US Lags Behind UK and AU in Consumer Broadband Choice: [25th Mar 2010]

T-Mobile has showcased the nations fastest 3G wireless network using its latest devices. They have revealed plans to upgrade their high speed 3G service to High Speed Packet Access Plus which will deliver speeds which are up to 3 times faster than what they have currently on their 3G network. Their whole network should be upgraded by the end of 2010.The company demonstrated the network on a number of devices including their new netbook, which comes out at the end of this month. The plans were unveiled at International CTIA Wireless 2010.

Also at the CTIA Wireless, Novatel Wireless launched their first cloud based storage service. Called NovaDrive it allows customers to share, synchronize, encrypt, back up and store files for access to any laptop, smartphone or other wireless device. It also offers unlimited storage and extra security measures. Customers will get a NovaDrive account with a personal file server for $50 per year or a business server for $15 per month. It will also offer a data destruction service and a tracking option. NovaDrive simply acts as a hard drive with remote access.

San Francisco has joined hundreds of other towns and cities across America in the race to have Google lay down super fast broadband in their area. The city will be submitting a proposal to Google this week. A spokesperson for the Mayor has commented that SF could be the perfect place, being the center of technology, biotechnology and life sciences. The city's department of Technology will submit the proposal in time for the deadline at the end of this week. The mayor's office have agreed that a fiber network in the SF would bring about huge social and economic benefits to the city.

Figures from the National Broadband Plan released by the FCC this month have shown that 78% of homes have access to two cable providers and another 4% have three possibilities. Just 13% have one provider to choose from and 5% have no access. Another 77% have access to three mobile broadband providers, 12% have the choice of two mobile providers and just 9% have access to just one mobile provider. The country is also covered by two satellite broadband networks which cover almost all the country. The FCC figures reveal that most people have a choice when it comes to their provider.

The first year of i-SAFE has seen more than 15 million students in the US receive e-Safety training. The scheme was designed to fit in with the Protecting Children in the 21st Century Act, which requires primary and secondary schools to teach about appropriate behavior while online. CEO of i_SAFE Teri Schroeder, has said that the FCC Broadband Plan is part of the success of the program. She points out that educating children in the correct way to get the most out of the Internet goes hand in hand with what the FCC is trying to achieve.

Research from Broadband Expert has revealed that Internet users in the US pay almost three times as much for their service as users in the UK or Australia. In addition those who have to buy a modem will pay up to eight times as much. The website also claims that the US has much less choice when it comes to providers and the amount of data they can receive. Most providers only offer small data allowances and limited plans. Director of the comparison website said that if mobile broadband is to become commonplace in the US, these statistics need to change. He believes that the lack of increase in people buying mobile broadband devices, compared with the UK and Australia is down to the lack of choice and high prices.

Despite all the hype regarding the FCC National Broadband plan some people are still without any decent broadband service. One such case has been highlighted by CNN who tell the story of Kelli Fields. She works for her local university updating their website, which she built. But at home she has nothing but a dial up network which she shares with her teenage son. Obviously woefully inadequate, in fact she claims that she does chores around the house while she waits for pages to load. While she could install a satellite to improve this, the $300 installation cost is prohibitive. It is thought that 5% of homes in the US have no cable network and 36% say the coast is the reason they are not connected to the Internet. Meanwhile the Broadband plan hopes to get 90% connected by 2020.