OECD broadband statisticsThe OECD periodically publishes broadband statistics for its

OECD broadband statistics

The OECD periodically publishes broadband statistics for its member countries, which are all industrialized. The latest report can be found here. There are a few surprises here of note:

• First, the US ranks ahead of Japan in broadband penetration, which I believe to be a first.
  
• Another interesting thing is that the US is the only OECD member country in which cable modem subscribership is ahead of DSL. But, the use of each of these technologies is remarkably balanced (8/100 for DSL and 9.8/100 for cable) compared with other OECD countries.
  

So that brings to my mind a few questions ... what do these statistics say about some of the concerns raised by "net neut*" proponents? Would you anticipate "net neut*" arguments to emerge in other countries as well?

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OECD, broadband, network neutrality, DSL, cable modem

Martin Weiss

Mobile Broadband Access - Myth and Reality - No IM allowed

I posted something similar already in September 2005 about E-Plus and Skype, but VoIP is VERBOTEN.

This time the phun comes from T-Mobile UK, regarding their web'n' walk professional product, which proudly presents it's great value for 20 Pounds a month:

Web n walk professional makes surfing the internet on your laptop simple and easy. Just put the web n walk card in your laptop and away you go. And it's great value.

• Download and send large files and emails quickly
• Fast download and upload speeds
• No data download limits*

You see the * - Watch OUT, it is in very small print:

*Web n Walk professional is subject to a minimum term contract and credit check. Compatible handset or device required.

OK, this is normal

To ensure a high quality of service for all our customers, a fair use policy applies. T-Mobile defines fair use as total UK data use (both sent and received) of up to 2GB per month. T-Mobile may contact customers who exceed this volume of data in two (or more) consecutive months in any six month period to ask them to reduce their usage. If usage is not reduced, notice may be given, after which network protection controls may be applied which will result in a reduced speed of transmission.

So unlimited means 2GB. And note the ENSURE high Quality for ALL OUR CUSTOMERS: you must not use it too much, because if two or three of you bastards are in one cell, there will be troubles. This definitely leads to the next statement, which is outragous:

Use of Voice over Internet Protocol and Messaging over Internet Protocol is prohibited by T-Mobile. If use of either or both of these services is detected T-Mobile may terminate all contracts with the customer and disconnect any SIM cards and/or web n walk cards from the T-Mobile network.

Not only VoIP, but also IM is VERBOTEN. And because they cannot prevent it technically, they do it in the contract.

So no Skype, Jabber, Messenger, etc. not even with text messages.

They must have a lousy network, if even text messages are degrading it.

What applications will they block next? Video download from Warner Bros? Large File tranfer? VPNs?

This raises one question: is the contract really terminated. Since the above 20 quids are for a 18 month minimum contract, do they simply throw you out or do you have to pay the fully monty?

I suspect the latter, because otherwise this would be a nice way to get out of such a contract ;-)

Richard