Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Sky and 2020

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  • Gabor Toth, in reply to Moz,

    Not wanting to turn this into Monty Python's "Four Yorkshiremen" sketch but...

    We live in a reasonably well-to-do part of Wellington in the western suburbs, 12 minutes drive from the CBD and about (as the crow flies, not as the cable runs) 600 metres from the nearest exchange. For $105 per month we get a landline and an ADSL connection that will do about 3.8 Mbits off peak (1 Mbits upload) but this will often drop to 2.5 Mbits during peak times (...and no there is nothing wrong with our phone lines or modem). No VDSL, no coaxial cable (the former Telstra Saturn network) and Chorus is not expected to lay fibre until December 2019. I'm not saying "be thankful with what you get" but try and appreciate the fact that crappy internet speed is something that many of us have to put up with and will continue to do so for some time yet.

    Wellington • Since Dec 2006 • 137 posts Report

  • Rich of Observationz,

    I remember in the UK getting Demon access for GBP10 a month (plus call charges) and then cancelling after (UK) Telecom introduced a system where they would share the revenues from a national toll call (0845 number) with the recipient, allowing "ISPs" to operate on a "free" basis (users just paid for the toll call). You could set up an ISP very easily, so there were hundreds if not thousands to choose from.

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report

  • Rich of Observationz,

    Maybe the NZRFU should merge with a larger global sporting organisation with expertise in monetizing their ball game. Man U springs to mind - they're quoted on NYSE and have their own TV channel.

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report

  • Mick Buckley, in reply to Gabor Toth,

    Agreed Gabor. The woes of dropping to 20Mbit/s read like first world problems on my rural ADSL, which manages 2Mbit/s on a good day.

    Northland • Since Aug 2014 • 7 posts Report

  • Sacha, in reply to Mick Buckley,

    Mbits? We had tins with string. #looxury

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Mick Buckley, in reply to Sacha,

    Haha, and thanks for your concern! Roll on RBI.

    Northland • Since Aug 2014 • 7 posts Report

  • nzlemming, in reply to Sacha,

    Mbits? We had tins with string. #looxury

    I would have responded sooner, but I had to let the carrier pigeon rest up.

    Waikanae • Since Nov 2006 • 2937 posts Report

  • Kumara Republic, in reply to Richard Ram,

    It's a shame Telecom didn't keep on with Xtra. Couple of missteps at the end in dealings with Microsoft etc. Innovation stopped and technology rolled over the top of the business model. And the business model didn't adapt.

    I'm guessing that was the cut-everything-and-add-nothing business model of Rod Deane. NZ is still paying for such under-investment.

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report

  • Moz, in reply to Gabor Toth,

    try and appreciate the fact that crappy internet speed is something that many of us have to put up

    You may not have noticed, but crappy is what I have to put up with for the indefinite future. The difference is that I have to do it while people lie in public about what I'm getting and when it will be upgraded and other people pat themselves on the back (also in public) for having prevented me from getting a better connection. Imagine you have kids in primary school and you're listening to Jonky or Pullya Benefit talk about how awesome charter schools are and how your kids are doing so much better since National privatised their school.

    It's the difference between "that sucks and we are working to fix it" and "you should be grateful that what you have is so awesome and it will be made perfect by the end of 2016 at the latest".

    Sydney, West Island • Since Nov 2006 • 1233 posts Report

  • Hugh Wilson,

    Gareth Morgan posted some thoughts on outlook for Sky & the sporting codes - especially rugby - where it holds the broadcast rights

    http://www.top.org.nz/is_the_sky_the_limit_for_sky_s_pricing_of_sport?utm_source=Gareth-Morgan&utm_medium=Twitter&utm_campaign=general-content

    Melbourne • Since Feb 2013 • 168 posts Report

  • Rich of Observationz, in reply to Kumara Republic,

    The concept, I guess, in the 90's was that an ISP would bundle a 'portal' which their users would prefer to third party sites and that this would drive revenues in their direction. The trouble with that concept was manifold:

    - ISPs like Telecom typically addressed a small fragment of a domestic market.
    - They are monolithic companies with no aptitude for technical innovation.
    - They are always terrified to cannibalise their legacy revenue (calls and texts) - they've got cannibalised anyway, but it isn't the telcos doing it.
    - Competitors (Google) with global ambitions would always destroy them on functionality, simply by being able to spend more money.

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report

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