Providing Broadband is Too Hard For US Companies
CNN reports that a Super-speed Internet satellite blasts off in Japan
(CNN) — Japan launched a rocket Saturday carrying a satellite that will test new technology that promises to deliver “super high-speed Internet” service to homes and businesses around the world.
The rocket carrying the WINDS satellite — a joint project of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries — lifted off its pad at 5:55 p.m. (0855 GMT).
If the technology proves successful, subscribers with small dishes will connect to the Internet at speeds many times faster than what is now available over residential cable or DSL services.
The Associated Press said the satellite would offer speeds of up to 1.2 gigabytes per second.
The service initially would focus on the Asia-Pacific region close to Japan, a JAXA news release said.
Depending on the cost, this may be the answer to broadband in the US. There are a number of people who cannot get a broadband connection in the US. If this works as well as cable and costs in the $50/month range, I would be more than happy to sign on. Small towns could buy in and set up a few wireless routers and provide free broadband to the entire community. Reservations could get Japanese broadband before they get American cell phone coverage.
5 comments
Ahhh… well, this explains Bushco’s over-enthusiasm to get in some practice shooting down satellites. I KNEW there had to be a purely capitalist reason! Given that Bushco’s track record has proven beyond doubt they care not one whit for safety or security of anyone (other than themselves and their Capitalist buddies). 🙂
LOL LOL
They are being coy on whether the technology will work or not. They wouldn’t be going to the expense of launching a satellite if they weren’t already pretty convinced they had all the bugs worked out. Both Japan and most of Europe are already way ahead of us in giving people connectivity and even in remote parts of Japan users have access to 10MB plus at very reasonable prices. This will just put us farther behind.
Satellites and fiber are obvious paths to expansion, but the telecoms are playing the same game as the steel companies in milking every last cent from the existing system while refusing to spend anything on R&D. Which that kind of bandwidth available and the many unserved and under-served markets in North America, this is a natural progression.
After the concept is proven, I’m hoping it takes off, If more Americans start getting their connections through non-US companies, maybe American companies will wake up, but I doubt it.
Uhm, hello, satellite broadband Internet has been available here in the U.S. for years now and is available through at least three different U.S. based companies. Granted, it’s not as fast as the new Japanese stuff, but it’s still available, I’ve used it, and for most things it’s still better than dial-up.
What the Japanese bring to the party is a newer technology and hopefully Japanese attitudes towards quality of service and pricing. Hopefully they will be to the current U.S. Big Three what Toyota was to the Big Three of their day. But Toyota didn’t invent the auto industry, and this new Japanese company did not invent the high speed satellite Internet industry, so we should just be clear on that, ‘kay?
– Badtux the Internet Penguin
If there was a small dish and I didn’t have to pay mileage for the installation, I would have shifted to the satellite system, but their area of support is not widespread, which is why there are mileage charges.
They are also maxing out their satellite space and the system is slowing down considerably.
A good, reliable 10mb stream for $50 or less with an ordinance friendly dish would be a big seller. The $400 equipment cost and installation charges are the main draw back at the moment, especially with the slowdown that people are reporting.