Speeding up the Internet
High-speed internet access in Bermuda has long been both slow and expensive. It looks like that might be about to change.
CableVision has just announced its intent to launch a high-speed internet service next month. It will offer a download speed of 2 Mbps and upload speed of 1 Mbps for $30 per month, plus ISP fees. The service will be offered first in the East End, then gradually rolled out westwards.
Customers in the UK can today enjoy speeds of 2 Mbps for around $30 per month over their telephone line, or 10 Mbps for around $70 per month from their cable provider. Here in Bermuda the best you can do right now is 1 Mbps download (512 kbps upload) for around $270 per month - of which $90 goes to the phone company and $180 to the ISP.
Unfortunately, even with CableVision you’ll still need to pay an Internet Service Provider, and it’s unclear how much they will charge for 2 Mbps access. Or whether they’ll even offer a 2 Mbps package at all. After all, BTC DSL packages currently allow for download speeds of 1.5 Mbps, but no ISP supports this.
Nevertheless, CableVision’s entry into the market should at least help push BTC’s outrageous fees down to a more reasonable level.
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Well, I guess that means BTC is gonna be having some rough times in the future. My mate that works for them told me that the $90 a month that they make off DSL has been keeping them afloat. I know the only reason I still have a phone line is for the DSL, once Cablevision kicks in I'll shut BTC down and just use my cell. At least living in St. George's has some perks, first for digital cable and now first for cable internet.
Posted by The Transporter on 01.03.06 at 23:31
I'm aware I'm being very picky etc but why it is called DSL when it's ADSL? Looking at the business options (on Logic etc) SDSL also appeared to be offered.
On a more general note (and being less of a sad IT geek), hurray, hopefully I'll be able to get a cheap net link when I move. Bit torrenting the IT crowd (http://www.boingboing.net/2006/02/07/the_it_crowd_the_gee.html) would be a pain on low speed links :)
Would this also help drive net access across the Island? Is this even an issue at the moment?
have fun
Marcus
Posted by Marcus on 02.03.06 at 06:51
OK, so the main thing is still you get your connection from one company (in this case Cable Vision) and have to pay another (ISP) I don't know that any of the ISP's actually offer 2mb. The prices that they are charged by the Long distance providers for the overseas link portion is still insanely high and that is where the real high costs for the Internet lie.
Northrock already offers high speed wireless service and is constantly improving their offerings (I think they do up to 1mb on the access) and also have voice services as well as the data.
Cellular One has a service that was stopped by Government which offered up to 2mb and has good Island wide coverage. It would be nice to see that service re-allowed. All Cellular One has to do is allow their customers to choose their ISP, not choose it for them.
M3 Wireless has a high speed wireless network in town that does up to about 3mb that they may offer elsewhere or extend, so the Cable Vision news is really nothing new in terms of high speed connectivity. In fact this is something that has been offered overseas for years.
So at the end of the day, it will be interesting to see how Cable Vision really deliver this service. If their quality of TV is any indication (mine is poor and I have so-called digital) I would be surprised to see people jumping all over it.
How are they going to handle the things we take for granted today like email, spam filters, virus checking etc?
I guess we will just have to "stay tuned".
Posted by bermudawireless on 02.03.06 at 07:56
bermudawireless
OK, so the main thing is still you get your connection from one company (in this case Cable Vision) and have to pay another (ISP) I don't know that any of the ISP's actually offer 2mb.
True, but even if the ISPs don't change their offerings, you'll still be able to save at least $60 per month by switching from BTC to CableVision.
Northrock already offers high speed wireless service and is constantly improving their offerings (I think they do up to 1mb on the access)
According to their website, 256k is the fastest on their wireless service.
How are they going to handle the things we take for granted today like email, spam filters, virus checking etc?
If anything, those are for the ISPs to provide, not CableVision.
Posted by Phil on 02.03.06 at 08:15
Well the ISP's wont tell you that they can do more than 1.5, they actually *DO* in fact do it for DSL currently. I have a T1 equivalent speed personally via a business deal perk with one of the ISP's. The issue is though on the uplink really. I know Transact has Syncronous speeds (same both ways) but who knows with the others. They have traditionally offered set frames for ADSL ie 1.544MB Down/512 Kb up etc. BTC really needs to ramp up their offering while dropping their REDICULOUS price for VERY VERY poor service.
-Tired of Politics
Posted by Tired of Politics on 02.03.06 at 09:40
Is there anything stopping CableVision becoming an ISP?
I assume when people talk about ISP they're talking about a service that includes the connection + email delivery, web space etc?
On a related note, if you're using Outlook Express as an email client, have a look at Thunderbird as it offers much more than OE does. Anti Spam, encryption etc. And it looks very similar to OE.
Posted by Marcus on 02.03.06 at 09:45
In order for Cable Vision to actually provide ISP services, they would either need to get a license amendment or acquire someone.
Are they just planning on doing data access, or are they announcing voice services as well?
Limey is correct on the spam, antivirus, email etc, that would continue to be provided at the ISP.
Posted by bermudawireless on 02.03.06 at 10:21
I've actually sat down with the Telecommunications minister and discussed exactly this issue.
For a number of years the telecommunications industry was reluctant to offer up new ISP licenses for various reasons - the one most frequently quoted being too much competition will saturate the market and degrade service.
By migrating to a wholesale based model similar to those that are offered in Canada and the US, you move away from the pure ISP based model and open things up to having NSPs (Network Service Providers)
This opens the door for the potential to offer competition in the space of providing a variety of local loop services while still choosing an ISP.
Potential people who are open to and likely would pursue an NSP license include:
- Cable Vision (as we've just seen)
- NorthRock (who is already an isp and uses proprietary wireless)
- Cellular One (High Speed CDMA through cell phone)
- World on Wireless (Believe it or not, but they've had capacity for high speed since day one but were never allowed an ISP license - they use the UHF band, aka analog tv channels)
and of course in the future
- WiMax, (Coming soon - by whoever opens up and provides it)
The main issue with network speeds here are, if I'm correct (don't quote me on it), we have a tax on internet for one. Second, ISPs are charged for overall bandwidth from pipeline providers like Cable and Wireless, which means they don't want to go out and offer you 2 meg connections cause it costs them more money.
Overall, we need to diversify the number of pipelines that connect to and serve our island and I for one believe this should be incentified by government. Why invest in a TV station when TV is so yesterday?
The issue also is that I've also heard the rumors of BTC not doing so well. Unfortunately there are a large number of Bermudians employed there and if I'm not mistaken it's unionized.
They can't necessarily drop costs because the same thing will happen to them as reciently did Belco when they tried to cut cleaning staff.
Unfortunately competition is what this most needs, but this is what we're most resistant to as Bermudians.
Posted by Denis Pitcher on 02.03.06 at 16:47
Unfortunately competition is what this most needs, but this is what we're most resistant to as Bermudians.
Posted by Denis Pitcher on 02.03.06 at 16:47
Nail, head interface achieved. Even with telecom license reviews certain ISPs are very...demagogic in their argumetns that it will destroy bermudian ownership, jobs, way of life, civilization when they are really out to protect their own bottom line which is artificially inflated by protectionism and poor service/maintenance at the expense of the bermudian customer.
Posted by silencedogood on 02.03.06 at 17:01
Hi
Just had a look at my web stats and the results suggest Bermuda is significantly behind the rest of the world in terms of high speed access.
Statistics for visitors to my site over the last 7 days and %age with Broadband/DSL/Corporate connection:
US : 88.44%
UK: 72.58%
Canada: 73.00%
Bermuda: 29.65%
It's based on 21,000 visitors should should be fairly accurate statistically.
Looks like the high prices you pay, certainly have an effect on usage in your country.
In short, its holding you back a bit (and very annoying).
David (cruising at 8 Mbps)
Posted by Bermuda 4u on 02.03.06 at 17:15
Well gee David, we really didn't need to hear about your 8Mbps connection. You really know how to kick a guy when he's down!
Posted by RedOnion on 02.03.06 at 19:22
Competition is good for everyone. It keeps the providers honest, and the best provider wins, the consumer benefits.
What is key here is this: the ISP is not the bad guy here; they have to buy very, very expensive pipe off of C&W and TBI. In order for them to sell us value added services, they have to have some margin, therefore the price we pay from our ISP has the real cost of the LD provider paying to lay a pipe 700 miles across the pond. That is just the reality of living on an Island.
The other reality Denis, is Wi-Max (at least pre-Wimax) is here now. Look for rollout real soon. But again, don't get too excited as even though you can get blazing wireless speeed, you have to be able to afford the internet access from your ISP who has to be able to afford the 700 mile leg across the pond...
Welcome to Bermuda. We need wholesale/resale and Government to take a really hard look at the industry.
Posted by bermudawireless on 02.03.06 at 21:10
BermudaWireless,
Yes, I know Wi-Max will soon be a reality, I've heard many rumors just not certain which company has the rights locally. The technology has been tested heavily in Israel for years now and the standard has only recently been ratified by the industry associations.
Rather then invest 800k in a tv station, why arn't we looking towards the future - internet?
Here's an example, if you know anything about VoIP, you'll know that BTC's days are numbered. With the ability to offer long distance phone calls for cheap over the internet, major forward movement has been reached in making the world smaller.
Coming next: IPTV - HD television via the internet. This is one of the things Bermuda will miss out on given our low bandwidth.
Companies to check out: http://broadline.tv/
Articles to read: http://www.wired.com/news/columns/0,70327-0.html?tw=rss.index
- I'll warn you the content is adult related, it shouldn't surprise you that the first industry to adopt this kind of technology over the internet is the adult one.
The Bermuda Gov will have to pay really good attention to internet technology as if they're worried about Bermudian ISPs getting wiped out, they should pay more attention to the competition the world will present as VoIP and IPTV technologies take more precidence.
Posted by Denis Pitcher on 03.03.06 at 09:44
British Telecom quadruples broadband speed (free of charge).
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/4773880.stm
The gap between Bermuda and the UK/US continues to grow. I appreciate that BDA is small and you can't expect to be parallel with those markets but the stagnent market here is, I suspect, due to sheer corporate greed and lack of gument interest.
Posted by hotspur on 04.03.06 at 13:29
Like the Pondblogger, I live in St. George's. And like the Pondblogger, my home DSL connection has been running at dial-up speeds all day long.
CableVision's service is looking more and more appealing by the day...
Posted by Phil on 13.03.06 at 22:30
Looks like Cablevision is another step closer to launching their high speed internet access
Posted by observor on 20.06.06 at 14:13