Shaw Internet - Magical New Speeds and Lots-o-bandwidth, fickle geeks appeased

[Jimmy Stang]

FYI - the Shaw usage meter is back up now.

Also, Shaw's new buzzword for UBB is "threshold pricing". Apparently we're supposed to feel better about it.

[Ironhorse]

Originally Posted by photon

Or turn data into a utility.

Look at how Shaw/Rogers/Telus/Bell market their television services, with tiers and groups of services structured to push you into buying more addons to get the channels you want. I'm sure they'd love to do that with the Internet too. Unlimited bandwidth for these 10 sites, $5 more to add unlimited bandwidth for this other group of sites, etc. Mobile carriers do the same thing, any service type product is going to try and increase profits by shuffling their existing products into forms that get people to pay more.

[Tinordi]

Exactly what big telecom wants to turn the internet into. Cable.

[Azure]

Thing is, what do you call a heavy user? 250GB per month? Isn't exactly a lot these days.

Sure, if someone is using more than 500GB, by all means contact them and tell them to slow down or you'll charge them a fee.

But if the Shaw network can't handle people who use 250GB/month, something is seriously wrong. And by all accounts they can, since they've never proven that congestion is a problem.

Until they do, this is nothing more than a ploy to earn more money.

[Eagle Eye]

After checking the shaw meter all I can say is, wow, I only use between 6GB and 30GB a month, higher with the kids watching netflx. I had no idea that my usage was so low.

I am sure that there are people out there who use more on thier smartphones

[La Flames Fan]

Who else is there in Calgary? Nucleus, yes, but are they going to be hit with fees as well, effectively making them Shaw?

Someone give me a billion dollars and we'll set up a network in Calgary with no UBB. Someone please do this...I'm sick of the "Big 4".

Real good article about the Netflix effect and the Canadian telcos. http://www.thewirereport.ca/reports/..._to_the_rescue

[Jimmy Stang]

Nucleus leases the lines from Shaw (and I believe, Telus for DSL). The initial plan of the big telcos (led by Bell) was to impose UBB on wholesale clients like Nucleus, Tek Savvy, etc., which would effectively eliminate the competition and solidify the oligopoly. And then, of course, impose UBB on their own retail customers once any reasonable competitor was unable to offer a different product/price than the big guys.

The CRTC thought this was just fine, gave them the green light, and then the #### hit the fan. Industry Minister Tony Clement stepped in and told the CRTC to review the decision... and then this election came along and, well, here we are.

Essentially, the CRTC is only reviewing the decision to impose UBB on wholesale customers, but this is the key to UBB being successful for Bell, Rogers, Shaw, and Telus. That's why this thing is so sneaky - grease the wheels at the CRTC, eliminate competition, lower caps, slap on absurd overage charges. What are people going to do if they can't switch to anyone better?

Shaw's decision to revisit UBB now is actually a bit of a surprise right now, especially before finding out what the CRTC and the government are going to do with the issue. On the other hand, as we know, Shaw dominates this market and they realize more than anyone that consumers here have very limited options. So even if the CRTC decision is reversed and UBB isn't allowed on wholesale customers, Shaw can do whatever they want with their own customers.

Personally, I think that they can do whatever they want with their own clients, but keep your hands off of the independent ISPs. Give people the choice of a competitor.

[Top Shelf]

Just got this release, most of the stuff is known already, although I think the hard date of May 3rd is new

It’s coming...


Get ready for a new and exciting way to experience Shaw’s services. The highly anticipated Shaw Gateway is set to launch in Calgary on May 3, with other cities following throughout the summer. So how will this product change the lives of our customers?

Imagine a product that features unbelievable technology. One that allows our customers to interact with our services in a new and exciting way. A product that is delivered on a platform that gives us the ability to continue to add features and enhance our customers’ traditional viewing experience.

Enter Shaw Gateway.

This innovative new product combines a shared PVR experience (connecting six TVs in your home and recording), the complete Shaw VOD library, and home networking capability that allows you to share your favourite photos and videos from your computer to your TV. How cool is that?

[Tinordi]

Considering that VOD, cable and all that uses the last mile that Shaw says is so congested I'm wondering how many of those services will go toward your monthly data cap?

[Ironhorse]

Originally Posted by Top Shelf

Just got this release, most of the stuff is known already, although I think the hard date of May 3rd is new

I can't help but wonder if it will work better than "Shaw Secure"...

[SebC]

Originally Posted by Tinordi

Considering that VOD, cable and all that uses the last mile that Shaw says is so congested I'm wondering how many of those services will go toward your monthly data cap?

I'm sure you already know the answer is none.

Also "home networking capability that allows you to share your favourite photos and videos from your computer to your TV"? It's called an HDMI cable.

[mykalberta]

Originally Posted by Azure

Thing is, what do you call a heavy user? 250GB per month? Isn't exactly a lot these days.

Sure, if someone is using more than 500GB, by all means contact them and tell them to slow down or you'll charge them a fee.

But if the Shaw network can't handle people who use 250GB/month, something is seriously wrong. And by all accounts they can, since they've never proven that congestion is a problem.

Until they do, this is nothing more than a ploy to earn more money.

?250GB isnt alot?

I would love to know how someone gets 250GB/month without torrenting or running their own home webserver

[mykalberta]

Originally Posted by Jimmy Stang

Nucleus leases the lines from Shaw (and I believe, Telus for DSL). The initial plan of the big telcos (led by Bell) was to impose UBB on wholesale clients like Nucleus, Tek Savvy, etc., which would effectively eliminate the competition and solidify the oligopoly. And then, of course, impose UBB on their own retail customers once any reasonable competitor was unable to offer a different product/price than the big guys.

The CRTC thought this was just fine, gave them the green light, and then the #### hit the fan. Industry Minister Tony Clement stepped in and told the CRTC to review the decision... and then this election came along and, well, here we are.

Essentially, the CRTC is only reviewing the decision to impose UBB on wholesale customers, but this is the key to UBB being successful for Bell, Rogers, Shaw, and Telus. That's why this thing is so sneaky - grease the wheels at the CRTC, eliminate competition, lower caps, slap on absurd overage charges. What are people going to do if they can't switch to anyone better?

Shaw's decision to revisit UBB now is actually a bit of a surprise right now, especially before finding out what the CRTC and the government are going to do with the issue. On the other hand, as we know, Shaw dominates this market and they realize more than anyone that consumers here have very limited options. So even if the CRTC decision is reversed and UBB isn't allowed on wholesale customers, Shaw can do whatever they want with their own customers.

Personally, I think that they can do whatever they want with their own clients, but keep your hands off of the independent ISPs. Give people the choice of a competitor.

? In Canada doesnt this all stem from Bell trying to traffic shape a wholesaler in Northern Ontario and the SCC saying they cannot.

I thought there were a few threads from everyone saying they would prefer UBB to traffic shaping.

[Tinordi]

The history of computing is littered with ridiculous statements like this.

512k ram is all you will need

250 gb is more than enough

[kermitology]

Originally Posted by SebC

I'm sure you already know the answer is none.

Also "home networking capability that allows you to share your favourite photos and videos from your computer to your TV"? It's called an HDMI cable.

Actually it's DLNA.

[mykalberta]

Originally Posted by Tinordi

The history of computing is littered with ridiculous statements like this.

512k ram is all you will need

250 gb is more than enough

True, and like when we paid $5000 for a computer we now pay $1000 100X as fast. As the times and technology change so do companies.

Do you really expect shaw to care about the median family bandwidth requirements 10 years from now with pricing today?

[Tinordi]

Originally Posted by mykalberta

True, and like when we paid $5000 for a computer we now pay $1000 100X as fast. As the times and technology change so do companies.

Do you really expect shaw to care about the median family bandwidth requirements 10 years from now with pricing today?

No certainly when it isn't a competitive market.

If it was investments in new technology allow you to increase market share.

[The Yen Man]

What is an extra kick in the junk is that Shaw initially increased the bandwidth across all their plans because of increased usage. Then the CRTC announces that it is ok to start charging for extra bandwidth, and they immediately dropped it back down so they can cash in. If that's not a pure cash grab on their part, I don't know what is. Don't give me this bull about network strains Shaw. Everyone knows that's just BS on your part.

[Rathji]

Didnt they increase the caps big time with this recent speed increase as well? I haven't looked at my plan but the TSR I know says that they did for everything above regular.

[The Yen Man]

Not according to my usage meter. It still says it's limit is 60 gigs. I want them to at least boost it back up to 75 gigs.