Slashdot Mirror
World's Fastest Internet Cafe
Thyrus writes "An internet cafe offering connections 50 times faster than typical broadband services has opened in Cornwall. Computers at Goonhilly satellite station, on the Lizard peninsula in Cornwall, are connected to BT's global internet protocol network. That means users can download data at speeds of up to 100 megabits per second (Mbps). It is thought to be the first time such high speeds have been seen at a UK internet cafe. The service will be free to visitors."
First, I am glad they said in the UK, because 100mbit cyber cafes aren't special everywhere.
Also, I notice they have had to tip toe around what it can be used for:
Adrian Hosford of BT said: "It would be possible to use the cafe's computers to download in less than 15 minutes a file the equivalent size of the DVD version of the Encyclopaedia Britannica, with its 19,000 illustrations, 629 audio and video clips and 100,000 articles.
It seems like they are trying almost too hard to explain how quick it is, afterall, I never rate my downloads in terms of how many "dvd copies of a paper encyclopedia with illustrations and video clips" I just say its shit-hot.
We need it in terms we can understand like how many TPG/s can we view?
will google earth run smoothly without appearing to break up or pixelate no matter where I zoom or rotate to?
can I wipe out my friends in CS:S by having a l33t connection?
Another article I was reading earlier about this mentions why the special people were chosen to open it:
The new internet café will be officially declared open by Helston Community College pupils Chloe Smith and James Evans, both aged 17, who have demonstrated outstanding acumen in the field of information technology.
from here.
(Yes, sisco appear to be hyping this more than the BBC, but then again they supplied some of the high tech equipment.
liqbase
The world's biggest Adult Theater is opening up next door. Coincidence?
+5, Truth
100Mbps connections are not that uncommon. Besides, it's the overall download speed that counts, and that is often determined downstream from you local connection. The bandwidth bottleneck is rarely (if ever) your local connection speed.
So...it is free for guests, what if I want to move in? Would I have to pay for it :o)
----- I have bad karma for a reason! -----
the 61 dishes were there already.
Its a massive communications centre.
the cafe is just a tiny part of it which they have hooked into the direct net feed.
Like having the microwave at springfield nuclear power plant linked directly to the reactor core.
liqbase
bistromathics is the answer. Finally, they understand ...
Remember, if you don't pay your tab, you might have to wash the dishes...
+5, Truth
I first heard of Goonhilly from a hardly-noticed story I once read. Not being a European, I had to look it up at the time to see what the hell it was.
No real relevance, I just like the name Goonhilly.
[
Sounds to me like you haven't been around much for the last few years. Alright UK internet access isn't the best but unless you live right in the middle of nowhere you can certainly get ADSL speeds. 90% of uk households according to this (alright I've never heard of them but it was this or theregister).
Personally I get 8mbs (theoretically) more like 6.5mbs in practice. Where I live you can get up to 24mbs if you feel like it. Telewest (if they are still called that) are trialing a 100mbs connection to a few select areas and offer 10mbs to their other customers. Let's be honest it's nothing like your description.