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from the would-you-like-YouTube^WNetflix^WFacebook^WAmazon-with-that? dept.
Michael Hiltzik at the Los Angeles Times writes about Portugal's Internet which shows us a world without net neutrality, and it's ugly. Basically, tiered services get in there through a loophole for zero-rating.
After paying a fee for basic service, subscribers can add any of five further options for about $6 per month, allowing an additional 10GB data allotment for the apps within the options: a "messaging" tier, which covers such services as instant messaging, Apple FaceTime, and Skype; "social," with liberal access to Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, and so on; "video" (youTube, Netflix, etc.); "email and cloud" (Gmail, Apple's iCloud); or "music" (Spotify, Pandora).
Portugal isn't the only country allowing tiering of internet services. In Britain, the internet service provider Vodaphone charges about $33 a month for basic service but offers several "passes" allowing unlimited video or music streaming, social media usage, or chat, at additional tariffs of up to $9.30 per month. [Ed's Note: This is not entirely accurate - Vodaphone's ISP home broadband offering (17Mbps) is £24/month unlimited usage, the additional figures quoted are for faster fiber connections (38 and 76 Mbps) where available. How you use your connection is irrelevant. This is the same for many European ISPs. Smart phone costs are entirely separate.]
Although both countries are part of the European Union, which has an explicit commitment to network neutrality, these arrangements are allowed under provisions giving national regulators some flexibility. These regulators can open loopholes permitting "zero-rating," through which ISPs can exclude certain services from data caps. That's what the Portuguese and British ISPs essentially are doing.
If the vote on the 14th of December repeals Net Neutrality then consumer options will be greatly reduced while increasing greatly in prices as we can see from Portugal's example.
(Score: 5, Insightful) by Runaway1956 on Tuesday November 28 2017, @05:25PM (5 children)
If he were making an argument for paying higher rates as usage increases, he would actually have a case. However, he is apparently defending the end of net neutrality, based on the assumption that present rules and laws can't be preserved, while making heavy users pay for their heavy usage.
I would be perfectly happy with a basic plan that starts out at 10 gig/month, next plan is 20 gig, next is 30 gig, and so on. But, net neutrality should be preserved. If I'm paying for 100 gig, it is NONE OF THE ISP's BUSINESS HOW I'M USING THAT 100 GIG!! And, they certainly have no right, or even reason, to slow down any portion of my 100 gig. It's paid for, if I'm watching porn, or soap operas, or video games, it's all the same. All the ISP need do, is deliver the goods I've paid for.
(Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday November 28 2017, @07:32PM
*marks the calendar* Runaway said something that made sense today
(Score: 2) by Hyper on Tuesday November 28 2017, @09:55PM (2 children)
This is, or was, how it works in Australia.
Basic capped DSL/NBN is $50 per month. Unlimited data costs $10 more.
Faster speeds on the NBN cost more.
The ISPs charge enough to cover network fees and make a profit.
It used to be that you'd pay more for data. When unlimited (usage policies apply) plans came in the tiers changed to speed.
(Score: 2) by Absolutely.Geek on Wednesday November 29 2017, @10:56PM (1 child)
Same here in NZ;
@100/20MBpbs Fiber 80GB/mth = approx $80 (depending on provider) Unlimited = $90 (I get a $10/mth discount as I have cell plan with my fixed line provider); so I get unlimited 100/20 for $79.95.
@50/10MBps Fiber 80GB/mth = approx $60; Unlimited = $70
There are zero rated plans on the mobile network but on the fiber network it seems there is no throttling etc; well no that I have experienced.
Note a significant portion of NZ content comes across the international links.
Don't trust the police or the government - Shihad: My mind's sedate.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday December 01 2017, @01:13AM
TPG keep calling me to switch to their NBN plan.
TPG NBN is $60 a month for 8Mbps capped at 12Mbps with unlimited data.
If you want faster speeds it is $10 more. $70 a month for 18Mbsp capped at a maximum of 25Mbsp, but no guarantee that you'll get more than 5Mbps.
It's $90 a month for "Super Fast" 40Mbps.
I currently have DSL with a stable connection at 19Mbps for $60 a month with unlimited data. Why would I want to switch to the NBN?
Soon I'll have to switch because they turn off the old 'rotten copper' connections after the NBN is connected. So, I'll be paying more for what I have now. Great.
iinet is the same, except their speed ranges at Basic: 8 to 12, 8 to 25, and max: 25 to 100mbsp. Again, they don't actually guarantee more than 8Mbsp, or rather likely 4Mbsp.
For some reason all of the plans include a home phone. I don't know why. It does look like collusion. Only have phone included plans, force everyone to pay an extra $10 a month for the home phone as a tariff. Rake in the profits.
Telstra, though, is still stuck in the dark ages. $70 a month for 100GB data on a "nbn tier 25" with a "15Mbps typical minimum speeds between 7pm-11pm" although, from the reports and stats posted this is actually more like 4 to 6mbps and lots of complete drop outs.
Yes. 100GB of data. On a fibre network. In 2017. Go figure.
For $10 more, $80 a month they'll offer you 1000GB.. but only at 25 err.. 15mbps.
Phone included though, so really you're paying the old telephone connection fee / phone rental tax.
Telstra's "best pick" (for them) is a $99 a month plan which has unlimited data but still only offers 25mbps (with a clause saying don't expect more than 15).
Here's the page on that: https://www.telstra.com.au/broadband/nbn/plans-bundles#24-months [telstra.com.au]
What exactly have we done to ourselves?
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday November 28 2017, @11:21PM
The profit margins for these established ISPs are something like 90%+, if I remember correctly. 100GB a month would be far too low a limit. We need to break up these shitty monopolies and have Internet that at least approaches the quality and price of many other first world countries.