Live data from Hacker News

The beginning of the end for copper wire

potsandpansbyccg.com

1–10 of 193 posts

Re: The beginning of the end for copper wire

#3
The article brings up DSL, but I thought DSL was a short haul technology (you have to be pretty close to a branch office or something)? Would it really affect rural customers anyway?

I'm also curious if the newer faster fiber technologies are sort of "subsidizing" the carrier's copper business.

Re: The beginning of the end for copper wire

#4
AT&T has basically been bullying customers out of their POTS lines for the last few years. Instead of paying, saying $34.95 for a line they'll increase it to $89 or $135 per line.

Then they'll sell you a 'bundle' with a cellular phone or tablet with data plan at a lower price than your old rate for just the old analog line alone. Not sure how the math works out.

Since the contract is up after a year, then you have start a new bundle or pay up. They're selling WebEx, Office 365...everything.

Re: The beginning of the end for copper wire

#5
post #3

The article brings up DSL, but I thought DSL was a short haul technology (you have to be pretty close to a branch office or something)? Would it really affect rural customers anyway? I'm also curious if the newer faster fiber technologies are sort of "subsidizing" the carrier's copper business.

Here in NZ copper is lining teleco pockets to the extent that The Commerce Commission investigated them, and gave the a slightly hard time.

http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/business/282222/cheaper-copper...

Re: The beginning of the end for copper wire

#6
post #3

The article brings up DSL, but I thought DSL was a short haul technology (you have to be pretty close to a branch office or something)? Would it really affect rural customers anyway? I'm also curious if the newer faster fiber technologies are sort of "subsidizing" the carrier's copper business.

I have DSL and I'm 10 miles away from the nearest ... building with lots of switches. However, the copper line used for my DSL is less than a mile long. I live inside the town limits, but out at the edge of town, there's a roadside hub. And there's fiber into that hub.

Re: The beginning of the end for copper wire

#7
post #3

The article brings up DSL, but I thought DSL was a short haul technology (you have to be pretty close to a branch office or something)? Would it really affect rural customers anyway? I'm also curious if the newer faster fiber technologies are sort of "subsidizing" the carrier's copper business.

They put in cabinets/huts and run it from there.

Re: The beginning of the end for copper wire

#10
I'm in an apartment building in NYC. While a new service elevator was being installed, the elevator guys cut my phone line 3 times, and 3 times Verizon came out to fix it, at no cost to me. However after the third time, the building management refused to allow copper wire service to continue in the building. It turns out I was 1 of only 2 apartments which hadn't already moved to a cable/internet/phone package from one of three available providers.

It annoyed me to have to switch, but ultimately it turned out to be cheaper, even after the initial contract expired.

Post reply on HN