10Gb service, 500Mb equipment... Need assistance with an upgrade?
10Gb service, 500Mb equipment... Need assistance with an upgrade?
It makes sense. My speed test outcomes changed a lot based on the server. It's been a cool learning process. At $30 per month for the connection, I’m not complaining much. The 3.3 Gb/s symmetrical speed is still impressive for everyday use. The big companies charge more for less. This service comes from a locally owned, smaller telecom company (based in San Jose, California). They used to sell connections to AT&T at a reasonable discount and now use their customer base to build their own fiber network to compete with Comcast and AT&T. I hope others can adopt their model in the US to boost competition. Thanks for your thoughts.
I have some understanding of how certain systems function locally (US, California). As a civil engineer working in public works, I often handle utilities. Typically, utilities operate along road rights-of-way, usually managed by local authorities with easements allowing access. Even on private land, utilities don’t own the property—they rely on easements for space. When lines run above ground on poles, the poles belong to the utility company, which may enter agreements for shared infrastructure like phone or cable networks. For my ISP, it was straightforward to install fiber because they could simply attach cables to the power company’s poles. I could observe their setup quickly, with a small crew working nearby for several days. In areas with above-ground services, this approach can be cost-effective for ISPs. Underground installations, however, require digging trenches along the right-of-way and securing separate easements with the road owner. This is significantly more expensive and likely impractical during early development unless integrated into new construction. A major hurdle in the US is that large firms often seek to preserve their market dominance by influencing regulations that hinder new entrants or public ISPs.