Future of cable and dsl?

[Tim_axe]

I just want to toss in (somewhat late) that 40+ mbit/sec ADSL (1mbit up) speeds have been avaliable in (at least Okinawa) Japan for a few months already. For about $30-40 a month. With free VOIP service between all customers of Yahoo! BB.

I think I paid about $20 a month to get 12mbit down and 1 mbit up. Plus I got a free router with an IP phone connection/converter built in. Plus a free month of service. It was so good that Wired Magazine was excited over it and described how they ditched traditional teleco hardware to use huge amounts of Gigabit Ethernet equipment for the backbone of the network and could therefore offer much cheaper service...

If anyone remembers my posts from nearly a year ago they will probably remember me mentioning this stuff, and my extreame happiness over it. Enough said. I can't wait for this to spread to the US since I do happen to live in the US right now... I hate the high prices here in the US...

[RoadClosed]

There is definitely a cost difference in rolling out DSL or Cable in the USA versus Belgium. In USA many houses find themselves outside the effective range of DSL signals. This forces additional cost of conditioning equipment etc. Any true capitolist is going to offer their prices at competative rates, unless they have a monopoly. In that case government runs the pricing structure for utilities. A very socialist view. In addition existing cable system are OLD. They weren't designed in the 50s and 60s to provide 2 way traffic and have to be completely replaced with newer technology. Finally some companies just suck, they have bad business practise and don't care about customer service. Some areas have companies that barely make a profit with horrible business plans. 50 MBS is great. I have never clocked my download above 3mb though. Hell the cable system by nature can only deliver 3mbs max without a total removal and reinstallation of technology. It's not a cap really on either side, cable or DSL. It's the backbone. If Belgium is introducing new technology to the people, excellent. Especially at the price. Many companies here haven't even paid off investment in the first round of DSL and Cable rollout. In my modest town there are about 700 companies offering DSL service. Damn Capitolist. Sometimes smaller is better.

//edit What makes you think the USA wouldn't adobt this technology?

[rcgreen]

I live in rural Virginia (Appalachian mountains) and still use dialup,
although cable is available, and has recently upgraded to 3Mb.
It's a big country. I've heard that some university towns have real
fast connections, as a benefit of the relationship with the school.

I have high hopes that speeds will go nowhere but up. What bothers
me is the tendency of providers to disallow servers. I want a
direct connection with no middle man. Fat chance.