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Biggest Issue for data? Coverage Vs Congestion


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Old 10-08-2014, 13:59
wavejockglw
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The mobile phone market has moved at a pace in recent years and whilst it's now taken almost for granted that customers can make voice calls and send texts from just about anywhere, using the mobile Internet can still be an issue for some.

Two factors are common for the lack of mobile Internet service.

1. Coverage: When networks don't have the type of data coverage needed to stream video or make use of smartphone apps in an area where you need to use them. Cities are not greatly affected by coverage but rural areas and travel routes can be a problem for many mobile customers.

2. Congestion: This is when there is a decent mobile signal but users can't get sufficient speed to use streaming services or browse the Internet easily. Congestion is caused by too many users trying to make use of the mobile network bandwidth at the same time and it's most common in cities where there is a high proportion of users in a cell coverage area. Congestion occurs mainly through the use of downloading big files like movie torrents and when streaming video, especially HD video.

Which of the above affects your mobile experience most now and what do consider will be the most significant factor that might affect your future mobile use?

What should be done to speed up the roll-out of faster data technology to rural areas and how should networks control the increasing data demand to limit congestion?

Some information on how US network Verizon is tackling the issue of congestion in the link below.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/amitchow...ng-in-october/
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Old 10-08-2014, 16:17
gardensleeper
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Sounds like a more punitive version of 3's TrafficSense
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Old 10-08-2014, 16:41
wavejockglw
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Sounds like a more punitive version of 3's TrafficSense
Verizon appears to be throttling those using more than 4.7GB per month in areas of high demand. They have introduced this after selling unlimited data contracts and the FCC (equivalent to the UK's Ofcom) are not happy about it. There has been a fair amount of coverage in US media about this issue but the press seem to accept that there is no other workable solution if folks are to be able to use smartphones.

BBC News Coverage: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-28582470

Verizon Wireless Website Explanation: https://www.verizonwireless.com/news...imization.html

Cnet publishes Verizon's response to FCC: http://www.cnet.com/news/verizon-wir...ling-brouhaha/
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Old 10-08-2014, 17:49
omnidirectional
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Verizon appears to be throttling those using more than 4.7GB per month in areas of high demand. They have introduced this after selling unlimited data contracts and the FCC (equivalent to the UK's Ofcom) are not happy about it.
They're not happy about it because..
..the spectrum underlying the 4G service was bought from the US government. A condition of the sale was Verizon continuing to honour "open internet" rules that ensure data speeds are not slowed.
Slowing down the heaviest users (or certain protocols like P2P) is quite a common form of traffic management, whether on mobile networks or fixed line connections (especially Virgin Media).
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Old 10-08-2014, 17:56
wavejockglw
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I understand the disapproval of the regulator but what do they expect Verizon or any others to do with what is a finite resource? Perhaps they should not have offered unlimited data plans that they knew would be unsustainable as data growth exploded.
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