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Cable Beating Back DSL
Un-upgraded last-gen markets hurting telcos...
The third quarter earnings results from most of the major phone and cable companies are in and confirm that cable operators are currently winning the latest round in the broadband battle. Thus far, the nation's largest cable operators signed up 64% of new broadband subscribers during the third quarter, while telcos signed up 36%. Comcast added more new subscribers (382,000) than AT&T (148,000) and Verizon (129,000) combined. Why? Cable has deployed VoIP faster than phone carriers deployed video services, and cable speed is faster than DSL in a significant number of markets that have yet to see next-gen speeds.
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jchambers28
Premium Member
join:2007-05-12
Peculiar, MO

2 edits

jchambers28

Premium Member

comatetion

Does not surprise me at all. The way that dsl has its distance limitations and lack of avalabilaty cable will out every time when there is no dsl.

en102
Canadian, eh?
join:2001-01-26
Valencia, CA

en102

Member

Re: comatetion

Cable has triple play in most markets.
Telco has it in few, and tacks on ~$11-13 in taxes because of POTS.

Eg. Los Angeles
TWC: All the Best 1 year promo: $89.95 = ~99 after fees
VoIP, Digital TV, 6Mbps

AT&T ADSL: 3Mbps + POTS unlimited = $84/month after fees, no TV

Uverse attempts to offer a $90/month triple play,
VoIP, U100, 3Mbps
However, there's no VoIP available in Los Angeles on AT&T.
Even if AT&T honored POTS unlimited for $30, that would still add on at least $13/month onto the bill, assuming no other fees.

NormanS
I gave her time to steal my mind away
MVM
join:2001-02-14
San Jose, CA
TP-Link TD-8616
Asus RT-AC66U B1
Netgear FR114P

NormanS to jchambers28

MVM

to jchambers28
said by jchambers28:

Does not surprise me at all. The way that dsl has its distance limitations and lack of avalabilaty cable will out every time when there is no dsl.
DSL could have been a contender, if the telcos had been more aggressive in at least deploying FTTN, if not FTTP. FTTN can overcome the distance restriction of DSL, but is expensive to deploy. Unlike the telcos, which did not start with an extensive FTTN plant, the cable operators had FTTN already in place.

The sad part of it is that some cable operators are afraid to take on the "low end" customer market. Comcast only offers one sub $40 tier, and it is slower than most DSL loops.

BinaryXtreme6
join:2004-04-20
Sparks, NV

BinaryXtreme6

Member

Yo!

DSL "I must break you", Cable "Go for it"!
iansltx
join:2007-02-19
Austin, TX

iansltx

Member

Re: Yo!

Here, Qwest seems aggressive about DSL retention ofers to keep people from defecting to cable, which flat out has better speeds. Basically anywhere where cable and Qwest compete (and cable isn't hopelessly overloaded) you're going to get new cable customers. End of story.

If Verizon had DSL here, or basically any DSL provider with FastPath and 6/768 (actual, not rated) or higher speeds with no caps, I'd be using them. They'd be cheaper. But AT&T DSL maxes out at 6/512, UVerse required TV (do not want), Qwest's speeds are anemic and have interleave...you get the picture. I also don't need\want a landline, so if that's required to get DSL, then count me out.

End result: people go for the superior\cheaper\both product. On voice, cable is a tad cheaper than telco. On internet, in most cases cable is faster than telco, and triple play makes it cheaper. On TV, in most markets you have to use DBS if you're on a telco.

If there was FTTH here, I'd be using it. If there was decent, FastPath, low-cost dry-line DSL here, I would use that. As it stands, neither of these are the case, so I use 8/2 cable. I tried Qwest DSL for one day and decided to return everything the next. Sorry folks, make your product better.

FFH5
Premium Member
join:2002-03-03
Tavistock NJ

4 edits

FFH5

Premium Member

Cable is doing well in US; & Docsis 3 will keep them there

Q2 was 73% cable to 27% telco in new additions. So telco is improving.

And internet access in the US is roughly 41% cable; 30% telco DSL; and 25% dial-up; with the last 4% various(sat,fiber,wireless, etc).

While Verizon use of Fios will keep them in the broadband sweepstakes, cables use of Docsis 3 will keep them even or ahead for a long time.

And for me, cable is still the best game in town. Verizon only offers 3000/768 DSL and no Fios on the horizon(maybe in a couple years Verizon says). And Comcast hasn't rolled out Docsis 3 yet in my area, but that should change in the next 12 months.

S_engineer
Premium Member
join:2007-05-16
Chicago, IL

S_engineer

Premium Member

Re: Cable is doing well in US; & Docsis 3 will keep them there

said by FFH5:

and 25% dial-up;
I would love to no what percentage of that 25% is the mom/technically challenged vs what part doesn't have access to broadband?
MrSpock29
join:2008-02-09
Hammonton, NJ

MrSpock29 to FFH5

Member

to FFH5
said by FFH5:

Q2 was 73% cable to 27% telco in new additions. So telco is improving.

And internet access in the US is roughly 41% cable; 30% telco DSL; and 25% dial-up; with the last 4% various(sat,fiber,wireless, etc).

While Verizon use of Fios will keep them in the broadband sweepstakes, cables use of Docsis 3 will keep them even or ahead for a long time.

And for me, cable is still the best game in town. Verizon only offers 3000/768 DSL and no Fios on the horizon(maybe in a couple years Verizon says). And Comcast hasn't rolled out Docsis 3 yet in my area, but that should change in the next 12 months.
FiOS is coming to Atlantic and Cape May county in 2009. Both county seats must be done. The pattern has been to do surrounding areas to the county seats, but I am not sure 2009 plans have been finalized. The economy is the only fly in the ointment for faster deployment down here at this point. My area had a good chance of being done, but now not as much because of the economy. Gas prices were the other issue but considering they've been cut in half, I seriously doubt that is an issue still.

en102
Canadian, eh?
join:2001-01-26
Valencia, CA

en102 to FFH5

Member

to FFH5
The things that would keep me with a provider are:

a) Price and performance. I don't need +10Mbps connection, and don't want to be forced to a high cost product because ISP has an insanely low cap on 6Mbps and lower tiers.

b) Usability - if its up/down all the time (DSL) or overloaded nodes, its not functional IMO

c) Bundle - POTS is overpriced, AT&T offers no VoIP in Los Angeles... Cable does. At some point I may end up scrapping traditional voice and TV (OTA HD works well). $45/month for Internet + ~25 for VoIP is reasonable. Increasing rates for non-bundled services does not always sit well.

Mactron
el Camino Real
Premium Member
join:2001-12-16
PRK

Mactron

Premium Member

No supprize.

With Cable so prevalent in this country and DSLs inherit distance restraints. The Telcos will have too spend some major Cash for new Vrads or RTs to reach new DSL customers.

IowaMan
Premium Member
join:2008-08-21
Grinnell, IA

IowaMan

Premium Member

Re: No supprize.

Especially in Iowa where currently Mediacom is the fastest in the Area.(Even if there CS leaves something to be desired) Compared to what the telco can give me
(10Mb D/512U) Cable wins by a landslide
iansltx
join:2007-02-19
Austin, TX

iansltx to Mactron

Member

to Mactron
Or they deploy ADSL2+ (better speeds over longer distances) or FTTH (speed isn't determined by distance) you have less of a\no problem.

On the two DSL systems I've been in contact with, I've been close enough to get full speeds, but they're 85% of rated, so a big bucket of meh.

Ikyuao
join:2007-02-26
Wichita, KS

Ikyuao

Member

Land size

USA is quite largest size of mainland that winner is cable. In japan island is small land of winner is DSL that is fact.
crypton
join:2002-05-23
Gilroy, CA

crypton

Member

very true

add me to that list.

i just dropped verizon after waiting a year for their vaporware 7m dsl package and switched to charter 16/2!

Ikyuao
join:2007-02-26
Wichita, KS

Ikyuao

Member

Re: very true

Good for you. Teleo co. companies can't afford to deploy fiber network lines.

fiber_man
Things Happen For A Reason
Premium Member
join:2001-01-27
Port Saint Lucie, FL

fiber_man

Premium Member

Re: Fiber cables

Telco have for many years had more fiber placed than cable every dreamed of having. They will continue this trend for a long time. FYI the cable cos. connect to the telco network in several C.O.'s THAT IS A FACT. As for deployment you need to do your homework. We are deploying as fast as we can around here. Several Vrads turned up to provide U-verse and less than a month and we are already having to turn up second vrad at same location.
Sammer
join:2005-12-22
Canonsburg, PA

Sammer

Member

Re: Fiber cables

said by fiber_man:

Telco have for many years had more fiber placed than cable every dreamed of having. They will continue this trend for a long time. FYI the cable cos. connect to the telco network in several C.O.'s
That may all be true but when considering the last mile cable companies are getting the fiber closer to the home except for the telcos that are going all the way like Verizon.

fiber_man
Things Happen For A Reason
Premium Member
join:2001-01-27
Port Saint Lucie, FL

fiber_man

Premium Member

Re: Last mile

U-verse is placing fiber to within 3000-5000' feet from the customer front door. They can in the future use these cabinets as hub for a pon network to push the fiber closer to the customer. 64-1 splits on a pon network are in trials right now. As has been said on this site people are syncing at 100mbps at 1500 feet from the vrads. Pair bonding is suppose to increase this distance next year. I think it is a smart way to go from a company stand point. Use the assets that you already have to provide a service. Just look at the cost of placing fiber all the way to the customer without the guarantee of them taking the services the company provides.

Ikyuao
join:2007-02-26
Wichita, KS

Ikyuao to fiber_man

Member

to fiber_man
Then why don't teleo co. reveal it this? Then teleo co. need to deploy more and more lines to homes then cable wouldn't be exist.

Titus
Mr Gradenko
join:2004-06-26

Titus

Member

Yes, let's pray

for a Cable-only nation. And let it be Comcast.


Ship of fools
--
Rick5
Premium Member
join:2001-02-06

1 edit

Rick5

Premium Member

Karl says..

"Why? Cable has deployed VoIP faster than phone carriers deployed video services, and cable speed is faster than DSL in a significant number of markets that have yet to see next-gen speeds."

Certainly those are two of the factors. There's a third one however. And it's a very big one.

When you look at the cablevision news just posted on the front page..you'll see an area where fios competition is already in full bloom. And the results? They're barely making a dent in cablevisions results. And so what's going on isn't just a question of fios being there..it's a question of pricing. And dominance in the industry. In this case..by cablevision in the cable industry in that area.

It is not easy to take a major industries players leading status away from them. No matter who starts selling hamburgers..McDonalds is going to be very difficult to unseat as the industry leader. What we are seeing in the cablevision/fios areas is that even with a docsis 2.0 network..they're maintaining fios like speeds. And verizon's pricing is no different than the cablevision packages for the most part. And so..to many a consumer..there really is no incentive to buy into something new. I think that this all adds up to a rather bleak future for the telco's. Because people ARE buying into cables triple play bundles. And taking phone business away from the telcos. And people ARE upgrading from DSL.and taking dsl business away from the telcos.
In other words..when it comes to those products..McD's is losing their hamburger and fry business..and hoping something new..something introduced very recently...can save them. The problem is..that something else is owned by a very dominant industry who has spent a decade upgrading their core networks. And who now has a new weapon at their disposal. Docsis 3.0.

And note..cablevision is beating back fios ....with docsis 2.0. Not even what is on the horizon..easily rolled out..and very affordable.

I just think the telco industry is going to have one amazingly difficult time in the years ahead. All things seem to point to huge losses in landlines continuing..dsl becoming the next dialup...fios becoming a rather mediocre rollout..and the real risks of profits beginning to suffer so much that fios pricing has to be raised well above cables.
psomero
Premium Member
join:2008-11-09
San Jose, CA

psomero

Premium Member

this is true

i just reluctantly dumped my 9.5 year old at&t DSL service for comcast.

i had developed line quality issues over the past year and over the past month, the DSL would lose sync several times a day and has been down about 50% of the time, despite running a new line straight from the demarc, not having any other jacks/devices on the line and having three separate visits by line techs to inspect/repair the line or restore service after outages.

comcast is almost ten times faster than my dsl was. i was topping out between 2 and 3 megabits on dsl and am consistently pulling HUGE speeds on the cable...
psomero

1 edit

psomero

Premium Member

Re: this is true

i must point out that i fully intend to dump comcast within the next year (before the promo rate dries up) if any other ISP brings better service to my area. the last at&t tech told me that they're upgrading to VDSL2 service within the next six months and i also discovered that there's a FTTH provider in my area, so i'm working on getting a demand created in my neighborhood to see if they'd be willing to bring service here.

edit: i have long despised comcast for their ATROCIOUS tv ads, the fact that they assault customers with advertisements for digital cable service ON DIGITAL CABLE, deceptive advertising about the amount of HD content that they offer, the fact that their firmware programmers are the worst ever and all of my cable boxes brick once every month or so and require replacement, and for the fact that directv can deliver better TV service for literally half the price.

i have been fairly impressed with their internet and voip service so far and have had great luck with the business class service at work where i'm the IT department. if they bring that level of quality and customer service to their residential service, i might change my mind...
whosmatt
join:2005-02-28
San Diego, CA

whosmatt to psomero

Member

to psomero
Me too. I was incredibly happy with Bellsouth but AT&T didn't make anywhere near the effort required to keep me as a customer when my line began developing problems.

TWC gives me 10x512 for the same price as AT&T's 6x512 service (at least for the first year) and it has thus far been perfectly reliable.
panther3464
join:2007-10-13
Cape Coral, FL

panther3464

Member

Bye bye DSL

Just dumped my 3m Verizon DSl that I was paying 29.99 and signed for 10m Roadrunner 1yr/@29.99. Got rid of home landline too
slckusr
Premium Member
join:2003-03-17
Greenville, SC

slckusr

Premium Member

i like my dsl

but adding caps to my service is going to increase the cable subs even more

VerizonIsLame

Anon

What's dsl?

....Oh Yeah,I remember now! It's the service you have to be within ten feet of the CO! I'm sooooo close to Verizons CO,I could hit it with rock and I still cant get it! This DSL is really a BIG THREAT!
radougherty
join:1999-07-23
Austin, TX

1 edit

radougherty

Member

Bye AT&T

I had AT&T for POTS (unlimited local and LD, plus a couple calling features) and DSL Elite 6Mbps/768Kbps which really was more like 5Mbps/600Kbps and paying about $94 per month. I wanted to get either voice mail or call waiting caller ID but our switch doesn't support either of those features.

For the same price (not figuring in the promotional pricing I'm getting, figure that in and saving $20/month) now from TWC for the same price I get voice with more features and internet with 15Mbps/2Mbps with burst to 22Mbps.

I know if AT&T put UVerse in our area I could get faster internet speeds but no sign of that happening anytime soon. Even if they did their decision to use FTTN still won't allow them to match what cable can deliver to the homes, unless the VRAD is within site of your house.
Rob_
Premium Member
join:2008-07-16
Mary Esther, FL

Rob_

Premium Member

DSL an alternative

If cable is getting too expensive then DSL is the choice. many cable co's are increasing their rates without increasing speeds. right now, my bill is $60.00 and if it goes up any higher, i will end up getting embarq's 10/890 package.

when you say "cable rules" it's like.. ok what's next? how about installing upgrades in both the telco and cable fields instead of monthly caps.. but we know the answer to that is.. CONTROL.

and, when people are making ends meet, $60.00 (PREMIER) a month for cable service will soon become a luxury most people can't afford.

so.. don't sell DSL short... if more people ditch DSL and i jump on, more B/W for me.

-Rob

Ikyuao
join:2007-02-26
Wichita, KS

Ikyuao

Member

Re: DSL an alternative

If you think that DSL is cheap to you and how about you pay up a taxes with DSL? With cable there are no taxes that is very simple.

printscreen
join:2003-11-01
Juana Diaz, PR

printscreen

Member

Stupid war

I have never understood this war about cable vs. DSL. People will choose whatever is best for them, be it DSL, cable, fiber, whatever. I really would not care what technology my ISP uses as long as it provides a reliable service and speeds that suit my needs at a good price.

ptrowski
Got Helix?
Premium Member
join:2005-03-14
Woodstock, CT

ptrowski

Premium Member

Re: Stupid war

said by printscreen:

I have never understood this war about cable vs. DSL. People will choose whatever is best for them, be it DSL, cable, fiber, whatever. I really would not care what technology my ISP uses as long as it provides a reliable service and speeds that suit my needs at a good price.
Bingo.

Richie12
join:1999-08-26
Tinley Park, IL

Richie12

Member

AT&T to further add to the downfall of DSL...

...with the ridiculously low bandwidth caps it is trying out in Reno, NV. For example, an 80GB monthly limit for a package that has a 6MB download speed. After the 80GB, it is a buck a GB.
Mr Matt
join:2008-01-29
Eustis, FL

Mr Matt

Member

Bell Heads need to change their attitude.

The Local Exchange Carriers can make their service more attractive if they adopted the same pricing structure for DSL Service as Embarq. Embarq offers five download speeds at reasonable prices. Embarq does not offer customers download speeds that they cannot deliver. In my area the highest speed I was offered was 5Mbps although they offer customers 10Mbps if they are closer to the central office. The Local Exchange Carriers still have a monopolistic attitude and believe that they can charge customers for 3Mbps connection and deliver 512Mbps. As a result they are having their clock cleaned by the CATV industry. The LEC's whining about loss of landline customers, could be fixed if they eliminated the central office connection charge unfee, reduced the cost of, or included 100 Minutes of long distance service and put together more attractive Voice/DSL packages. The LEC's have to behave like a business and not like a utility or they will be history.

Ikyuao
join:2007-02-26
Wichita, KS

Ikyuao

Member

Re: Bell Heads need to change their attitude.

Local Exchange Carriers just need is build an exchange terminals must be much shorter loop line to a homes so homes could get up to 50 Mbits download speeds that is simple.
Baseline7
join:2001-02-26
Buffalo, NY

Baseline7

Member

DSL is slow

No FIOS, No Uverse, and DSL is a 4th of the speed in my area. Kinda a no-brainer when that's the only competition.

dsdere56e677
@cox.net

dsdere56e677

Anon

Can you say years too late to care!

This story is years late the real story is cable, fios and wireless data competition.