DISQUS

Mobile Industry Review: http://www.smstextnews.com/2008/08/are_operators_blocking_free_us_mobile_broadband.html

  • Mike42 · 1 year ago
    You won't see any such thing, IMHO.

    We've had attempts at 'free' wireless data before. Most recently, the steaming pile of FAIL that has been municipal WiFi. Nice idea, pity the laws of physics, user expectations and market forces got in the way.

    You get what you pay for, and if you pay nothing that's what you'll get. So unless you are happy for your taxes to pay for 'free' data (there's a can of worms right there regarding market distortions) no-one's going to bankroll it.

    It just doesn't work. Think about it - Say some MNO is forced to offer truly free mobile data as part of their licence. So everyone piles on in - it's truly free, right? Tragedy of the Commons ensues. The customer experience is then abysmal. Only the utterly skint would be prepared to put up with it. Everyone else realises they like paying a bit for QoS. Back they go to their previous supplier.

    Ho hum.