Internet speeds and the Netherlands

[Atar554]

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/video/video-high-fiber/9263/

The United States is where the internet was born. But we’re falling behind in the race to the online future. Most of us go online these days using a service that’s called broadband – faster than old-fashioned dial-up, and always on. But broadband service in the U.S. lags behind a dozen or more industrialized countries – and we’re doing worse every year. Need to Know correspondent Rick Karr traveled to the U.K. and the Netherlands – with support from the Ford Foundation and in collaboration with the website Engadget – to find out how these two countries have jumped ahead of us online. This is a story about capitalism, competition, dynamism and innovation in what is arguably the most important industry of the 21st century. Old fashioned American values, right? Then why are we being left so far behind?

I'm jealous of their idea of investing in the infrastructure of their country. Internet access in the US is fairly limited and the quality is shit with prices that are way to high for what you're receiving.

 

[Zolf J. Kimbly]

I'm jealous of their idea of investing in the infrastructure of their country. Internet access in the US is fairly limited and the quality is shit with prices that are way to high for what you're receiving.

some of the follies of capitalism

you cant have your cake and eat it too

 

[Atar554]

some of the follies of capitalism

you cant have your cake and eat it too

Are smells free?

If you watch the video in the link it's actually a capitalistic competition and not government run companies doing it. Specifically they have around 400 companies all providing high speed internet.

 

[D-rock]

Are smells free?

If you watch the video in the link it's actually a capitalistic competition and not government run companies doing it. Specifically they have around 400 companies all providing high speed internet.

It could be argued it's the U.S.'s whole economic philosophy that's created the situation. Most of those other country's are less afraid of things like regulation especially when important infrastructure comes into play. A lot of lawmakers hare pander to telecommunication and cable companies. There are a lot of monopolies and duopolies for Internet access. There are a lot of regular people that like to blindly hate any regulation no matter how logical, fair, and sane it is just out of mindless ideology.

 

[bustybbwlover]

and this is just one of our infrastructure issues

 

[Boothbabe]

We also have a high speed connection, 120 Mbit down and 10 Mbit up The article is just one more example of why the Netherlands is the best country on earth

 

[Vanilla Bear]

the Netherlands is the best country on earth

:rofl2: Good one, Boothy!

 

[Bearded_Menace]

We also have a high speed connection, 120 Mbit down and 10 Mbit up The article is just one more example of why the Netherlands is the best country on earth

I thought Norway was the best country on Earth?

 

[Supafly]

German has a lot of areas where we still have the old telephone cables, and no DSL is available, but things turn now fast.

Right now, ~ 92 % of german households have DSL available.

Of course, we are smaller countries, but in times of satellite- and mobile data transfer booming, the USA should push this.

 

[Hot Mega]

It warms my heart that somewhere there's an inferiority complex that has just gotten a life altering booth....ahem* boost upon hearing they are among more than a dozen other countries that have faster internet than the US.:hybrid:

Any thanks to the good ol' US of A for successfully manufacturing glass pure enough to make the application practical and pioneering the first fiber network from which everyone else could model?:dunno:

FTTC ('Fiber to the curb') engineering and construction has been underway and in many places complete for years too in the US.

With respect to a place like The Netherlands for example, I'm not sure how their telecommunications infrastructure is competed for by industry. Whomever is tasked with delivering consistent rates and service is certainly help in this though by the geographical conurbation of the bulk of the country's population.

What that means in their case is the majority of their country's population is in a multi-city metroplex. Therefore the investment in building an infrastructure there to it's max potential is less expensive and less risky from what I can see. Once the infrastructure is evolved, the graduation of tiered services can be streamlined because you shouldn't have much market variation (There's no reason to hold back better service.).

 

[Boothbabe]

Any thanks to the good ol' US of A for successfully manufacturing glass pure enough to make the application practical and pioneering the first fiber network from which everyone else could model?:dunno:

If it wasn't for Dutch people who moved to the US and infused the gene pool early on with superior Dutch intellect the internet would never have happened. So besides thanking me for playing my part during WWII through my grandfather you may also thank me for being able to post on this board

 

[Niels]

The internet is Holland is not every were so good, I have a 20 M/bit connection
but because I live not in big city but in a really small town I can only get max 5 M/bit.

 

[Hot Mega]

If it wasn't for Dutch people who moved to the US and infused the gene pool early on with superior Dutch intellect the internet would never have happened. So besides thanking me for playing my part during WWII through my grandfather you may also thank me for being able to post on this board

Too true..forgot about that angle as well.

You should know that when I wake up each morning, roll over toward my east balcony door then see the sun's rays peering through the gaps in my blinds..I thank you personally Boothy for allowing the earth to continue on rotating after sunset in The Netherlands so that the sun may rise on the US.:bowdown:

Grandpa Boothy would be proud of you continuing the family tradition of helping the US with your family's benevolence.

We couldn't do it without ya Boothy!!:hatsoff::anonymous

 

[mrflexxx]

Nobody finds PBS drama queen productions like this just all start to the say the same thing? Its because each show is directed by one of two producers. Their findings are as far off of the median as any far right polls in the US. Its easy to put together a piece like this.

Rolo no likkie

 

[Atar554]

Nobody finds PBS drama queen productions like this just all start to the say the same thing? Its because each show is directed by one of two producers. Their findings are as far off of the median as any far right polls in the US. Its easy to put together a piece like this.

Rolo no likkie

Perhaps it's a bit extreme but I've taken it personally as I've been burned by providers before.

Cable prices are out of this world for what they offer and cellphone coverage is even worse.

That was my main problem with the setup in the US atm. Speeds will eventually increase with time as things get more and more advanced. The prices now are stupid though imo.

I also love how they had people buying new 4G phones and paying 4G service prices without in many cases actual 4G service available.

 

[Hot Mega]

I also love how they had people buying new 4G phones and paying 4G service prices without in many cases actual 4G service available.

They only offered the product. The individual still had the ability to investigate when the service would be available and the option to wait on buying the product and service.:dunno:

The only complaint I have is how some service providers tie getting product discounts to service packages. But hey...we're still talking about premium not basic utility services.

We tend to forget in spite of their prevalence these things are still borderline luxury items and services as utilities go.

 

[Atar554]

They only offered the product. The individual still had the ability to investigate when the service would be available and the option to wait on buying the product and service.:dunno:

The only complaint I have is how some service providers tie getting product discounts to service packages. But hey...we're still talking about premium not basic utility services.

We tend to forget in spite of their prevalence these things are still borderline luxury items and services as utilities go.

Good points. The 4G thing you're right on but they are monopolizing the ignorance of the consumer without educating them. You have to have an interest in the tech outside of "i want to be able to phone and text people". They know this and they know older people will assume since 4G is being sold, 4G is available....I'm paying for it aren't I? It's fair in a business sense. Shady imo though.

I disagree that the internet is borderline luxury anymore. More and more business relies on it. From the stock market to even getting groceries.

Hell you have a hard time even finding paper job applications anymore; a ton of it is online only.

Sure you don't need "high speed" service but you can't exactly get a dial up anymore. It's becoming harder and harder to function in a competitive way without at least moderate internet access.

 

[D-rock]

Any thanks to the good ol' US of A for successfully manufacturing glass pure enough to make the application practical and pioneering the first fiber network from which everyone else could model?:dunno:

If anything that means we should have even less an excuse for being so far behind.

 

[Hot Mega]

If anything that means we should have even less an excuse for being so far behind.

That's just it....we're not 'behind'. We have the same technology (in fact even superior technology than this) and there is no per se ahead or behind when it comes to something like data rate speeds (at least not among developed nations).

The US simply caters to demand when it comes to telecommunications. That is the way they maximize profitability...which is an essential in a place like the US for a variety of reasons beyond he obvious.

I'm sure The Netherlands (for example) has their own R&D interests and needs..but ours are different in some respects. After all, who knows when we'll need them to help us save them again.:dunno:

 

[mrflexxx]

Dont forget that there is a broad difference between COL (Cost of living) across the U.S.
The infrastructure costs to implement and maintain the cable/fiber optic networks combined with the costs of doing business can justify the higher rates that providers are charging; to a certain degree.