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Now I wonder why Netflix might have a problem with that... In any case, they're absolutely right. These plans are clear cash grabs, and they wouldn't exist if

Now I wonder why Netflix might have a problem with that... In any case, they're absolutely right. These plans are clear cash grabs, and they wouldn't exist if we had proper competition.

kotrin 16y ago
oligopolies are a bitch
skowmunk 16y ago
agree.... I hope the wireless careers can give some stiff competition to the wired incumbents like comcast, road runner and their ilk.... that did be nice!!!!!!!
- btmorex 16y ago
  You should actually be rooting for telco competition. Look at areas where Verizon FIOS and Comcast compete head-to-head. Not only is the broadband excellent quality, it's price competitive with almost any other European/East Asian nation. There's no doubt in my mind that the U.S. can have excellent broadband at a reasonable price. Unfortunately, in most areas we only have the choice between pricy, midgrade cable internet and cheap, slow DSL.
  - sabat 16y ago
    I'm rooting for all competition; I don't have any reason to believe that telcos would be any less corrupt than cable companies. But if we had a choice between multiple wireless providers, multiple cable providers, and multiple telcos, we might stand a chance at a fair deal. The Cable/Telco-FIOS spar is likely to evolve into a wink-and-nod conspiracy where companies all settle on similar high prices and compete only in the marketing arena (see SMS as one easy example).
acangiano 16y ago
In Canada many people won't get Netflix[1] because of ridiculously low bandwidth caps. It's amazing how much lack of competition and corrupt regulatory bodies can stifle innovation. [1] And of course, Netflix' catalog in Canada is very limited due to similar politics.
- wildmXranat 16y ago
  Indeed. I moved in with by g/f and soon after that, her Rogers Internet service went up in price and monthly cap got slashed to 60 GB/month. I subscribed to Netflix service for the 30 day free trail, but promptly canceled after I saw the horrid selection and b/w usage. Needless to say, we are switching to Teksavvy since I've been a customer of theirs since 2001
  - acangiano 16y ago
    I use Teksavvy as well. Slower internet, but no caps (for the time being).
    - acangiano 16y ago
      Spoke too soon. With UBB, they are capping it at 25 GB starting in March. :(
  - dataminer 16y ago
    I am on Teksavvy and a Netflix subscriber. I found Netflix catalog to be quite good, it may not have any blockbusters from the past few decades but it has a very good selection of indie, foreign and old movies. Netflix Canada also has good selection of tv series e.g. Mad Men, Topgear etc. Its definitely worth it for monthly price which is half the price of a movie ticket.
- narcissus 16y ago
  Say what you like about the Maritimes, but one thing is for certain: I'm so glad that the main ISP out here is Eastlink. 15Mbps is the stock standard, and for a bit extra you can double that (or, for a lot extra, you can go to 100Mbps). Admittedly there is a 250G advertised cap on the faster plans, but nothing advertised on the 15Mbps plan. Plus, we definitely don't have to deal with weird torrent filtering, shaping, interceptions or anything. And it definitely is good enough for Netflix. Just wanted to throw that out there... you never know, they may eventually creep westward and bring some real competition :)

Now I wonder why Netflix might have a problem with that... In any case, they're absolutely right. These plans are clear cash grabs, and they wouldn't exist if we had proper competition.

kotrin 16y ago

oligopolies are a bitch

skowmunk 16y ago

agree.... I hope the wireless careers can give some stiff competition to the wired incumbents like comcast, road runner and their ilk.... that did be nice!!!!!!!

btmorex 16y ago
You should actually be rooting for telco competition. Look at areas where Verizon FIOS and Comcast compete head-to-head. Not only is the broadband excellent quality, it's price competitive with almost any other European/East Asian nation. There's no doubt in my mind that the U.S. can have excellent broadband at a reasonable price. Unfortunately, in most areas we only have the choice between pricy, midgrade cable internet and cheap, slow DSL.
- sabat 16y ago
  I'm rooting for all competition; I don't have any reason to believe that telcos would be any less corrupt than cable companies. But if we had a choice between multiple wireless providers, multiple cable providers, and multiple telcos, we might stand a chance at a fair deal. The Cable/Telco-FIOS spar is likely to evolve into a wink-and-nod conspiracy where companies all settle on similar high prices and compete only in the marketing arena (see SMS as one easy example).

acangiano 16y ago

In Canada many people won't get Netflix[1] because of ridiculously low bandwidth caps. It's amazing how much lack of competition and corrupt regulatory bodies can stifle innovation. [1] And of course, Netflix' catalog in Canada is very limited due to similar politics.

wildmXranat 16y ago
Indeed. I moved in with by g/f and soon after that, her Rogers Internet service went up in price and monthly cap got slashed to 60 GB/month. I subscribed to Netflix service for the 30 day free trail, but promptly canceled after I saw the horrid selection and b/w usage. Needless to say, we are switching to Teksavvy since I've been a customer of theirs since 2001
- acangiano 16y ago
  I use Teksavvy as well. Slower internet, but no caps (for the time being).
  - acangiano 16y ago
    Spoke too soon. With UBB, they are capping it at 25 GB starting in March. :(
- dataminer 16y ago
  I am on Teksavvy and a Netflix subscriber. I found Netflix catalog to be quite good, it may not have any blockbusters from the past few decades but it has a very good selection of indie, foreign and old movies. Netflix Canada also has good selection of tv series e.g. Mad Men, Topgear etc. Its definitely worth it for monthly price which is half the price of a movie ticket.
narcissus 16y ago
Say what you like about the Maritimes, but one thing is for certain: I'm so glad that the main ISP out here is Eastlink. 15Mbps is the stock standard, and for a bit extra you can double that (or, for a lot extra, you can go to 100Mbps). Admittedly there is a 250G advertised cap on the faster plans, but nothing advertised on the 15Mbps plan. Plus, we definitely don't have to deal with weird torrent filtering, shaping, interceptions or anything. And it definitely is good enough for Netflix. Just wanted to throw that out there... you never know, they may eventually creep westward and bring some real competition :)