WildBlue Letting East Coast Customers Walk Away As company continues to struggle with capacity ahead of Viasat-1 Tipped by alpha_kky 
We've mentioned how satellite broadband is the Rodney Dangerfield of broadband connectivity, given the ridiculously low caps, high prices, and slow speeds. With the satellite industry pushing for broadband stimulus funds, they're heavily hyping next year's launch of ViaSat 1, which Viasat insists will have more capacity than all current commercial satellites combined. Viasat purchased WildBlue in 2009, and says that they're planning to " reposition WildBlue as a higher-end service." Apparently, by "higher-end service," the company means one that can actually offer the bandwidth it promises: For Dankberg and ViaSat, the question since their purchase of WildBlue in late 2009 was whether they were willing to risk the revenue hit that would follow an attempt to give each subscriber more bandwidth by reducing WildBlue subscriptions in high-demand regions. In a May 14 conference call with investors, Dankberg said ViaSat would be doing exactly that as it prepares the market for its large ViaSat-1 Ka-band broadband satellite designed to provide much more bandwidth than that currently offered by WildBlue. According to ViaSat Chief Executive Mark D. Dankberg, that includes letting customers leave on the east coast without trying to win them back, and focusing their business more heavily on the west coast. For years WildBlue has struggled to have enough capacity to add customers in many markets.
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  Romney2012Defeat Obama 2012-Chg we can believe inPremium
join:2002-03-03
USA
kudos:4 |  Less customers; high end svc; means higher prices
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|  |  BF69Premium
join:2004-07-28
Camden, TN | Re: Less customers; high end svc; means higher prices Prices are already high. | |
| | | | | | | BF69Premium
join:2004-07-28
Camden, TN | Re: Less customers; high end svc; means higher prices said by Romney2012:said by BF69:Prices are already high. They are going to get higher. Well if it's LESS cusotmers they want that's a good way to achieve that. | |
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 thenderScreen tycoonPremium
join:2009-01-01
Brooklyn, NY
kudos:1 |  Is 3G tethering not an option in these areas?
Or is it a case where the areas no one bothers to run cable/DSL to are also the areas stuck with spotty 2G cell service?
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Macbook, & BlackBerry repair in NYC | |
| | BF69Premium
join:2004-07-28
Camden, TN | Re: Is 3G tethering not an option in these areas? said by thender:It may not be 15 mbps cable, but anything beats satellite. Or is it a case where the areas no one bothers to run cable/DSL to are also the areas stuck with spotty 2G cell service? Yes 3G tethering with a 5 GB monthly cap and $51.20 per GB overage fee. HARDLY better than satellite. | |
| | | thenderScreen tycoonPremium
join:2009-01-01
Brooklyn, NY
kudos:1
1 edit | Re: Is 3G tethering not an option in these areas? There's jailbreaking and rooting phones, and some phones like the palms that out of the box work as a wifi hotspot.
The days of $51.20 per gB overages & 5 gB monthly caps for $60/mo are coming to an end.
The great irony is that the ISPs that are becoming angered by this are the same ISPs that stonewalled the RIAA/MPAA so hard 6-7 years ago. Now they're getting a taste of what it's like when people are getting their services for nothing & no one cares, and they don't like it. Well, too bad now!
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Macbook, & BlackBerry repair in NYC | |
| | | | BF69Premium
join:2004-07-28
Camden, TN | Re: Is 3G tethering not an option in these areas? said by thender:The days of $51.20 per gB overages & 5 gB monthly caps for $60/mo are coming to an end. Tell that to verizon and at&t. It's only been in the last year that Verizon and at& "lowred" their overage fees. Before that it was $256 per GB. The 5 GB cap has been the same as it has been for years though. So what maybe in 2-3 years it'll be a 10 GB cap and $10 per GB overages? | |
| | | | | thenderScreen tycoonPremium
join:2009-01-01
Brooklyn, NY
kudos:1 | Re: Is 3G tethering not an option in these areas? said by BF69:So what maybe in 2-3 years it'll be a 10 GB cap and $10 per GB overages? Or rooted android phones with unlimited free tethering. 
They are now where the content industry was a decade ago, and we all know who won there!
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| | | Reviews:
 ·Charter
 ·Virgin Mobile Br..
·Millenicom
 ·HughesNet Satell..
 ·ooma
| Also, T-Mobile offers a 3G option no contract for $39.99 a month (up to 9.72 GB)
said by thender:There's jailbreaking and rooting phones, and some phones like the palms that out of the box work as a wifi hotspot. The days of $51.20 per gB overages & 5 gB monthly caps for $60/mo are coming to an end. The great irony is that the ISPs that are becoming angered by this are the same ISPs that stonewalled the RIAA/MPAA so hard 6-7 years ago. Now they're getting a taste of what it's like when people are getting their services for nothing & no one cares, and they don't like it. Well, too bad now! | |
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| | Reviews:
·Charter
·Virgin Mobile Br..
·Millenicom
·HughesNet Satell..
·ooma
| Sprint offers an UNLIMITED 3G option off a cell tower for $69 a month. you just have to search around for "no limit" 3G options.
said by BF69:said by thender:It may not be 15 mbps cable, but anything beats satellite. Or is it a case where the areas no one bothers to run cable/DSL to are also the areas stuck with spotty 2G cell service? Yes 3G tethering with a 5 GB monthly cap and $51.20 per GB overage fee. HARDLY better than satellite. | |
| | | | BF69Premium
join:2004-07-28
Camden, TN | Re: Is 3G tethering not an option in these areas? said by compuguybna:Sprint offers an UNLIMITED 3G option off a cell tower for $69 a month. you just have to search around for "no limit" 3G options. Sprint doesn't even offer cell service in my area. MOST the country doesn't have access to Sprint 3G. So I'm referring to what MOST people can get an in particular MY area. so it's 5 GB cap with $51.20 per GB overages. | |
| | | | | thenderScreen tycoonPremium
join:2009-01-01
Brooklyn, NY
kudos:1 | Re: Is 3G tethering not an option in these areas? Ah.
Does anyone but sprint offer 3G cell service in your area? Or is your area given the shaft by everyone?
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Macbook, & BlackBerry repair in NYC | |
| | | | | | BF69Premium
join:2004-07-28
Camden, TN | Re: Is 3G tethering not an option in these areas? said by thender:Ah. Does anyone but sprint offer 3G cell service in your area? Or is your area given the shaft by everyone? Verizon is the only company that bothers to offer 3G in our area. As I said both Sprint and t-Mobile don't even offer basic cell service in our area. Basically At&t, Sprint and t-mobile have this attitude that if you don't live near the "big cities" you don't deserve 21st century technology. So fuck them. | |
| | | | | | |  rawgerzThe hell was that?Premium
join:2004-10-03
Grove City, PA | Re: Is 3G tethering not an option in these areas? VZ/ATT might not be offering them fair rates on T1 lines in your area or it might not be anywhere near their backbones. That would at least explain a lack of 3G.
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| | | | | | | thenderScreen tycoonPremium
join:2009-01-01
Brooklyn, NY
kudos:1
1 edit | Ok. But from what I read, verizon service is available in your area, and there are methods to tether to cellphone data plans on both hacked & unhacked devices so you don't have to pay their ridiculous overages + extra fees.
So what's the catch now? I know the lack of available choices & methods necessary to get decent broadband sucks, but it's still better than satellite.
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Macbook, & BlackBerry repair in NYC | |
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·WOW Internet and..
| why is this always abotu your area? there are plenty other areas that get WildBlue and 3G options from sprint but when ever there is a news item you bring in YOUR area. Com'on and get over it. Move if you don't like it.
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| | | | | | fiberguyMy views are my own.Premium
join:2005-05-20
kudos:3 | Re: Is 3G tethering not an option in these areas? said by hottboiinnc:why is this always abotu your area? Ummmm.. how many posts do you make that involve "well, in Ohio..." ... you do the same exact thing. And you talk about these metro wireless PCS services that exist in a few metro areas around the country like MetroPCS and Cricket..
So.. about that "c'mon and get over it" comment you just made.. care to think twice? | |
| | | | | | BF69Premium
join:2004-07-28
Camden, TN | said by hottboiinnc:why is this always about your area? there are plenty other areas that get WildBlue and 3G options from sprint but when ever there is a news item you bring in YOUR area. Com'on and get over it. Move if you don't like it. You talking to me? No I don't need to move I have both at&t DSL( 6 mbps max ) and Charter broadband( 60 Mbps max ) available. I do however care about friends that live less than 5 miles form town that get fucked over. See I'm not selfish thinking about just me.
Also at the end of the day what is available in MY area is all that matters. It's great that one area has this and another area has that. That does NOTHING for my area so it doesn't matter to me. Oh by the way Sprint does NOT have unlimited 3G thethering.
3G coverage nationwide: 5GB/mo. in total or 300 MB/mo. while off-network roaming. Additional monthly usage over 5GB costs 5¢/MB. You may not use more than 300 MB/mo. while off-network roaming. You can check your usage online anytime. Log into www.sprint.com/mysprint and click on usage details. | |
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·WOW Internet and..
| Re: Is 3G tethering not an option in these areas? First off i never said PURCHASE from Sprint. Everytime Sprint is brought up or their network you always assume purcashing from them. And then start quoting their cap. But as far as Sprint's cap its only a soft cap and nobody has never been reported of being charged overages or being shut off.
As far as Ohio goes, we don't get left out for much of anything. Many areas have 2-3 HSI providers much of Ohio is now seeing FTTH (unlike other areas of the States- ie: MN). Several cities here have 3+ cable providers.
And the flat rate providers; yes Ohio is home to NorthCost PCS which is now Revol a roaming partner of Cricket and Metro. Revo actually bought the Ohio Markets from Cricket +/- 7 years ago.
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| | | pkorx8
join:2003-06-19
San Francisco, CA Reviews:
·Comcast
 ·SONIC.NET
| Last time I checked, Sprint's "everything data" $69 plan does not include tethering or 4G. The additional costs for these are $30 and $10, respectively.
I thought the same thing too and was about to jump on their EVO waiting list, until I read their fine print.
Of course, when (not if) someone roots the EVO, tethering can be on the $69 plan. | |
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·Embarq Now Centu..
| With a fraction of the latency you get with Sat.(100 - 150ms over EVDO - Sprint/VZW) You can also check into resellers like Millenicom, who offer unlimited 3G plans.
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| | |  tim_kButtons, Bows, Beamer, Shadow, KaseyPremium,VIP
join:2002-02-02
Stewartstown, PA
kudos:13 | said by BF69:said by thender:It may not be 15 mbps cable, but anything beats satellite. Or is it a case where the areas no one bothers to run cable/DSL to are also the areas stuck with spotty 2G cell service? Yes 3G tethering with a 5 GB monthly cap and $51.20 per GB overage fee. HARDLY better than satellite. There are unlimited 3G plans out there. I switched from Wildblue to Millenicom, their unlimted uses Sprint towers and is $10 more than their regular service tier.
There are still plenty of areas that can't even get 3G. I had to use a $200 amp & antenna to get a good signal, others aren't as fortunate. BTW, I have a WB dish if anyone wants to pick it up. 
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| | | |  Simba7I Void Warranties
join:2003-03-24
Billings, MT | Re: Is 3G tethering not an option in these areas? said by tim_k:There are still plenty of areas that can't even get 3G. I had to use a $200 amp & antenna to get a good signal, others aren't as fortunate. BTW, I have a WB dish if anyone wants to pick it up. Heck, I'd just use an old DTV dish and build a directional antenna to one of the towers. That plus the amp would get killer distance. | |
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| | | I was a Wildblue subscriber for two years; at that point I learned Alltel had built out to my area. I snagged an EVDO air card which, at that time, didn't have a 5G limit. Alltel was terrific and I was sorry Verizon bought them.
Last week I learned a WiMAX company, "Great Lakes High Speed," is working hard to cover my area. I called them and when they asked my location, I learned my street was one of those they are working to cover. They said they haven't had to advertise (which is why it took me so long to find them!) because by word-of-mouth alone they've been working hard to keep up with demand. By the end of the summer I'll be covered. Pricing starts at $49.99 and there's a one-time installation charge.
I'll make absolutely sure WiMAX works well before I let my grandfathered Alltel contract go. If I had an extra $60 a month I'd hang onto it, because traveling with wireless internet is a beautiful thing. | |
| | | Simba7I Void Warranties
join:2003-03-24
Billings, MT | Re: Is 3G tethering not an option in these areas? said by ShellMMG:I'll make absolutely sure WiMAX works well before I let my grandfathered Alltel contract go. If I had an extra $60 a month I'd hang onto it, because traveling with wireless internet is a beautiful thing. I hear that. I have Alltel, a 6800, and a TP on the plan. I can eat through data like nothing and still pay the regular fee.
Unfortunately, I learned that at&t is taking over here.. which, of course, really pissed me off.
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Reviews:
·AT&T Wireless Br..
| about pricing and speed I dont understand why some of these satellite/wireless providers are charging customers in the @$$ for crappy plans and half the time connection dont work. I mean I am in the planning stages right now to open a wireless ISP in my area for people who are tied of paying high price and crappy service. | |
| | BF69Premium
join:2004-07-28
Camden, TN | Re: about pricing and speed said by treichhart:I dont understand why some of these satellite/wireless providers are charging customers in the @$$ for crappy plans and half the time connection dont work. I mean I am in the planning stages right now to open a wireless ISP in my area for people who are tied of paying high price and crappy service. Well when people have no choice they feel they an charge whatever they want. Funny in my town where at&t and Charter are option for broadband NO ONE chooses satellite. Hmmmm. Competition does funny things. | |
| |  tshirtPremium,MVM
join:2004-07-11
Snohomish, WA
kudos:3
·Comcast
| said by treichhart:I dont understand why some of these satellite/wireless providers are charging customers in the @$$ for crappy plans and half the time connection dont work. I mean I am in the planning stages right now to open a wireless ISP in my area for people who are tied of paying high price and crappy service.
because when they spend several billion dollars on the satellite, launch, insurance, on a single, limited lifespan, limited bandwidth device, every customer pays a share of that cost.
As cool as it sounds, and even though it offers a very wide footprint, satellite is a VERY expensive form of wireless, with some severe limitations (mostly, that damned speed of light thing) | |
| | | | | Re: about pricing and speed Well latency is certainly an issue but it seems that the newest generation of satellites and continued technological advancements will alleviate throughput issues. So no VOIP or online games, but everything else might become a go.
On the other hand, I am genuinely curious how much it costs to launch a satellite, and what its per year maintenance/insurance costs are. | |
| | | | | | Re: about pricing and speed At one time I worked as an engineer for a satellite internet service provider. I love technology - but it was brutal and thankless work.
There is nothing that can be done unless you can make the speed of light go faster.
Low caps, high price, constantly changing EUA terms, and mad customers - just the name of the game. | |
| | | | | | I got Alltel in our area and have a unlimited wireless internet with a Huawei EC168 for only 40$ a month plus 10$ in taxes so 50$ a month unlimited , no caps, no overages, I live out in a rural area with no cable or DSL , couldn't get a T-1 line either, it was spotty out here till I got a small antenna got 1-2 bars, later on I got a Wilson amplifer now I get 2-3 bars, planning on in the fall mounting a couple of Yagi antennas to boost it to max the towers are like 10 miles away in Mt.Vernon. I can't do without my online gaming and satellite wasn't the way to go, maybe someday we will get a wired connection eventually one can only dream. | |
| | | | tshirtPremium,MVM
join:2004-07-11
Snohomish, WA
kudos:3 Reviews:
·Comcast
2 edits | said by sonicmerlin:Well latency is certainly an issue but it seems that the newest generation of satellites and continued technological advancements will alleviate throughput issues. The latency will always be there for geo-sync sats... Can't change that, but great for streamed (video, reasonable/limited individual downloads)
The bandwidth increase is great, but will easily be overwhelm by current-future expectataions of "download happy" users.
said by sonicmerlin:On the other hand, I am genuinely curious how much it costs to launch a satellite, and what its per year maintenance/insurance costs are.
The last sat launch I REALLY researched and tracked (Galaxy 4 (G4- a State of the art (at that time) ionized gas thruster sat.) in the mid '90's, the satellite, launch, and cost to correct orbit was quoted at $1.4B, with a best case life expectancy of 15 years to the correct orbit. after a few problems life dropped to 12 years (now out of service, in a parked/junkyard orbit) I assumed that covered the insurance cost (right after there were a series of failed launches/dead in orbit sats, I'm guessing the rates went WAY up)
Once launched, expenses include the NOC, back-haul, Program cost (if video or other services a carried (some via other Sats) MORE insurance (catastrophic or partial failure before EoL) and so on.
»www.boeing.com/defense-space/spa···_iv.html | |
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