s a bad day for American television journalism when Russian State Television manages to tell viewers the facts about the merger of AT&T and T-Mobile that American networks ignore.  Russia Today is Moscow’s external television service, and delivers English language news to a global audience.  Public Knowledge’s Art Brodsky gets to tell RT viewers the real facts about dollar-a-holler groups advocating for AT&T,  a story American networks might not want to share with AT&T ad dollars at risk!  (7 minutes)

Time Warner Cable customers in Austin, Tex. excited to learn DOCSIS 3 speed upgrades have finally arrived in the state capital are less than thrilled to learn the rug has been pulled out from under some of the high speeds the company was promising customers just one week earlier.

At issue is Road Runner Extreme, the DOCSIS 3 upgrade that delivers faster speeds at a “sweet spot” price of just $10 more than Road Runner Turbo.  In most Time Warner Cable markets, Road Runner Extreme delivers 30/5Mbps service, and so it was to be for Austin customers as well:

Captured from Time Warner Cable website - July 1, 2011 (click for screenshot of entire web page)

But Broadband Reports reader “SunnysGlimps,” who signed up for Extreme expecting those speeds, discovered “bait and switch” broadband instead, as the resulting speed test (and subsequent advertising) showed a much less impressive 20/2Mbps result.

“I was actually getting faster speeds with the Turbo then I am now with the capped Extreme package,” says Sunnysglimps. “My speed clearly hits a cap when it goes to 20/2Mbps on speedtest.net.”

This reader feels Time Warner Cable is engaged in false advertising in Austin.

“You cannot advertise 30/5Mbps, sell the service, charge more, and then change your advertising a few days later and say it won’t be what you just purchased.”

Captured from Time Warner Cable website - July 5, 2011 (click for screenshot of entire web page)

At the end of business Wednesday, Verizon Wireless will end its unlimited data plans for new customers.  If you are an existing customer, you will be able to retain unlimited data for your smartphone indefinitely, but those considering an upgrade to 4G may want to consider doing so immediately, if you want to have an unlimited 4G tethering plan for your 4G-capable phone.

Verizon Wireless data pricing effective 7/7/2011

New Verizon Wireless Customers: You must buy and activate a 3G/4G-capable phone on Verizon’s network no later than 11:59pm Wednesday evening to qualify for the $29.99 unlimited data plan.  At this point, this means buying a phone from Verizon Wireless’ website or visiting a local store.  If you want the best possible price, we recommend calling Verizon Wireless and negotiating with them directly.  Verizon is often able to match prices from online retailers like Wirefly or Amazon, usually by throwing in service credits for your first month’s invoice.  New 4G customers can score an unlimited tethering add-on plan from Verizon for an additional $30 a month.  That means $29.99 for the data plan plus $30 for the tethering option, but if comes without any usage limits.  After July 6, all those new to tethering will only find one option: $20 for up to 2GB of tethering access.

Existing Verizon Wireless Customers: You will keep your current unlimited smartphone data plan indefinitely, perhaps even after upgrading your phone.  However, if you were interested in tethering on Verizon’s 4G network, consider upgrading to a 4G phone before Thursday to qualify for the $30 unlimited tethering plan, good only for 4G users with an existing tethering relationship with Verizon.  You must select the 4G tethering option before Thursday to qualify.  Call Verizon Wireless at 611 from your handset and make sure they take care of this for you to avoid complications.  An automatic update will be pushed to the Thunderbolt, Charge, and Revolution on July 7 to cut off the Hotspot free ride those customers had been enjoying up until now.  You will have to buy the service if you want to continue using it.  All 3G phones (iPhone, Droid X, etc.) will not see any pricing changes for 3G tethering – it is still $20 a month for up to 2GB of usage, no unlimited options for you.

Other pricing details:

• Verizon customers opting for the $30 for 2GB plan will lose company discounts on their data plan.  You must select a higher-cost data plan if you want to keep any employer discount;
• Verizon is now specifically prohibiting tethering any of their phones without a Verizon add-on tethering option.  This means third-party tethering apps you may have used before now violate your contract with them.

[flv width=”360″ height=”290″]http://www.phillipdampier.com/video/WCPO Cincinnati Verizon ending unlimited data plans 6-24-11.mp4[/flv]

WCPO-TV in Cincinnati covers the imminent funeral for Verizon’s unlimited data plans.  Verizon customers are not happy with the loss.  (2 minutes)