Items tagged with Broadband
At long last, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) passed a vote to raise the minimum high-speed fixed broadband speed threshold, increasing the baseline download benchmark from 25 megabits per second (Mbps) to 100Mbps. That's a fourfold increase, or a whopping 300%, and quite frankly it's a long overdue bump...
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We sure have come a long way since the days of dial-up internet access, which for you young folk, was really, really slow compared to what's available today. As in, you were boss level if you upgraded to a 56.6K baud modem, and achieved god-tier status if you were one of the first to jump aboard DSL or cable. And now?...
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For the last eight years, internet service providers (ISPs) in the US have enjoyed a very liberal definition of "broadband." The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is poised to rain on their parade. The commission may update the definition of what constitutes broadband, raising the minimum speed requirement by a...
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Elon Musk shared a first-hand view of the first "V2 Mini" Starlink satellites being released above Earth on his Twitter account. The new V2 Minis include key technologies that'll boost Starlink coverage and performance, such as more powerful phased array antennas and the use of E-band for backhaul, which should enable...
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While you're waiting on your internet service provider (ISP) to roll out fiber optic cable to your area for those sweet gigabit broadband speeds, maybe you should hope they tap into your phone line instead. Not, not for surveillance purposes. Instead, researchers at the University of Cambridge in the UK claim standard...
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SpaceX is currently accepting reservations for a new Starlink Premium service tier that promises a big increase in downloads speeds at respectable latency levels, though you'll pay through the nose for it. Not literally, of course (that would be gross). But at $500 per month, Starlink Premium is not for the faint of...
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Goose had a need, a need for speed. So did Maverick. If you do as well, AT&T will happily supply you with up to 5Gbps of delightfully fast fiber broadband internet service, though obviously there are some caveats. The fastest speed tier in AT&T's home internet stable doesn't come cheap, and you have to live in a...
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Is Your Self-Heating Starlink Satellite Dish Getting Thwarted By Cats? Try These Heated Kitty Condos
Cats have become the stars of the internet, having dominated a wealth of cute and funny videos on social media, and adorned countless memes and adorable photos that get passed around. But guess what? Cats can also take down the internet. That's what some Starlink customers are finding out as the weather turns cold and...
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Can broadband service beamed from satellite dishes rival fixed lines that run in the ground and into our homes? It is starting to look that way. As it applies to satellite internet, Starlink is leading the way with the fastest download speeds, and it is not even close. That is good news for consumers who live in...
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In today's work from home climate, a reliable internet connection is more important than ever. From logging in to corporate networks and remote meetings from home, to kids trying to access online assignments while simultaneously joining in on Google Meet/Zoom sessions, high-speed internet is now of even greater...
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Virgin Media is currently trialing fiber internet that is insanely fast and could eventually deploy to residential customers. In the South East England town of Reading, Berkshire, Virgin Media conducted performance tests using prototype Infinera X.R. Optics technology. Using this new tech within its existing...
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Two weeks ago, we brought you news that Comcast was walking back its decision to institute new 1.2TB data caps for customers in November 2020. Instead, the company said that the caps would be delayed until July 2021, with customers be charged $10 for each additional 50GB of data over the cap starting with their August...
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SpaceX is hoping its Starlink venture will become the first satellite constellation to not go belly-up financially, even though it anticipates a "deep chasm of negative flow over the next year or so." There is light at the other end of the tunnel, though, and getting there begins in earnest today with SpaceX opening...
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As the demand for internet-connected devices and services grows, so does the need for improved broadband internet globally. Soon, the minimum speeds that the FCC lists will not cut it for the modern connected family where everyone has a phone, computer, or both at-hand. To help navigate the future needs of broadband...
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We've been hearing a lot of about SpaceX's Starlink satellite internet beta over the past few months, and it now looks as though the company is ready to start delivering the goods to eager customers. Earlier this week, SpaceX began sending out invites to people that had previously shown interest in joining the...
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With the massive uptick in people working from home due to the current COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing guidelines in place, the load on our broadband infrastructure has skyrocketed. Here are some tips – mostly free – to maximize and optimize your Wi-Fi and broadband performance so that you can get work done...
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Let me come right out and say exactly how I feel—data caps are a load of horse manure. Yes, I know, in theory they prevent the Internet from buckling from a handful of abusers, so that we can all enjoy access to a vital resource. But in practice, I'd argue they are unnecessary. Need proof? Take the current situation...
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If you’re one of the millions of Americans stuck at home right now due to COVID-19/coronavirus, some of you may have noticed that your broadband speeds have taken a hit in the past few weeks. It shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise that an influx of workers “telecommuting” instead of working from the office, and...
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It goes without saying the coronavirus is claiming lives, wrecking world financial markets, and shutting down amusement parks and sporting events around the country. AT&T has taken the noble stance of removing data caps on its broadband plans -- at least temporarily -- and now Comcast is responding in its own way to...
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As schools and businesses around the United States consider what they're going to do to help prevent the spread of coronavirus, many are opting to have students and employees learn/work from home. That means that students and employees need broadband internet access for things like videoconferencing and working...
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Many Americans feel like the state of broadband Internet service in the United States isn't that great. In addittion, in many areas there is only one broadband Internet provider, leaving consumers with no choice but to pay exorbitant fees to carriers like Comcast, Verizon and a select few others. While much of America struggles with broadband
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60 Starlink satellites prior to deployment. (Image courtesy SpaceX) SpaceX has announced that it is confident that it will be able to start offering broadband service in the United States by mid-2020 using a constellation of laser-connected Starlink mesh satellites. Reaching that goal will require the company to...
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