I believe the spectrum is not really well suited to Internet services because of the technical characteristics of the low freqency signal. I think it is fine for voice in the portfolio of an incumbent carrier, but as a stand alone internet service, 700mhz is ill suited.
Yes philip. I agree. Anything one way would be fine. Thats why its so funny that everyone is calling this "beachfront property" for some new nationwide internet service. BULL!
The reason is density. Its not that 850mhz or 700mhz can't work at all. It just a question of how many people in a given area are expected to be serviced. In fact, here in the US we use 850mhz too, but mainly in rural areas. We just don't use it in highly populated areas, at least as a primary. In a highly populated area it is paired with 1900mhz. I don't know much about the population centers or penetration in Australia, but its all about how much usage is expected in a given physical area.
Have a read. I still see the 700mhz as possibly viable for it. I mean, if Telstra can do it (and they're one of the worst telcos in Aus!), then why couldn't Google? :P
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
hank williams @ Jan 24th 2008 8:38AM
as I blogged about today at
http://whydoeseverythingsuck.com/2008/01/700mhz-spectrum-not-so-great-for.html
I believe the spectrum is not really well suited to Internet services because of the technical characteristics of the low freqency signal. I think it is fine for voice in the portfolio of an incumbent carrier, but as a stand alone internet service, 700mhz is ill suited.
Phillip J. Fry @ Jan 24th 2008 10:16AM
Like TV now, the 700MHz won't be used for two-way communication. At least not for home usage.
It would be a one-way, into the home, data pipe. Things that wouldn't require a ton of bandwidth, and don't require acknowledgment.
Things like:
Weather information
School closings
Local news (text, simple pictures)
Emergency Information
etc.
That is what I think it will be used for.
hank williams @ Jan 24th 2008 10:25AM
Yes philip. I agree. Anything one way would be fine. Thats why its so funny that everyone is calling this "beachfront property" for some new nationwide internet service. BULL!
Alexander @ Jan 24th 2008 11:36AM
Also, what Google might do is use this to connect all the dark fiber that they bought waaay back when the .com bubble burst.
Just a thought. They have so much technology that they need to connect.
Josh Girvin @ Jan 24th 2008 5:21PM
I don't know how true that is...
Telstra's NextG network here in Australia operates on the 850mhz band. It gives you super-fast 3G internet. Why couldn't the 700mhz band?
Hank Williams @ Jan 24th 2008 5:26PM
Josh,
The reason is density. Its not that 850mhz or 700mhz can't work at all. It just a question of how many people in a given area are expected to be serviced. In fact, here in the US we use 850mhz too, but mainly in rural areas. We just don't use it in highly populated areas, at least as a primary. In a highly populated area it is paired with 1900mhz. I don't know much about the population centers or penetration in Australia, but its all about how much usage is expected in a given physical area.
Josh Girvin @ Jan 24th 2008 6:43PM
Hank,
Thanks for your reply. :)
NextG is used in all rural areas of Australia. Our population density out in the sticks varies between slim and none ;)
They still get fast internet there through the NextG network (although Telstra rort you for the priviledge).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NextG#Telstra_Mobile
Have a read. I still see the 700mhz as possibly viable for it. I mean, if Telstra can do it (and they're one of the worst telcos in Aus!), then why couldn't Google? :P