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Lots of people already do this. If you're a light/occasional internet user it makes way more sense to buy a 5GB/month dongle and use that instead vs getting har

Lots of people already do this. If you're a light/occasional internet user it makes way more sense to buy a 5GB/month dongle and use that instead vs getting hard wired broadband. This doesn't even include the fact loads of people only access the internet through a smartphone and not a computer, which means they probably won't bother with hardwired at all. The more difficult is heavy internet users. Considering an LTE cell site has between 100 and 1gigabit of capacity across all of it, and there is hundreds/thousands of customers connected, it's hard to see how this would work for more heavy internet demands (HD video streaming, etc) without it all grinding to a halt.

mikeash 9y ago
Several years ago, Clearwire had a WiMAX network which they marketed as an alternative to home broadband in addition to the usual mobile applications. They sold a home modem that looked a lot like a standard cable modem, except there was no cable. They had an unlimited plan and advertised speeds that were not great, but acceptable. (I think 3Mbps? I had 6Mbps from Comcast at the time.) I was so fed up with Comcast at that point that I gave them a try. Turned out they overpromised a wee bit. Before long, my speeds were throttled into the ground, in the neighborhood of 50kbps during peak times. Worse, they gave me the runaround when I tried to get it fixed, and it took me quite a while to get a straight answer about why my speeds sucked so hard. Before long I was back to Comcast. No surprise, Clearwire and their network eventually failed. The idea of wireless broadband good enough to support routine home use is really attractive. It feels like the technology is almost there now.
- marak830 9y ago
  I know a few foreigners here in Japan using in home units like that. They arnt heavy users, so Hardline just isn't worth it for them. They never complain about speed to me when I ask (then again I doubt they would even notice, unless it was really bad, not exactly techs). I have considered it, but then again the price of a 1gb/s is so damn cheap here . . .
- martinald 9y ago
  Yes, Relish in London tried the same thing. Unlimited plan, advertised up to 50mbit/sec speeds, quickly fell apart, as you're saying sub-dialup speeds at peak times and a mobile operator bought them for the spectrum.

mikeash 9y ago

Several years ago, Clearwire had a WiMAX network which they marketed as an alternative to home broadband in addition to the usual mobile applications. They sold a home modem that looked a lot like a standard cable modem, except there was no cable. They had an unlimited plan and advertised speeds that were not great, but acceptable. (I think 3Mbps? I had 6Mbps from Comcast at the time.) I was so fed up with Comcast at that point that I gave them a try. Turned out they overpromised a wee bit. Before long, my speeds were throttled into the ground, in the neighborhood of 50kbps during peak times. Worse, they gave me the runaround when I tried to get it fixed, and it took me quite a while to get a straight answer about why my speeds sucked so hard. Before long I was back to Comcast. No surprise, Clearwire and their network eventually failed. The idea of wireless broadband good enough to support routine home use is really attractive. It feels like the technology is almost there now.

marak830 9y ago
I know a few foreigners here in Japan using in home units like that. They arnt heavy users, so Hardline just isn't worth it for them. They never complain about speed to me when I ask (then again I doubt they would even notice, unless it was really bad, not exactly techs). I have considered it, but then again the price of a 1gb/s is so damn cheap here . . .
martinald 9y ago
Yes, Relish in London tried the same thing. Unlimited plan, advertised up to 50mbit/sec speeds, quickly fell apart, as you're saying sub-dialup speeds at peak times and a mobile operator bought them for the spectrum.