Why is broadband more expensive in the US?

[youmeatbacon]

I've always been amazed by the prices I've seen in the US for broadband, as Linus mentioned in last weeks WAN show the US is usually cheaper for a lot of things such as hardware due to lower taxes I find it crazy that something as everyday as broadband is so expensive.
 
Here's the latest BBC article: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-24528383
 

 

In the UK you can get online from anywhere for less than £20 a month, with some paying a lot less with calls included, nowhere near the £61 like in San Francisco.
 
Any Americans feel slightly ripped off?

[ERSCreeper]

You are not allowed to complain about your internet.

[Yoinkerman]

Because oligopolies and regional monopolies fix prices and use other anti competitive practices.

I feel ripped off every time I pay my telecom bills.

[Goldilock]

Wutt ??? I pay $25 for unlimited data worth 200 GB per month here in asia. I thought US is cheap especially in internet bill.

[chillxnate]

And this is news.... how?

[Anult]

For 50€ (42.50£) a month, I could get 150mb Broadband, TV and a Home Phone Line.

 

Even in all in one packages you Americans get ripped off.

[felixbearpig]

they need a way to pay the lobbyists 

[Eroda]

50mbit for $90 Sign me up for that... i currently pay $90 for anywhere between 8 and up to 24mbit best speed is 16mbit as i don't live inside the telephone exchange

[thexzenon]

50mbit for $90 Sign me up for that... i currently pay $90 for anywhere between 8 and up to 24mbit best speed is 16mbit as i don't live inside the telephone exchange

Damn, that's a lot. In Romania you can get(or by the end of the year anyway) 1 Gbps for 59 RON, which comes in at a bit under $20 USD

[MrSuperb]

NSA needs to finance all that spying stuff at the ISPs

[GoodBytes]

Competition is bad for the consumer, that is why - goverment of Canada and U.S

[GoodBytes]

[Duplicated]

[Slinkey]

I pay $92 (US dollars) a month for 'up to' 20Mbit down and 1Mbit up.

Usually my speeds are around 1.2Mbit down.

You guys should not complain.

[BusinessRogue]

Yeah, that's not even the half of it. Try being a business - they really end up screwing you at that point. We pay $185 for 45mbps (down) / 10mbps (up) - for "superior technical support."

 

Edit: I can't count.

Edited October 28, 2013 by BusinessRogue

[SMURG]

I'm not sure if this is the case everywhere, but in the UK it's next to impossible to get 60mbps. Sure, there's Virgin Media's fiber stuff or BT infinity, but the coverage is so sparse even in major cities, and you never get what you pay for anyway. Unless you're in Edinburgh or London you're gonna be stuck paying for 70mbps and getting 20. In that respect the graph may be misleading...

[JaeDee884]

None of you can complain. I'm from Australia.

99 a month for 4 megabit down and 0.3megabit up.

That's not actual speeds btw that's claimed speeds.

I get 2 Mbps down and my internet can't sustain more then a single uplink. I cannot sustain gta online and ts3 at the same time

[TopWargamer]

Because of regional monopolies and ISPs are using their money to do other stuff other than upgrading infrastructure and improving prices. 

 

I'd love to move somewhere that has Gigabit Internet for around $50...like Japan...mmmmmmm.

[Kuzma]

STFU!!!

 

I am dealing with 4Mb down and .4Mb up....

[That Norwegian Guy]

This explains it rather nicely:

 

[HaZardousLP]

Yeah you Americans get it pretty good, try living in Australia... Our future is 25mbit down, claimed by our government, which isn't even coming soon. There are petitions which are doing well but the government doesn't understand.

[Ddm5]

Currently waiting on my fiber to be installed the start of next month, going to be paying for 60-75Down and 20Up, will check actual speeds when possible and I'll be paying around £45

[TacticlTwinkie]

This explains it rather nicely:

I love that video

[eddness]

Im in the UK using BT infinity (fiber) for £30 a month i average 60 up and 18 down, Before that on copper i was paying the same for 8 down and 0.8 up. I have a friend who live 6 miles away who can only get 1.2 down! and fiber isnt availabe to him, gues where he takes his pc when he buys a game on steam....... 

[akrickyboby]

None of you can complain. I'm from Australia.

99 a month for 4 megabit down and 0.3megabit up.

That's not actual speeds btw that's claimed speeds.

I get 2 Mbps down and my internet can't sustain more then a single uplink. I cannot sustain gta online and ts3 at the same time

In Alaska mta (or largest ip) makes me pay 80$ a month for 1.5 mpbs down and .25 mbps up and only 70gigs a month. you pay 1$ for every gig over

[JaeDee884]

In Alaska mta (or largest ip) makes me pay 80$ a month for 1.5 mpbs down and .25 mbps up and only 70gigs a month. you pay 1$ for every gig over

see, its people like us who know the real pains on the internet.