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WildBlue Letting East Coast Customers Walk Away
As company continues to struggle with capacity ahead of Viasat-1
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:
quote:
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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FFH5
Premium Member
join:2002-03-03
Tavistock NJ

FFH5

Premium Member

Less customers; high end svc; means higher prices

A higher end(faster) service and less customers(at least initially) means that prices will rise. "High end service" is marketing speak for higher prices.
88615298 (banned)
join:2004-07-28
West Tenness

88615298 (banned)

Member

Re: Less customers; high end svc; means higher prices

Prices are already high.

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

FFH5

Premium Member

Re: Less customers; high end svc; means higher prices

said by 88615298:

Prices are already high.
They are going to get higher.
88615298 (banned)
join:2004-07-28
West Tenness

88615298 (banned)

Member

Re: Less customers; high end svc; means higher prices

said by FFH5:

said by 88615298:

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.

thender
Screen tycoon
Premium Member
join:2009-01-01
Brooklyn, NY

thender

Premium Member

Is 3G tethering not an option in these areas?

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?
88615298 (banned)
join:2004-07-28
West Tenness

88615298 (banned)

Member

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.

thender
Screen tycoon
Premium Member
join:2009-01-01
Brooklyn, NY

1 edit

thender

Premium Member

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!
88615298 (banned)
join:2004-07-28
West Tenness

88615298 (banned)

Member

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?

thender
Screen tycoon
Premium Member
join:2009-01-01
Brooklyn, NY

thender

Premium Member

Re: Is 3G tethering not an option in these areas?

said by 88615298:

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!

compuguybna
join:2009-06-17
Nashville, TN

compuguybna to thender

Member

to thender
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!
compuguybna

compuguybna to 88615298

Member

to 88615298
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 88615298:

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.
88615298 (banned)
join:2004-07-28
West Tenness

88615298 (banned)

Member

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.

thender
Screen tycoon
Premium Member
join:2009-01-01
Brooklyn, NY

thender

Premium Member

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?
88615298 (banned)
join:2004-07-28
West Tenness

88615298 (banned)

Member

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.

rawgerz
The hell was that?
Premium Member
join:2004-10-03
Grove City, PA

rawgerz

Premium Member

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.

thender
Screen tycoon
Premium Member
join:2009-01-01
Brooklyn, NY

1 edit

thender to 88615298

Premium Member

to 88615298
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.
hottboiinnc4
ME
join:2003-10-15
Cleveland, OH

hottboiinnc4 to 88615298

Member

to 88615298
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.
fiberguy2
My views are my own.
Premium Member
join:2005-05-20

fiberguy2

Premium Member

Re: Is 3G tethering not an option in these areas?

said by hottboiinnc4:

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?
88615298 (banned)
join:2004-07-28
West Tenness

88615298 (banned) to hottboiinnc4

Member

to hottboiinnc4
said by hottboiinnc4:

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.
hottboiinnc4
ME
join:2003-10-15
Cleveland, OH

hottboiinnc4

Member

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.
pkorx8
join:2003-06-19
San Francisco, CA

pkorx8 to compuguybna

Member

to compuguybna
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.
hottboiinnc4
ME
join:2003-10-15
Cleveland, OH

hottboiinnc4 to 88615298

Member

to 88615298
not with Millenicom.
ydoucare
join:2003-03-12
Lafayette, IN

ydoucare to 88615298

Member

to 88615298
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.

tim_k
Buttons, Bows, Beamer, Shadow, Kasey
Premium Member
join:2002-02-02
Stewartstown, PA

tim_k to 88615298

Premium Member

to 88615298
said by 88615298:
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.

SimbaSeven
I Void Warranties
join:2003-03-24
Billings, MT
·StarLink

SimbaSeven

Member

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.
ShellMMG
join:2009-04-16
Grass Lake, MI

ShellMMG to thender

Member

to thender
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.

SimbaSeven
I Void Warranties
join:2003-03-24
Billings, MT
·StarLink

SimbaSeven

Member

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.

treich
join:2006-12-12

treich

Member

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.
88615298 (banned)
join:2004-07-28
West Tenness

88615298 (banned)

Member

Re: about pricing and speed

said by treich:

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.

tshirt
Premium Member
join:2004-07-11
Snohomish, WA

tshirt to treich

Premium Member

to treich
said by treich:

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)
sonicmerlin
join:2009-05-24
Cleveland, OH

sonicmerlin

Member

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.

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