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Kim Dotcom's Next Venture: Free Broadband To New Zealand

Posted by timothy on from the take-a-left-at-hawaii dept.

First time accepted submitter damagedbits writes "So it turns out that Me.ga is only part of Kim Dotcom's resolution for 2013. Even though he's still facing extradition to the U.S. for alleged piracy, Dotcom has plans to resurrect Pacific Fibre's failed project to construct a fiber optic cable across the Pacific to the U.S. The new line will bring free high-speed broadband to New Zealanders and double the nation's Internet bandwidth, setting Dotcom back about $400m." Some of that funding is based on optimism: "Dotcom plans on getting the majority of his funds by suing Hollywood studios and the US government for their 'unlawful and political destruction of [Megaupload].'"

37 of 279 comments (clear)

  1. This is actually cool... by CRC'99 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    ... It really seems to be a Robin Hood type thing....

    The 'rich' taking the 'richer' to the cleaners to provide broadband to the masses for free...

    Lately I can't seem to fault this guy....

    --
    Sendmail is like emacs: A nice operating system, but missing an editor and a MTA.
    1. Re:This is actually cool... by Tom · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Lately I can't seem to fault this guy....

      His PR manager is doing a great job, isn't he? It's almost as if rich people could pay for a good image. As if there were companies available who troll social media sites, leave comments on newpaper and blog pages and generally improve your public perception. Oh, wait...

      --
      Assorted stuff I do sometimes: Lemuria.org
    2. Re:This is actually cool... by robot5x · · Score: 5, Insightful

      he's definitely doing it right though - simultaneously stick two fingers up at the Americans, and promise the Kiwis an improvement on their piss-poor internet.

      I think he's a dick, but this is a great show.

      --
      Hej! Nasi tu byli!
    3. Re:This is actually cool... by icebraining · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Counter-example: Rupert Murdoch is rich too, and even own media companies.

      --
      Dilbert RSS feed
    4. Re:This is actually cool... by TheTurtlesMoves · · Score: 3, Informative

      Not really. I am a NZ'er and I can tell you that the issue in NZ is no one like him at all. Despite the fact that it was an illegal raid or whatever he still just doesn't get any support from the general public. Basically we all know he is a total ass from other fairly public appearances that he has made.

      --
      The Grey Goo disaster happened 3 billion years ago. This rock is covered in self replicating machines!
    5. Re:This is actually cool... by tbird81 · · Score: 4, Informative

      That's not true at all. He has a hell of a lot of support amongst the computer-literate and young.

      We all hate that the major parties sold us down the shitter over the S92a bullshit. Everyone knew from the start the raid was over-the-top (fucking helicopters, that must be a first in a NZ arrest!), and are not surprised that the GCSB didn't know their arse from their elbow.

      The guy has done nothing wrong in our country. He enabled some people to upload things to a website - that's not a crime. And just because some people uploaded copyrighted things (based on unfair enormously long, and bribed-to-get-that-way copyright terms) to his website, does not make him a money launderer!

    6. Re:This is actually cool... by second_coming · · Score: 4, Funny

      ...and is unanimously hated around the world. Such a shame :o

    7. Re:This is actually cool... by Rakshasa-sensei · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Well, the issue is that by all accounts he was operating within the law, so who's the gullible ones here?

      Unlike Youtube where copyright infringement was rampant and encouraged by the leaders, MegaUpload always has seemed to follow the DMCA faithfully. Until google gets a helicopter raid you can stick that gullible thing up your ignorant ass.

    8. Re:This is actually cool... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Suuuure he was operating within "the law". And all those wise guys who owned speakeasies during prohibition? They were just shocked - shocked!, I tells ya - to learn that the barkeeps had been serving alcohol without their knowledge or consent.

      Well.. that's the thing. As far as anyone can tell (and unless you can show otherwise), he WAS operating within the law (or, if you prefer, "the law").

      Following your silly analogy, if, during prohibition, there was a specific law that said that your establishment was working within the law as long as you would kick-off any drunk people from your establishment whenever told by the authorities (i.e. the equivalent of the DMCA law, bur for alcohol) and the owner faithfully followed that law, then, by definition, he was operating _within the law_.

      Your analogy totally breaks down, actually, once one sees that, unlike what happens in speakeasies, in the particular case, it's not the owner of the establishment that's supplying the illegal goods (unless you have proof otherwise, besides your witty but shallow remarks).

      But, yes, keep ignoring all that (and YouTube, while you're at it). Let's just pretend copyright infringement never happens anywhere online and, whenever it does, it's obviously due to Dotcom's fault and he's obviously profiting from it. You know... as if Dotcom's "support" is required for piracy to continue thriving.

  2. I Like this guy... by zixxt · · Score: 3, Funny

    When i first read about him a few years ago he came across has a big douche, but now he has grown on me. I find myself cheering him on.

    --
    ---- GENERATION 26: The first time you see this, copy it into your sig on any forum and add 1 to the generation.
    1. Re:I Like this guy... by subreality · · Score: 4, Insightful

      He's still a complete douche, right down to the bottom of his trolling little heart. I'm not exactly a supporter, but I am enjoying the show.

    2. Re:I Like this guy... by witherstaff · · Score: 5, Funny

      but I am enjoying the show.

      It's all you people enjoying the free shows that got him in trouble in the first place!

    3. Re:I Like this guy... by subreality · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Actually I formed my opinion well before any of this went down. The guy's personality has been publicly known for most of two decades now.

      His latest antics are much less harmful to society, and I do give him credit for that. I enjoy anyone who's a pain in the system's ass instead of causing real trouble. Larry Flynt is another fun one... but both of them, like cows, are best observed from a distance; the closer you get the more disgusting you realize they really are.

      I'm sure there's plenty of disinformation being handed out as you say, but I'm confident in my independent opinion that he is still a total douche.

    4. Re:I Like this guy... by blind+biker · · Score: 4, Interesting

      He's still a complete douche, right down to the bottom of his trolling little heart.

      I am shocked that this cheap piece of character assassination got modded +4

      If you want to criticize someone, please provide some arguments. Until then, the man did nothing bad. In fact, of the moderately rich people, he is one of the few that arrived to his riches with honest work. You disagree? Fine, provide some fucking arguments instead of just ad hominem insults.

      --
      "The agriculture ministry is not in charge of Gundam" - Japanese ministry official.
  3. Best of luck to him. by klingers48 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I'd say that regardless of your stance on intellectual property, if you dig below the surface then you can see there was some very grubby, nepotistic and borderline criminal politics at work in the obliteration of Megaupload and the persecution Dotcom. Not to mention all the collateral damage to busineses using Megaupload for legitimate backups (even if we do acknowledge that a huge chunk of that data was probably pirated...).

    I'm doubtful of how successful any court action will be directly against the US government, but if he's willing to funnel it back into the kind of altruistic endeavour he's proposing, I say power to him. I'm sure that LOTR-notwithstanding, It's more than Hollywood's ever done for New Zealand's economy.

    1. Re:Best of luck to him. by Tom · · Score: 3, Interesting

      I'd say that regardless of your stance on intellectual property, if you dig below the surface then you can see there was some very grubby, nepotistic and borderline criminal politics at work

      borderline? It was outright criminal...

      in the obliteration of Megaupload and the persecution Dotcom.

      ...oh, you're just toting the party line.

      Here's a deal: I'll agree with you if you get your head out of your ass and agree that the e-mails obtained during the prosecution also show very clearly that Kim and his gang actually were intentionally breaking the law on a large scale with the sole motivation of money, money, money.

      Or does that not fit the self-made image of the glorious freedom fighter? Sorry, dude. The real heroes don't live in mansions.

      --
      Assorted stuff I do sometimes: Lemuria.org
    2. Re:Best of luck to him. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

      You're right, but still, if I had to choose, I'd choose an evil douche like him with his evil company over an organized evil body like MAFIAA with its lapdog, the US government, any time, anywhere without so much of a blink of an eye.

    3. Re:Best of luck to him. by Kokuyo · · Score: 3, Insightful

      It's called choosing the lesser of two evils. The Yanks know a thing or two about that ;).

    4. Re:Best of luck to him. by TubeSteak · · Score: 4, Insightful

      in the obliteration of Megaupload and the persecution Dotcom.

      Kim and his gang actually were intentionally breaking the law on a large scale with the sole motivation of money, money, money.

      I'm confused.
      Is it not possible that both things were happening at the same time?

      Sorry, dude. The real heroes don't live in mansions.

      Agreed. No true Scotsman would live in a mansion.

      --
      [Fuck Beta]
      o0t!
    5. Re:Best of luck to him. by fustakrakich · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Seems to be all they know. It still leads downhill.

      --
      “He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”
  4. Three days from now, a headline on Slashdot... by GrpA · · Score: 4, Funny

    Next up, Kim Dotcoms create the New Zealand based MEGAparty, waiting for the day that people vote him Prime Minister of New Zealand - with his election platform based on Free MEGAbroadband for all, for FREE!

    But it's ten-times better for those who register their vote for him with the MEGApartyManager...

    GrpA

    --
    Enjoy science fiction? "Turing Evolved" - AI, Mecha, Androids and rail-gun battles. What more could you want?
  5. Re:How does he afford $400 million? by Pathogen+David · · Score: 5, Informative
    RTFA:

    "Dotcom plans on getting the majority of his funds by suing Hollywood studios and the US government for their 'unlawful and political destruction of [Megaupload].'"

  6. he's got my vote. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Put me on the jury and i'll award him billions.

    What the US and NZ goverment did to him was wrong, illegal, and COMPLETE BULLSHIT!
    You can't be the good guys pulling shit like that over some fucking media... not something serious... movies and music... what. the... fuck!

    So i'll root for the 'criminal' here. Because all in all he's far less of a scumbag than any of the politicians or law enforcement agents involved in this clusterfuck megaupload case.

    See america... this is how far we have fallen.. i'd rather support a "criminal" than law enforcement thugs or politicians.
    USA! We are the worlds biggest hypocrites! Respect is earned and the USA deserves damm little anymore.
    And if i had my way i'd see ALL of the politicians and pigs involved in this case thrown in jail for a decade.

    1. Re:he's got my vote. by tehcyder · · Score: 4, Funny

      Put me on the jury and i'll award him billions.

      You have to be over 18 and of sound mind to serve on a jury where I come from.

      --
      To have a right to do a thing is not at all the same as to be right in doing it
  7. Re:please by Rakshasa-sensei · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Real heros?

    How about a guy that got raided by Delta-force with assault rifles and helicopters, a billion dollar business destroyed with no due process, and illegal spying that is pretty close to getting a prime minister redhanded in illegalities?

    What has gone down would be enough to produce a pretty damn good movie and you're questioning if he's been through enough to qualify for some support? Are you perhaps a sore dick mad at the world cause someone else has done cool stuff and you never got out of your mom's basement.

  8. More information Hollywood and government Roles by PolygamousRanchKid+ · · Score: 3

    I believe that a lawsuit against Hollywood and the US government is hopeless. They both own too many judges. However, I hope that some investigation into the matter would bring more light on the US government's and Hollywood's roles in the matter. This whole thing looks like Hollywood just convinced the US government to destroy the Dubious Dotcom, by using whatever Dubious Means possible. It's like Hollywood ordered a drone strike in New Zealand, and the US military leadership had no say in the matter.

    Some Hollywood and government folks are a wee bit too cozy together, for my comfort.

    --
    Schroedinger's Brexit: The UK is both in and out of the EU at the same time!
  9. He's going to try to sue the studios? Good luck! by Chas · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Basically the studios have enough collective cash to put him in the poorhouse before he ever sees a dime from them.

    --


    Chas - The one, the only.
    THANK GOD!!!
  10. Re:How does he afford $400 million? by Kokuyo · · Score: 4, Informative

    Dude, seriously, you didn't even need to RTFA... the summary would have been more than adequate to answer your question...

  11. Re:How does he afford $400 million? by Robert+Zenz · · Score: 4, Funny

    RTFS:

    FTFY

  12. Free? Nonsense by Lincolnshire+Poacher · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I could buy a bus today and offer people free commuting to work, but that's not going to last much beyond the point where I have to refill the fuel tank for the first time...

    He is not so naive to think that he can just hook a fibre link up to an end-point in the CONUS and give everyone in NZ free data transfer.

    1. Maintenance costs of the fibre link.
    2. Transit costs to non-peering partners
    3. Transit costs to "rest of World", you may have heard of it
    4. End-mile connectivity for the NZ customers

    All these have immense ongoing costs. Not sure how Mr Dotcom's traditional advertise-and-nag funding model will help there.

  13. Re:Free? Nonsense by hairyfish · · Score: 3, Interesting

    He is not so naive to think...

    The guy might be of questionable intent, but he isn't stupid. Without having much knowledge of the subject matter, at a wild guess I'd say he plans to cover the costs by serving all me.ga data from NZ to the rest of the world, which effectively makes all peering arrangements hugely profitable since most traffic is outbound. In any case I'm sure he knows more about this than you or I, so there must be a workable business model there somewhere.

  14. Re:please by Opportunist · · Score: 4, Insightful

    His history doesn't make it illegal for him to start a legal business. His history only makes it kinda statistically unlikely that he will...

    --
    We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
  15. He knows he'll never have to back this up by nut · · Score: 3, Interesting

    The original Pacific Fibre project failed technically because of lack of funding, but just as much from international politicking. International infrastructure (intrastructure?) attracts these sorts of issues it would seem. The US didn't want China funding it and really didn't want them providing technology.

    And of course theres's already speculation the US would take the same attitude to Kim Dotcom's involvement given they are trying to prosecute him for teh internet crimez.

    A cynic might see this as a cynical PR move on his part. He offers The People of NZ goodies and the US government takes them away. He gets to look like the good guy again and it ultimately costs him nothing.

    --
    Never trust a man in a blue trench coat, Never drive a car when you're dead
  16. Re:This is actually dead end... by Opportunist · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Someone suing the federal government should NEVER make you happy. Where do you think the money to defend them and, if they lose, to cough up the dough comes from?

    Essentially, he's suing YOU.

    --
    We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
  17. Probably not by maroberts · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Actually giving the apology probably means the government has effectively admitted that it is liable for any damages Kim Dotcom tries to claim

    --

    Donte Alistair Anderson Roberts - hi son!
    Karma: Chameleon

  18. Re:Free? Nonsense by xtal · · Score: 4, Informative

    Transit costs are marginal.

    Once the fiber is in place, operational expenses on a link per bit are basically zero. You'd have to get it connected to a peering hub of course, but on the scale he's talking about, it's not a big deal.

    Bandwidth is (almost) free. Capital build is not. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

    --
    ..don't panic
  19. Re:This is actually dead end... by drinkypoo · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Someone suing the federal government should NEVER make you happy

    I'm happy if the system collapses faster, so we can get Another System Started. I don't believe the system can be fixed by working within the system.

    --
    "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"