Want 12Mbits/sec for $21? Move to Japan.

gbjbaanb writes "Softbank, in Japan, has built a gigabit ethernet network to replace DSL over ATM, which costs peanuts to maintain and run. For $21 a month, Japanese users get 12Mb/sec, free VoIP (without quality loss) calls to users on the same network, (3c/min to New York), and DVD-quality movies. The company needs users to stay with the service for 15 months to break even, given that it is giving modems away for free."

Comments

Which child to sell?

[boy_afraid]

Which child do I have to sell to get that OR earn enough $$ to live there and get the service?

Re:Serious Question

[B747SP]

Note that the vast majority of fiber optics that were laid during the dot com period are all what's called "dark" fiber-- that is, they are not currently in use.

That's not what 'dark fibre' means. Dark fibre is 'private' fibre - a physical run of fibre that your traffic, and only your traffic, passes over. It's 'dark' 'cos it's 'secure', not 'cos the light is turned off.