October 7th, 2009
Are you a mobile broadband hog? Should that be your problem?
Should mobile broadband be preserved, much the same way people are interested in conserving energy and saving the environment?
During a keynote speech at CTIA, AT&T Mobility CEO Ralph de la Vega spoke about the state of the wireless industry and the trends that we’re seeing in mobile. For the most part, he focused on growth in things like investments, data usage and the projections for coming years.
But he also chimed in with a message that we’ve all heard repeatedly - some people are mobile bandwidth hogs and, unless the broadband is better managed, a few heavy users will crowd out other users who want to connect, as well.
In his speech, de la Vega noted that, among AT&T smartphone users, the top 3 percent of the users are using 40 percent of the data. But, unlike fiber, which has a much greater capacity (25 million mbps) than even the forthcoming 4G LTE broadband capacity (100 mpbs). That means that the broadband needs to be managed so that everyone can take advantage of it.
I’ve heard this before but still have a hard time coming to grips with it.
Specifically to AT&T, I have issues with a company that has gained so much through its lucrative exclusivity with Apple and the iPhone. AT&T continues to sell the iPhone and sign up new customers for an unlimited data plan - but then cries about its network being stretched thin.
What did you expect? Your partner there - Apple - is pushing apps of all kinds, music streaming, video, online gaming and now VoIP. Of course it’s stretched thin. Now, you’re facing a data crunch. The network was ill-equipped before and now, as more and more people are being exposed to the things that can be done over the mobile network, you want to highlight the heavy users as the bad guys? That’s not very fair.
The mobile carriers are offering unlimited data plans to get those customers to sign those two-year contracts. Now, it sounds like they don’t want us to use them. If I stream Pandora all day or catch NFL Mobile video clips on Sunday afternoons or upload photos to share with my Facebook friends, I shouldn’t have to worry about being labeled a mobile broadband hog. I pay my bill every month for unlimited usage. Repeat: unlimited.
If AT&T or any other carrier is feeling the pinch, then it probably needs to fast-forward its plan to increase capacity. Don’t expect me to pay for an unlimited access plan and then feel bad about using it.
Also see:
- Gallery: Sights from CTIA Wireless I.T. & Entertainment Show
- AT&T plans 3G upgrade; Promises ‘considerably’ faster mobile broadband speeds
- Android sucks oxygen from mobile broadband room
Sam Diaz is a senior editor at ZDNet. See his full profile and disclosure of his industry affiliations.
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| 10/07/09
