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> Singapore is an extremely small, very rich country with hyper population density. I don't see how that's a great example. They should have some of the fastest

• rhino369 12y ago
  New York and the Bay Area aren't all that dense by major city standards. But the real reason for the difference isn't really density. It is government telecom policy. The countries that deployed fiber have, for the most part, either heavily subsidized it via direct subsidies or tax breaks. In Sweden's case, for example, forced state run utilities to build the backbone for the telecoms. The US expects the telecom investment to be 100% privately funded. That means it has to be profitable enough to attract capital investments. Unlike say Sweeden, were everyone has to use the single telecom provider's network, in the US there is no such mandate. Verizon's FIOS network has to compete with the cable companies network (which is vastly cheaper). Fios is only getting around 25% of people who have potential access to sign up. The Singapore network probably gets 90% or more. If you really want fiber in the entire USA. Give Verizon, ATT, Century Link, and the other incumbent local loop carriers huge tax incentives to do it. Otherwise it'll happen slowly when people are willing to pay a premium for higher speed.