Originally Posted by The Lord Lucan:
“Latency is always going to be an issue with UMTS so online gamers will not be signing up to this cube.. so that cuts out a large percentage of the possible customers.”
Latency is not something your average BT Total Broadband user knows about when they get pitched 15GB a month for Internet use (when they only get 10GB) for £15 a month on a contract. If they can save £9 a month then thats a good incentive to get a WebCube and no doubt they will expect it will do the same as their BT Broadband connection. I'm sure the sales people will assure it will.
So 3's UMTS 2100 bandwidth will have to cope with smartphone consumption, dongles, MiFi, but mains connected devices competing with fixed line services. That could be plausable but for the fact that 3's CEO stated that the network would experience difficulties by the end of 2012 if the company did not win more spectrum in the 850/2600 auction. That being the case why have 3 embarked on a land grab of domestic fixed line broadband subscribers when they have flagged up they will have issues serving their mobile customers by the end of this year with the spectrum they have?
Are 3 UK gambling that if they max out their bandwidth, even at a loss in the short term with loads of customer discontent they will be rewarded with favourable terms for additional spectrum? Looks like it.