Why America Won't Match Sweden's Cheap, Fast, Competitive Internet Services

ashshy writes: Swedish Internet services run both cheaper and faster than American ones. For example, many Swedes can pay about $40 a month for 100/100 mbps, choosing between more than a dozen competing providers. It's all powered by a nationwide web of municipal networks in direct competition with ex-government telecom Telia's fiber backbone. The presence of regional government in the Swedish data stream makes many Americans uncomfortable, to say nothing of the very different histories between these backbone buildouts. The Motley Fool explains how the Swedish model developed, and why the U.S. is unlikely ever to follow suit.

Comments

LIES LIES and even more LIES!

[MindPrison]

What a CROCK!

I moved to Sweden about 4 years ago, and this is the BIGGEST fad I've ever heard. I too heard that Sweden was some kind of broadband heaven BEFORE I moved here, but that's only applicable for the BIG CITIES, not anywhere else.

Here where I live, I pay 60$ for 30/12 mbps (where I only get 13/1 mbps actual speeds), and this is the SOUTH of Sweden, about 1 hour from Swedens 3rd largest city. Heck...even Astoria OREGON in the U.S (where I was visiting at my vacation) had 30/30 Mbps and working...at a simple motel somewhere where there was 10.000 citizens 3 hours away from Portland Oregon US.

In Sweden you also got to pay for the subscriber lines, meaning...even if you don't have a need for a phone line, TELIA makes you (FORCES YOU) to pay for a line service you don't even need. Lets say that you only need internet because you already have a cell phone...doesn't matter...if you want an internet connection in your house...even if your house ALREADY COMES WITH A PHONE LINE...you STILL have to pay for a phone line services in order to get the internet.

PLEASE - before writing these kinds of stories in /. - please PLEASE get your facts straight.