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Google plans to beam 5G internet from solar drones

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Re: Google plans to beam 5G internet from solar drones

#51

Where I live in Maine, this is a third world country when it comes to connectivity. The best you can get is about 25mbps when sitting right under our only cell phone tower in town, it is about 0.5mbps when I can get a signal at my house. My wired home Internet? 15/1 ADSL2. We have cable, they offer speeds up to 30/5 or so, but they force you to bundle it with cable TV to get speeds that high, and I don't want cable T…

are these figures in MB ? 15M down, 1M up ? (if so, tbh, this is above comfortable IMO). How much that ISP is charging you for this plan ?

15/1 in mbit. I always quote those numbers in mbit.

$45.89 currently.

Re: Google plans to beam 5G internet from solar drones

#52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

are these figures in MB ? 15M down, 1M up ? (if so, tbh, this is above comfortable IMO). How much that ISP is charging you for this plan ?

15/1 in mbit. I always quote those numbers in mbit. $45.89 currently.

Indeed, for that amount of money 15Mbit is anemic.

Re: Google plans to beam 5G internet from solar drones

#53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

15/1 in mbit. I always quote those numbers in mbit. $45.89 currently.

Indeed, for that amount of money 15Mbit is anemic.

I grew up in rural Iowa. My parents are stuck with 3/1 for $85/mo. And it's that or dial up.

Re: Google plans to beam 5G internet from solar drones

#54
post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Indeed, for that amount of money 15Mbit is anemic.

I grew up in rural Iowa. My parents are stuck with 3/1 for $85/mo. And it's that or dial up.

That's sad. Market milking exemplified.

Re: Google plans to beam 5G internet from solar drones

#55
post #37

This can't get here fast enough. To people who don't really get why they're doing this, or who think it only makes sense in undeveloped regions with no cell towers, I wrote about this here: http://collectiveidea.com/blog/archives/2016/01/15/wisp-tria... Basically, if you think that in developed areas cell tower density has or should have an inverse correlation with the cost of bandwidth, then you don't live in the re…

I share your general optimism on sky-based broadband, but I have to admit that I do not follow your argument about rent-seekers. All physical space, even space in the sky, is in limited supply. So why does the rent-seeking nature of cell towers make sky-based broadband inevitable? I can see why sky-based broadband affords a huge competitive advantage, allowing Google to beam 1gbps for $5/mo to the 15 million people w…

I hadn't really thought about how rent-seeking might apply to sky-based broadband via FAA licenses and the like. I'll have to think about that one some more.

Re: Google plans to beam 5G internet from solar drones

#56

This can't get here fast enough. To people who don't really get why they're doing this, or who think it only makes sense in undeveloped regions with no cell towers, I wrote about this here: http://collectiveidea.com/blog/archives/2016/01/15/wisp-tria... Basically, if you think that in developed areas cell tower density has or should have an inverse correlation with the cost of bandwidth, then you don't live in the re…

> This geography-based rent-seeking

don't forget about the actual rent, too.

how much of the housing cost problem is caused by a huge number of people needing wired broadband within X miles of a city center, competing with rich foreigners who want the exact same real estate?

imagine if middle class knowledge workers currently feeling the squeeze could realistically live 30+ miles out and telecommunicate most most/all of the time. not only would it revitalize the outskirts of some cities that need residents/activity, it would put a hedge on the insanely fast rise in the cost of housing near the city center.

or at least give working people an option to live further away, have a high standard of life (more space), and still be able to do their jobs without commuting 2-3 hours a day.

but maybe this is all anecdata: i have a tiny place (studio) in the city and i am completely uninterested in spending close to $1M to upgrade my conditions. however, i am willing to spend a considerable amount of money to either add a country home (best of both worlds), or move altogether. where prices are good, bandwidth sucks, and i can't realistically live there and run a business.

this is clearly an imbalance in the marketplace and i hope it gets addressed in the next 5 years.

Re: Google plans to beam 5G internet from solar drones

#57
post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Indeed, for that amount of money 15Mbit is anemic.

I grew up in rural Iowa. My parents are stuck with 3/1 for $85/mo. And it's that or dial up.

Is that with or without phone? I get local + in state + national calling + that 15/1 for like $86.xx total/mo.

Re: Google plans to beam 5G internet from solar drones

#58

This can't get here fast enough. To people who don't really get why they're doing this, or who think it only makes sense in undeveloped regions with no cell towers, I wrote about this here: http://collectiveidea.com/blog/archives/2016/01/15/wisp-tria... Basically, if you think that in developed areas cell tower density has or should have an inverse correlation with the cost of bandwidth, then you don't live in the re…

> This geography-based rent-seeking don't forget about the actual rent, too. how much of the housing cost problem is caused by a huge number of people needing wired broadband within X miles of a city center, competing with rich foreigners who want the exact same real estate? imagine if middle class knowledge workers currently feeling the squeeze could realistically live 30+ miles out and telecommunicate most most/all…

Just like you, I don't have to imagine. I make an engineer salary working from home. I live in a low cost of living part of Florida, 5 minutes from the beach on the gulf side.

Because I didn't go to SF, and have worked remotely, I've been able to save a non-insignificant amount of my income; I'll be able to retire around 35-37 (I'm 33 now).

Always be willing to say no when someone can extract rent of any sort from you; otherwise, you're a slave to them.

Re: Google plans to beam 5G internet from solar drones

#59

So how come millimeter wave networking from Google is a good thing, but the when the ex-Aereo guys announce a similar thing everyone is skeptical? https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=10984755

Maybe because the aero guys had legal issues with their last product. That being said, as a Bostonian I am excited about this potential internet option.

Re: Google plans to beam 5G internet from solar drones

#60

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> This geography-based rent-seeking don't forget about the actual rent, too. how much of the housing cost problem is caused by a huge number of people needing wired broadband within X miles of a city center, competing with rich foreigners who want the exact same real estate? imagine if middle class knowledge workers currently feeling the squeeze could realistically live 30+ miles out and telecommunicate most most/all…

Just like you, I don't have to imagine. I make an engineer salary working from home. I live in a low cost of living part of Florida, 5 minutes from the beach on the gulf side. Because I didn't go to SF, and have worked remotely, I've been able to save a non-insignificant amount of my income; I'll be able to retire around 35-37 (I'm 33 now). Always be willing to say no when someone can extract rent of any sort from yo…

congratulations. as i get older i consider doing the same more and more, or just getting out of tech altogether. seems like it's a treadmill in a lot of ways.
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