WebProNews

On Trust and Net Neutrality

The Network Neutrality debate is, to understate it, heated. On one side are ideals, on the other side is money, which is not a new dichotomy in any sense, and both can be equally powerful motivators*. Also, while passion tends to color an issue (sometimes incorrectly), economic theory tends to mire subscribers in stubborn dogma.Neither side wants to budge for fear of losing, or for fear of the embarrassment of choosing the wrong team.

250 Million Europeans Are Online

More than half of Europeans are now regular Internet users, 80 percent of them have broadband connections and 60 percent of public services are online according to a new report from the European Commission.In 2007, the Internet attracted close to 40 million new regular users in the EU (now 250 million in total). More than 96 percent of European schools are now connected to the Internet, two thirds of which have broadband.

Broadband Penetration Up 300% Since 2002

Broadband penetration has increased more than 300 percent since 2002, according to a new analysis from Scarborough Research.In 2002, 12 percent of U.S. adults had a broadband connection in their household. Now, close to half (49%) have broadband. DSL connections have grown more than cable modems, but both have seen significant growth. Since 2002, cable modem penetration increased 188 percent and DSL connections increased 575 percent.

Comcast To Slow Net For Heaviest Users

Comcast CTO Tony Werner gets the last laugh on the most ardent BitTorrent users on his network, as the company plans to slow down all Internet traffic for them.

Rural Broadband To Become More Of A Reality

When a company receives money, you've got to consider questions of "how much" and "who from" to figure out what sort of attention it's owed.  In the case of broadband service provider Open Range Communications, the answers are "a lot" and "a branch of the U.S. government."

Japanese Take Wireless Net To Warp Speed

Just a reminder: Traffic prioritization and management won't matter much once we realize the full potential of fiber and other technologies on the near horizon. Second reminder: Those in control of the networks plan on gouging you the whole way via controlled, incremental upgrades in speed and capacity.Charging 40 times bandwidth? Sure if it's still 2005. The network providers are looking at a much better rate than that, at least for the foreseeable future, so long as the future can be delayed long enough to maximize profit.

GrandCentral Figures In Google's Wi-Fi Plans

With Google's purchase of GrandCentral Communications in July 2007, the company set up a way to pull people away from their relationships with wireless phone carriers.

Google Raises Hopes For National Wi-Fi

Rivalry with Microsoft takes a backseat to working with them as part of a group lobbying the FCC for the spaces inside analog TV spectrum next year.

EU Sets Broadband Goal Of 30 Percent By 2010

In order to stimulate economic growth top regulators of the European Commission said they want to increase broadband coverage in the European Union from 20 percent to 30 percent by 2010.Information Society Commissioner Viviane Reding said eight of the EU's 27 member states have surpassed the United States in broadband penetration, with Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands and Sweden leading the way with penetration rates over 30 percent at the end of 2007.

Private Broadband Fails US, Needs Change

A proposal from non-profit firm EDUCAUSE suggested a way to improve broadband speed and availability in the US, to better match what other developed nations have to offer.