Low-fibre
Usen is a company that does cable radio here in Japan. They’re offering 100Mb fibre optic internet connectivity (for less than ¥6,000/month, over which they hope to get you to buy ‘content’). I went to the Usen web site (a miasma of gratuitous Flash and pop-up windows) to see if I’m in the coverage area.
After much screwing around with pull-downs and clicking (you can’t simply enter your address to see whether you’re eligible), I found out I am out of luck, which is weird because (a) the neighbourhood has been full of Usen vans for about 6 months as linesmen install switches galore, and (b) their beta test area was just north of where I live, right across the Odakyu line (a friend took part and from what I saw, I want 100Mb/sec!). Almost a year later and they’ve yet to extend the service across the tracks!?
One newsletter I receive had this to report about Usen today:
We have to wonder why Usen was able to get $500M out of itsIPO when you hear the numbers… But anyways: the broadband ISP announced that it now has 7,706 subscribers (as of the end of October). The service covers areas with a population of 475,685 where it reaches 1,139 individual houses and
1,826 apartment buildings. Amazingly, over 177 companies are providing content to Usen.
The source of the info is Usen itself, but I somehow doubt the figures for houses & apartments. Less than 8,000 subs is, um… disappointing.
Looks like it’s going to be DSL for me instead…
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Posted to General Rants • 2001.11.20 (Tue) • 17:51
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