[LINK] Usage Based Billing Around the World and Canada

[Tom Koltai]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: link-bounces at mailman.anu.edu.au 
> [mailto:link-bounces at mailman.anu.edu.au] On Behalf Of Kim Holburn
> Sent: Sunday, 3 April 2011 10:13 AM
> To: Link list
> Subject: Re: [LINK] Usage Based Billing Around the World and Canada
> 
> 
> 
> On 2011/Apr/03, at 5:40 AM, Scott Howard wrote:
> 
> > On Thu, Mar 31, 2011 at 3:47 AM, Jan Whitaker <jwhit at melbpc.org.au> 
> > wrote:
> > 
> >> At 08:02 PM 31/03/2011, Kim Holburn wrote:
> >>> Most countries just don't have data caps like we do in 
> Australia.  
> >>> In Japan a data cap is unlimited downloads and 900GB upload cap!  
> >>> Phew!
> >> 
> >> Yeah, I found when I asked the question about borrowing friends' 
> >> networks while in the US, they didn't understand the question.
> > 
> > 
> > Here in the US, in less than a month, I'll have a choice of 
> 2 options 
> > for Internet at home.
> > 
> > Either AT&T, with a 150GB limit, or Comcast with a 250GB limit.
> > 
> > Go over 150GB for AT&T and it's an extra $1/GB.  Go over 
> with Comcast 
> > and they will give you a warning, and then cut off your service.
> > 
> > Like it or not, the trend is many areas is _towards_ caps, not away 
> > from them.
> 
> And since there is no technical reason for this, why is that then?
> 


Because the Telcos can then insure that if you want more entertainment
than 16-24 HD movies a month, you HAVE to buy it from their Unmetered
local VOD offerings instead of the free options available via
Boxee/Hulu/Vimeo/ABC/BBC/SBS/Youtube etc.

As per item 3. of Bill Arnauds reasons in a previous posting - The
Gatekeeper scenario.

In this regard, the Content companies have suggested caps to the
carriers and the carriers aren't dumb. Sometimes it pays to partner up.

As 3D entertainment edges into our lives, there will be no way in the
future for capped internet services to be able to compete with the
carriers VOD. offerings.

And therefore, long term, the carriers win. Because they then get to
clip each packet as it whizzes into your lounge room.

ISP's haven't figured this out and are attempting to play the same game.


With no disruption, it would appear to be a walkover.

Carriers 10 ISP's Nil.

Voila!